Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

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The CLIN structure is detailed below:

CLIN X001: 1 FW - Program Manager (TS Clearance) CLIN X002: 633 CES - Electrical Engineer CLIN X003: 1 FW - Administrative Assistant/Personnel Specialist (TS Clearance) CLIN X004: 733 CES - GSI Cartgrapher CLIN X005: 733 CES - Program Manager CLIN X006: 633 CS - IT Project Manager CLIN X007: 633 CONS - Contract Management Support CLIN X008: 633 CONS - Contract Management Support CLIN X009: 633 CONS - Contract Management Support CLIN X010: 633 CONS - Contract Management Support CLIN X011: 633 CONS - IT Support Specialist CLIN X012: 633 CONS - Administrative Assistant CLIN X013: 1 FW - Construction Surveillance Tech (TS Clearance) CLIN X014: 1 FW - Construction Surveillance Tech (TS Clearance) CLIN X015: 1 FW - Construction Surveillance Tech (TS Clearance)

IV. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above.

Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, LLC (Cherokee) Cherokee Nation Strategic Services (CNSS) possesses a unique combination of technical expertise, institutional knowledge, and mission specific experience that makes them the only responsible source capable of providing uninterrupted professional services in support of the F-22 Raptor beddown at JBLE.

Cherokee has been the incumbent provider of engineering support, construction surveillance technicians, cartographic services, project management, and contract management support under the current contract (FA480020f0215). Through this performance, Cherokee has developed a deep understanding of the installation’s infrastructure, ongoing military construction (MILCON) and facility sustainment efforts, and the complex sequencing required to support the F-22 Formal Training Unit (FTU) expansion.

The F-22 beddown requires precise coordination of planning, design, environmental, and construction activities across multiple base organizations. Cherokee personnel have been directly embedded in these efforts for five and half years, giving them unique familiarity with JBLE’s operational constraints, utilities, facility conditions, and long-range development plans.

This knowledge cannot be rapidly replicated by a new contractor without significant disruption to mission critical planning and execution timelines.

Cherokee’s workforce includes specialized engineering and technical personnel whose qualifications align directly with the requirements of the beddown effort; five personnel (three constructions surveillance technicians, program manager, and administrative assistant/personnel specialist) possess a required Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance and two personnel (IT project manager and IT support specialist) posses a required Secret clearance. The construction surveillance technicians possess detailed knowledge of ongoing and planned MILCON and FSRM projects, enabling them to identify risks, ensure compliance, and maintain continuity across multiple project phases. The cartographers and GIS specialists have developed and maintained installation-specific mapping products, geospatial datasets, and planning tools that are essential to siting, sequencing, and integrating new F-22 facilities. The project managers and contract support personnel have established working relationships with base stakeholders, higher headquarters, and external agencies, allowing them to coordinate complex actions efficiently and without delay.

Transitioning these responsibilities to a new contractor during the critical path of the F-22 FTU beddown would result in unacceptable mission risk and unnecessary start-up/shutdown costs. A new contractor would require extensive onboarding, familiarization with installation processes, and reconstruction of geospatial and project-tracking tools already developed by Cherokee. This would cause delays in planning, programming, and execution activities that directly affect the Air Force’s ability to meet required F-22 beddown timelines and to project air superiority around the world.

Given the time-sensitive nature of the requirement, the specialized technical expertise involved, and the incumbent’s unique institutional knowledge, only Cherokee can provide the continuity and capability necessary to support the F-22 beddown

August 2023 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 4 of 5August 2023 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 4 of 5 without operational impact. For these reasons, Cherokee is the only responsible source capable of meeting the Government’s minimum needs for this interim period, consistent with the authority of FAR 6.302-1. The bridge contract will ensure these type service requests that are essential to base operations are seamlessly executed.

V. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under

FAR 5.202 applies.

This is a bridge contract to maintain continuity of the beddown support services at JBLE. A notice will be publicized as required by FAR 5.2.

VI. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

This is a bridge action to maintain continuity of the beddown support services. The current, existing contract FA480020F0215 was competitively awarded and determined to be fair and reasonable. The bridge contract proposal will be compared to the existing option year four contract price in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(ii). Further, fair and reasonableness will be determined in accordance with FAR15.404-1(b)(2)(v), comparison of proposed price with the IGE and FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(vii), analysis of other than certified cost or pricing data.

As noted in Section III, the IGE was derived by the COR by utilizing the known fully burdened labor rates utilized in option year four (and the 52.217-8 extension) and applying a ( escalation. The escalated labor rates were then multiplied by the know labor hours for each period; base period three months or labor hours and each one month option period of hours.

VII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

This is a bridge action to maintain continuity of the beddown support services. Market research is not applicable to this action as only one responsible source, with requisite knowledge and skilled personnel with the necessary clearances is presently on site to ensure there is no lapse in service. Additional market research in support of the follow on effort will be conducted and documented to maximize competition.

VIII. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

This justification and approval is in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Cherokee is already on site performing the requirements of the PWS, has the necessary staff and resources, possesses the requisite knowledge, has zero start up costs, and requires no transition period to maintain continuity of services. This bridge action is a temporary solution while the follow on effort is being competed via FA480025R0003; anything other than a bridge action with the existing contractor would result in additional start up costs, lost time attributable to a competition and transition, and degradation to mission.

IX. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Not applicable to this action. Additional sources were not considered for this bridge action.

X. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

As noted in Section IV above, FA480019DA001 was competitively awarded 01 March 2019. In support of the initial follow on solicitation FA480023R0007, prior to the delay, a sources sought was posted on 28 February 2023 and received eighteen (18) responses. It is expected the follow on solicitation will have large interest from industry partners and generate competition. The follow on solicitation will further detail all actions to remove or overcome barriers to competition.

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XI. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.