EWSSC Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity_Redacted.pdf
PDF 851 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 1305M425F0011
About this file
This is a Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity for a sole-source task order modification exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold under FAR 16.507.
The Department of Commerce's NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office and Cyber Security Division intends to award a firm-fixed-price follow-on order to Soliel LLC for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) safeguarding and compliance support services. The work encompasses strengthening NOAA's ability to protect CUI, Personally Identifiable Information, scientific data, and operational information; reviewing System Security Plans, Plans of Action and Milestones, and standard operating procedures for federal CUI compliance; developing CUI handling processes and training materials; supporting NOAA's Chief Data Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer with expert guidance and compliance documentation; and enhancing accountability, visibility, auditing capability, and risk posture across NOAA programs handling CUI. The performance period runs from March 1, 2026 through January 9, 2028, with a total estimated value including all options that is redacted in the document.
The contracting officer justified the sole-source award under FAR 16.507-6(b)(3) as a logical follow-on to existing order 1305M425F0011 issued under the GSA 8(a) STARS III contract, where all awardees received fair opportunity consideration on the original task order. The CUI program requirements are directly related to and substantially encompassed within the existing Enterprise-Wide System Security and Compliance (EWSSC) effort, representing a focused refinement of existing services within the same federal IT security and Risk Management Framework architecture rather than a new functional domain. The contracting officer determined anticipated costs are fair and reasonable, and plans to open competition for this requirement in fiscal year 2027, quarter 4.
View the file
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Version 4.0
JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY
FOR AN ORDER EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD
(AUTHORITY: FAR 16.507)
47QTCB22D0045/1305M425F0011
1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants
Office (AGO), Corporate Services Acquisition Division (CSAD) and NOAA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), Cyber Security Division (CSD).
2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.
This is a justification for an exception to fair opportunity for a modification to an existing order. The planned order type is firm-fixed price. The Government intends to award this follow-on order to Soliel LLC.
3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).
CSD requires a contractor to:
● Strengthen NOAA’s ability to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Personally
Identifiable Information (PII), scientific data, and operational information
● Review System Security Plans (SSPs), Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms), standard operating procedures (SOPs)to ensure compliance with CUI federal requirements. Develop CUI handling processes and training materials.
● Support NOAA’s Chief Data Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), OCIO CUI Program, and Line/Staff Office leadership with expert guidance, documentation, and compliance artifacts
● Enhance accountability, visibility, auditing capability, and risk posture across NOAA programs that handle CUI
The expected period of performance is March 1, 2026 – January 9, 2028. The total estimated value, including all options, is .
4. Authority and supporting rationale. The contracting officer has determined the circumstances of the acquisition meet the following statutory exception under FAR 16.507-6(b) as supported below:
Logical follow-on - FAR 16.507-6(b)(3) – In the interest of economy and efficiency, this order must be issued on a sole-source basis because it is a logical follow-on to order number 1305M425F0011 already issued under the GSA 8(a) STARS III contract and all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.
The scope of the CUI program requirements is directly related to, and substantially encompassed within, the scope of the Enterprise-Wide System Security and Compliance (EWSSC) effort being performed under the existing task order. The requirements fall within the same federal IT security, Risk Management Framework (RMF), and compliance architecture already supported under EWSSC and therefore represents a focused delineation and refinement of existing services rather
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .