DHS OHS Travax Justification and Approval - Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

(41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1))

J&A No: FY26-039

Pursuant to the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.103 (FAR Class Deviation 25-111) and in accordance with the requirements of RFO 6.104, the justification for the use of the statutory authority under RFO 6.103 is justified by the following facts and rationale required under RFO 6.104-1 as follows:

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Procurement Operations (OPO), Department Operations Division III (DOAD III) in support of the Office of Health Security (OHS), proposes to enter in to a contract on a basis other than full and open competition.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action being Approved.

(a) Nature of action

DHS/OPO/DOAD III intends to procure global medical and travel health intelligence subscription services on a sole source basis.

(b) Name and address of the contractor.

Shoreland, Inc. (Travax) 933 N. Mayfair Road, Suite 208 Milwaukee, WI 53226

(c) Contract type.

The contract type is Firm-Fixed Price (FFP).

1 In this document, citations to RFO Parts 6, 10, 15, 25 are citations specifically to FAR Class Deviation 25-11 for FAR Part 6, FAR Class Deviation 25-06 for FAR Part 10, FAR Class Deviation 26-08 R1 for FAR Part 15, and FAR Class Deviation 25-09 R1 for FAR Part 25, which were issued as part of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), implemented in response to Executive Order 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement, signed April 15, 2025.

(d) Estimated total value (including options). Provide breakdown as shown below:

PERIOD TOTAL

Base Period – 08/01/2026 – 07/31/2027 Option Period 1 – 08/01/2027 – 07/31/2028 Option Period 2 – 08/01/2028 – 07/31/2029 Option Period 3 – 08/01/2029 – 07/31/2030 Option Period 4 08/01/2030 – 07/31/2031 Optional CLIN – To be exercised between 08/01/2026 – 07/31/2031 Estimated Total:

(e) Type of funding .

This project is funded as an Operations and Support (O&S) activity.

(f) Year of funding .

Fiscal Year 2026

(g) Solicitation number.

70RDA326Q00000002

(h) Background information about the requirement.

DHS/OHS requires an enterprise-level online subscription service that provides preventive and travel health intelligence for DHS personnel. This service is needed to support the health, safety, and operational readiness of the DHS workforce, including those who travel domestically and internationally as part of their official duties.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The requirement is to acquire an enterprise-level online subscription service for preventive and travel health information, including aerial route intelligence, GIS mapping, outbreak tracking, and medical facility intelligence. The subscription service provides a comprehensive, continuously updated travel medicine decision support tool for federal

Components, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and will be centrally managed by the

DHS/OHS.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open

Competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.

3304(a)(1), implemented by RFO Subpart 6.103-1, entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

This authority is used because market research determined that only Shoreland, Inc. (Travax) can provide the integrated, enterprise-scale preventive travel health and aerial route intelligence subscription service required by DHS, and no other vendor can satisfy all agency requirements.

5. Identification of Exception to the Buy American Statute Identify the nonavailability exception listed under RFO 25.103(b) or RFO 25.202(a)(2).

N/A

6. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

(a) Rationale for using the authority cited in section 4 of the J&A;

The authority for this procurement is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), implemented by RFO Subpart 6.103-1, entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.” This authority is appropriate because market research has conclusively demonstrated that only Shoreland, Inc. (Travax platform) possesses the unique qualifications and capabilities necessary to fulfill DHS’s requirement for an enterprise-level online database and alert service for preventive and travel health information, including aerial route intelligence. No other commercial provider offers the integrated, continuously updated, and operationally relevant solution required to support DHS-wide workforce health readiness, travel medicine, and epidemiological monitoring activities.

(b) Details covering what events lead to the situation requiring use of other than full and open competition procedures including whether any portion of the work can be segregated to allow for competition;

OHS conducted extensive market research from September 2025 through December 2025, including publication of a Request for Information (RFI) on SAM.gov, review of federal contract vehicles, interviews with industry and government experts, and analysis of commercial offerings. Three responses were received, but only Shoreland, Inc.

(Travax) demonstrated full alignment with the DHS requirements. Other vendors (HAAYVN, Inc.(Sitata) and International SOS) provided partial solutions but lacked critical capabilities such as integrated preventive travel health intelligence, aerial route risk mapping, and a comprehensive hospital directory aligned with U.S. Government diplomatic and operational needs.

The market research further showed that the commercial marketplace for travel medicine decision support tools is highly specialized and dominated by Shoreland(Travax), which is the sole source of civilian travel medicine support for both the Department of Defense and the White House Medical groups. Other platforms either lack the required features (e.g., Tropimed, GIDEON) or do not provide the necessary integration, scalability, or government-aligned intelligence. No portion of the work can be reasonably segregated to allow for competition, as the requirement is for a fully integrated, enterprise-scale solution.

(c) Summarize alternatives considered and why they will not work; and

Several alternatives were considered, including competing the requirement among other commercial providers, dividing the work among multiple vendors, or modifying existing products to meet DHS’ needs. However, these options were rejected because only Shoreland (Travax) offers the full suite of integrated capabilities required for DHS operations. Segregating the work would compromise operational efficiency and data integrity, while modifying other products would require significant development effort and still fail to deliver the necessary features, ultimately jeopardizing mission continuity and readiness.

(d) Impact to the mission that would result if the J&A is not approved and, consequently, the product or service not provided.

Failure to approve this J&A and procure the Shoreland(Travax) solution would have a significant negative impact on DHS’s ability to protect its workforce and fulfill its mission. Without access to a comprehensive, continuously updated, enterprise-level travel health intelligence platform, DHS would face:

Increased risk of preventable illness, injury, and operational disruption among traveling personnel.

Delays and inefficiencies in travel planning, risk assessment, and incident response, undermining mission readiness.

Inability to comply with duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for workforce health and safety.

Higher costs related to emergency medical evacuations, workers’ compensation claims, and lost productivity.

Loss of access to standardized, authoritative information critical for mission continuity and operational planning.

(e) Rationale for use of the nonavailability exception to the Buy American statute, including detailed information explaining why the particular articles, materials, or supplies of the class or kind to be acquired, either as end items or components, are not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality .

7. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited from as Many Potential

Sources as is Practicable.

(a) An announcement was made on SAM.gov on November 25, 2025, under Notice ID Number 70RWMD26RFIP00001, to request information from potential sources regarding the availability of an enterprise-level online database and alert service for preventive and travel health information.

8. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable. .

The contracting officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on commercial pricing norms, prior federal acquisition history, and market research findings. Shoreland(Travax) provided a written quote consistent with enterprise subscription pricing observed in the federal marketplace, and the quoted prices align with historical awards for similar services to agencies such as the Department of Defense and Department of State based on the Market Research. Pricing is stable, predictable, and falls within the expected range for mid-size federal enterprise licenses, with annual increases reflecting standard inflation and data maintenance costs.

9. Description of Market Research.

(a) Describe the market research techniques utilized, the specific results of the market research, the date when the market research was conducted, and how the market research was used by the contracting officer to determine price reasonableness.

Market research was conducted from September 17, 2025, through December 31, 2025, using multiple techniques including publication of a RFI on SAM.gov, review of federal acquisition history and contract vehicles, interviews with industry and government experts, and analysis of commercial databases and vendor quotes. The RFI identified three potential sources, but only Shoreland(Travax) fully met DHS’s requirements for an integrated, enterprise-level preventive and travel health intelligence platform. Pricing information was obtained from Shoreland’s quote, historical federal contract awards, and commercial subscription norms, all of which were reviewed to determine price reasonableness. The results showed that Shoreland(Travax’s) pricing is consistent with market standards and prior federal acquisitions, supporting the contracting officer’s determination that the anticipated cost is fair and reasonable.

(b) Describe the market research results that support the determination that the items are nonavailable

(c) If market research was not conducted, a reason for its absence must be cited here.

Market research was conducted.

(d) If patents, copyrights, and/or intellectual property are applicable to the acquisition, describe the circumstances for acquiring a patented or copyrighted product on the representation of the intellectual property holder that has not been licensed for resale.

10. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

(a) An explanation why technical data packages, specifications, statement of work, or purchase descriptions are not suitable for full and open competition.

The technical data packages, specifications, and statement of work for this requirement are tailored to DHS’s unique operational needs, including integrated preventive health intelligence, aerial route mapping, and a comprehensive hospital directory aligned with U.S. Government standards. These requirements are highly specialized and reflect mission-critical functions that cannot be met by generic or broadly available commercial products. The proprietary nature of Shoreland/Travax’s platform and its established use across federal agencies further limits the suitability of these documents for full and open competition, as no other vendor possesses the necessary content, data integration, or operational capabilities.

(b) Discuss why your requirement cannot be modified to enhance competition.

The requirement cannot be modified to enhance competition without compromising essential features and operational effectiveness. Any attempt to relax or alter the specifications would result in a loss of critical functionality, introduce unacceptable risks, and undermine DHS’s ability to maintain workforce health readiness and mission continuity.

(c) For a proposed contract subject to the restrictions of RFO 6.103-1 for follow-on acquisitions as described in 6.103-1(c)(2)(i), all Components must provide an estimate of the cost to the Government that would be duplicated and detailed information on how the estimate was derived.

RFO 6.103 1(c)(2)(i) addresses follow on acquisitions where recompeting the requirement would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. This proposed contract is not a follow on acquisition of that type. As documented in the Travel Health Information Market Research Report (dated April 29, 2026), the requirement “replaces a prior limited use subscription and is intended to transition DHS into an enterprise wide capability.” The prior Travax actions were two short term, evaluation focused licenses purchased in June 2025 to familiarize OHS with the platform’s features and inform requirements development; they did not involve any custom development, Government unique technical data, or capital investment that would need to be replicated.

Because the product is a commercial, non-developmental subscription service, any future acquisition—whether with Shoreland or another vendor—would require the Government to purchase a new subscription rather than reuse a Government funded build. There is therefore no discrete, quantifiable “duplicated cost” in the sense contemplated by RFO

6.103 1(c)(2)(i); the costs reflected in the IGCE (annual enterprise + Overflight subscription and an optional API CLIN) represent the ordinary price of obtaining the required commercial service, not sunk development or start-up costs that would have to be incurred again if the requirement were competed.

For these reasons, OHS concludes that this action is not a follow on acquisition within the meaning of RFO 6.103 1(c)(2)(i), and no separate estimate of duplicated cost is required.

(d) For a proposed contract subject to the restrictions of RFO 6.103-2(c) or HSAR 3006.103- 2(c)(70) (HSAR Class Deviation 25-01) and where RFO 6.103-2 is cited as the authority, describe the exceptional circumstances allowing for an award for a period of performance in excess of the one-year limitation (applicable to all federal agencies) or the DHS-specific statutory 150-day limitation.

Other than Section 10 (c), there are no other facts supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition to be discussed under Section 10.

11. A Listing of the Sources, if Any That Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the

Acquisition.

A Request for Information (RFI) was issued in SAM.gov on November 25, 2025, requesting that parties express their interest in writing to the contracting officer. Three contractors responded: HAAYVN, International SOS Government Services, LLC, and Shoreland, Inc. Upon evaluation, only Shoreland, Inc. met all DHS requirements for an integrated, enterprise-level preventive and travel health intelligence platform. HAAYVN and International SOS were found to lack critical capabilities necessary for DHS operations.

12. A Statement of the Actions, if Any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers to Competition Before Any Subsequent Acquisition for Supplies or Services Required.

The Office of Health Security (OHS), in coordination with the Office of Procurement Operations (OPO), will continue to monitor the preventive and travel health intelligence marketplace throughout the period of performance of this contract. Prior to any fol market research consistent with RFO Parts 7 and 10, to include a refreshed review of DHS strategic sourcing vehicles and GSA Multiple Award Schedule offerings (e.g., SIN 51120 – Software Licenses), as well as publication of a new Sources Sought/RFI on SAM.gov to determine whether additional vendors have emerged with capabilities that fully meet the Government’s updated requirements.

OHS will also assess whether its future requirements can be structured in a manner that enhances competition without compromising mission needs—for example, by customization that would increase switching costs, and identifying any portions of the requirement that could reasonably be competed separately if the market matures (such as discrete modules or integration services). OHS will coordinate with the DHS Strategic similar services.

If future market research indicates that additional responsible sources are capable of meeting DHS’s integrated preventive and travel health and aerial route intelligence requirements, OHS will work with OPO to pursue competitive procedures for any subsequent acquisition, consistent with the Competition in Contracting Act and DHS acquisition policy.

(a) Will the Government revise overly technical specifications, acquire data rights, etc.?

(b) When a J&A is issued for the purposes of acquiring goods or services while a competitive procurement is being conducted, the justification should include a detailed timeline for completion of the competitive procurement. The period of performance for the sole source action should fairly balance the time needed to complete the competitive procurement. The focus should be on minimizing the need for additional sole source awards.

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13. Contracting Officer’s Certification. I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date

14. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification. I certify this requirement meets the

Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

Technical Representative Date

APPROVAL:

Date