19AF FTCOE AQE Sustainment JA 20 Aug 26 Signed.pdf

Department of the Air Force: Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

CUI

March 2026 Page 1 of 3

Dollar Value of this Acquisition: < $10M > $10M and < $100M > $100M and < $500M > $500M

CERTIFICATIONS: CO certification serves as J&A approval < $10M, See J&A Template Guidance at https://usaf.dps.mil/sites/ AFCC/AQCP/KnowledgeCenter/SitePages/DAF-Contracting-Compass/Part-6---Competition-Requirements.aspx for completing the J&A sections and J&A Approval Guidance

Date

20 August 2026

Contracting Officer Erin L. Mehaffie, NH III, DAF

338 ESS PKAA/ (385) 678-7614

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature

Date

17 March 2026

Project Lead / Program Mgr / Requiring Activity Bernard J. Lemay, GS-13, DAF

19AF FTCOE/FTCC / (210) 652-1752

I certify that the supporting data herein, which is my responsibility, is accurate and complete.

Signature

COORDINATION Sign and Save Procedure

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APPROVALS ( RFO 6.104-2(a) Table 6-1 & R-DFARS 206.104-72 Table 206.1)

See J&A Template Guidance (https://usaf.dps.mil/sites/AFCC/AQCP/KnowledgeCenter/SitePages/DAF-Contracting-Compass/ Part-6---Competition-Requirements.aspx) - J&A Approval Guidelines

NOTE 1: A signature block will appear here (replacing these notes) based on the "Dollar Value of this Acquisition" selected above. Since most digital signatures that include date/time-stamps are redacted before they are made publicly available, always insert the date in the “Date” cell when affixing a digital signature to this document.

March 2026 Page 2 of 3

I. Agency and Contracting Activity (RFO 6.104-1(a)(1)):

Agency: AETC 19th AF Flight Training Center of Excellence (FTCOE) Contracting Activity: 338th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron (ESS)

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved (RFO 6.104-1(a)(2)):

This document approves the award of a new firm fixed price (FFP) contract on a sole source basis to iPerformX to continue prototyping the Adaptive Quiz Engine (AQE) in support of Fighter Bomber Fundamentals in the Pilot Training Transformation (PTT) program. This justification is made on individual basis.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (RFO 6.104-1(a)(3)):

The 19th Air Force Flying Training Center of Excellence (19 AF/FTCOE) requires a network and data solution to support the Pilot Training Transformation (PTT) program. This effort is to sustain and maintain the Adaptive Quiz Engine (AQE) for the Fighter Bomber Fundamentals (FBF) and future courses on the Learning Management System (LMS). The AQE should enhance pilot training effectiveness and efficiency, preparing students for better retention of the material in long-term memory.

IV. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(4)):

10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

V. Rationale for Use of Authority (RFO 6.104-1(a)(5)):

In accordance with FAR 10.002, the Government conducted continuous and comprehensive market research to identify potential sources capable of meeting the requirement for an Adaptive Quizzing Engine (AQE). The Government identified two vendors, Ethos and iPerformX (iPX), that expressed interest in writing and submitted capability statements. To ensure maximum practicable competition, the Government also conducted direct market outreach via email to SAIC and Amplifire, two recognized industry leaders in learning technologies, to determine their interest and capability. Both SAIC and Amplifire formally responded that they could not meet the technical requirements or the delivery schedule of this effort.

Subsequently, the Government engaged in clarifying discussions with Ethos. After receiving the Government's answers regarding the mandatory delivery schedule and integration milestones, Ethos officially stated they could not meet the required timeline and withdrew their interest.

Based on the market research described above, iPX is the only vendor that indicated the capability to satisfy this critical requirement within the necessary timeframe and possesses the established infrastructure to sustain their proprietary quizzing engine.

VI. Integrated Market Analysis and Efforts to Solicit Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(6), (8), and (10)):

A search of Air Force Enterprise License Agreements (ELA), DoD/Joint ELAs (JELA) , and DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) in accordance with AFMAN 17-1203, para. 3.2.1 revealed that no sources were available for purchase of these quizzing

March 2026 Page 3 of 3 engines. A search of GSA Advantage and contractor websites during initial Market Research revealed potentially capable vendors to include iPX, SAIC, Amplifire, and Ethos.

Additionally, an RFI was posted to SAM.gov on 14 Jul 25 with a due date of 24 Jul 25 (extended to 28 Jul 25 when only 1 response (iPX) was received). The post included the Statement of Objectives and a list of four questions for prospective offerers to answer. Three vendors: SAIC, Amplifire, and Ethos, stated they could not meet the requirement timeline therefore, iPX was awarded the contract to develop the AQE. Market research was conducted on 14 Jan 26 recommending awarding a sole source contract to iPX for sustainment and hosting of AQE for Fighter Bomber Fundamentals. Pursuing an alternative AQE provider would be financially and operationally disadvantageous. Staying with iPX is the most logical choice because a new vendor would have to build a system from the ground up, leading to substantial cost escalations and a solution that would delay training across all UPT bases.

VII. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost (RFO 6.104-1(a)(7)):

The Contracting Officer is responsible for evaluating, determining, and documenting the anticipated contract cost/price is fair and reasonable in accordance with RFO Subpart 15.4, Contract Pricing.

VIII. Any Other Facts Supporting the Justification (RFO 6.104-1(a)(9)):

None

IX. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(11):

19 AF/FTCOE continuously monitors the marketplace to determine potential future sources and the feasibility of obtaining multiple vendors for competition.

March 2026 Page of Dollar Value of this Acquisition:

CERTIFICATIONS: CO certification serves as J&A approval < $10M, See J&A Template Guidance at https://usaf.dps.mil/sites/AFCC/AQCP/KnowledgeCenter/SitePages/DAF-Contracting-Compass/Part-6---Competition-Requirements.aspx for completing the J&A sections and J&A Approval Guidance

COORDINATION

** The text in the signature blocks below is editable, including the title.

** To remove a row, click the "X" next to the signature block. CAUTION: Once removed, it can only be restored by downloading the BLANK FORM again.

APPROVALS ( RFO 6.104-2(a) Table 6-1 & R-DFARS 206.104-72 Table 206.1) See J&A Template Guidance (https://usaf.dps.mil/sites/AFCC/AQCP/KnowledgeCenter/SitePages/DAF-Contracting-Compass/Part-6---Competition-Requirements.aspx) - J&A Approval Guidelines NOTE 1: A signature block will appear here (replacing these notes) based on the "Dollar Value of this Acquisition" selected above. Since most digital signatures that include date/time-stamps are redacted before they are made publicly available, always insert the date in the “Date” cell when affixing a digital signature to this document.

I. Agency and Contracting Activity (RFO 6.104-1(a)(1)):

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved (RFO 6.104-1(a)(2)):

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (RFO 6.104-1(a)(3)):

IV. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(4)):

V. Rationale for Use of Authority (RFO 6.104-1(a)(5)):

VI. Integrated Market Analysis and Efforts to Solicit Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(6), (8), and (10)):

VII. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost (RFO 6.104-1(a)(7)):

VIII. Any Other Facts Supporting the Justification (RFO 6.104-1(a)(9)):

IX. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(11):

9.0.0.2.20120627.2.874785