Eisenhower JEFO 2024_47_Redacted.pdf

Control No: MICC 2024-47

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR PART 16 EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY JUSTIFICATION

For Actions Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)

Program/Equipment: Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) Transformation Cell has a requirement to procure Cisco brand name information technology (IT) components for the back-end network of the Military Construction Project MCA-2 IT fit-out.

Authority: FAR 16.505(a)(4) – Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer).

Amount:

Prepared by: DSN:

Date: 24 June 2024

Contracting Officer: Ashley T. Scott DSN: 780-9208 Contract Officer Date: 24 June 2024 Email: ashley.t.scott3.civ@army.mil

Technical: DSN:

Requirements: DSN:

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support an exception to fair opportunity.

DSN:

Date: See digital signature

Date: See digital signature

DSN:

Date: See digital signature

DSN:

Date: See digital signature training. The approved solution was specifically engineered to integrate with the Cyber Virtual Training Environment (CVTE) network expansion.

The approved solution was developed to work with numerous cyber security processes, utilize software on the software authorized products list, employ equipment on the security authorized products list compatible with existing deployed solutions, and take advantage of existing army enterprise agreements. A key characteristic of this equipment is its designed integration with an already installed network. The programmed network settings and configurations will reduce the number of contractor support personnel needed for sustainment from 6 to 1.5. Any changes to the approved solution would result in requirements for new Security Controls Assessment Validations at an estimated cost of $500 thousand, the delay to a new $100 million facility which impacts the CCoE’s force generating requirement, an increased contract cost estimated at $1.45 million annually for maintenance of legacy equipment, and increased operational risk to multiple enterprises. The existing CCoE network uses similar equipment across the CCoE campus. Utilization of the approved solution will allow for the use of existing army enterprise agreements thereby reducing long-term costs with regards to maintenance and sustainment.

b. Alternatives. Alternative solutions were examined at the start of this effort but due to enterprise service providers’ cyber security requirements alternative solutions were unable to be approved for implementation.

c. Additional Supporting Information:

1) Failure to acquire these brand name items will result in a new facility valued at approximately $100 million being initially unusable for its intended training mission.

2) The Cyber Security findings, and authorized products list for some networks are classified but the appropriate examination of alternatives was conducted via meetings.

3) Long lead time items are already risking the current project timeline of providing a fully operational capable training facility by 25 November 2024.

d. Impact if justification not approved: If these specific items are not approved, the IT infrastructure for the MCA-2 facility will not be operational to absorb the CCoE student training requirements. Not procuring this brand name IT requirement disaggregates and desynchronizes the $1 billion Army effort and priority to transform and modernize the CCoE Campus, so it has the necessary capabilities to train and educate Soldiers to support Multi Domain Operations in Large Scale Combat Operations.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: This effort utilizes the Army’s mandatory source of supply and will be open to all eligible providers on the ITES-3H vehicle.

7. Market Research: Market research was performed within the CHESS program and multiple companies can provide these requirements. All eligible ITES-3H contract holders will be eligible to compete for this requirement. Multiple ITES-3H vendors have expressed verbal interest during the market research. Market research was performed by the requiring activity on 5 December 2023, and the Contract Specialist at MICC – Eisenhower on 12 April 2024. Market research revealed that the requirement could be fulfilled through the mandatory source CHESS. The Army CHESS program is a mandatory source program for the purchase of commercial off the shelf (COTS) software, IT equipment (e.g. routers & servers), services, etc., regardless of dollar value. This requirement will be competed under Army CHESS ITES-3H on an unrestricted basis through Army CHESS.

8. Other Facts: This acquisition will use the mandatory source of supply. There is no available procurement history for these items.