FA489016C0011P00066 - Nine Month Bridge Action JA Redacted.pdf

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 6March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 6 did occur. Prior to exercising option period seven of the 18-month bridge (1 April - 30 Sep 2023), PWS V5.0 was placed on contract through modification P00059 which further reduced the workload required under this requirement.

During this 18-month bridge action, the requirement owner and ACC AMIC/PKBB, the portfolio manager for TRSS contracts, decided it was in the best interest of the Government to consolidate two requirements: MQ-9 Contract Aircrew Training/ Courseware Development (CAT/CWD) (FA4890-19-C-0004) and this contract (FA4890-16-C-0011). Both contracts provide services for the same four locations, provide training services for the same weapon system, and both have had a reduction in requirements under new force structure changes. The consolidated contract is estimated to be valued for a five-year contract period of performance.

To allow adequate time for the follow-on acquisition to be awarded which will combine these two existing contracts into one requirement while continually maintaining and sustaining current and future mission critical JTAC Air & Ground ISR training support services without interruptions, an additional nine-month bridge for FA4890-16-C-0011 is necessary. The ISR contract current bridge action will expire on 30 Sep 2023. Since the MQ-9 contract does not expire until 31 Dec 2023 and the ISR bridge contract will expire before estimated award date of the new contract on 1 Dec 2023, the ISR bridge contract will require another bridge to extend the services. The ISR contract is currently postured for another bridge with a nine-month period of performance (Oct 23 – 30 Jun 24). This will align the two contracts and allow for the award of the consolidated requirement. Additionally should the consolidated contract not be awarded on/before 1 Dec 2023, the MQ-9 contract will be extended IAW FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Service. The three three-month option periods provided under this additional nine-month bridge will allow flexibility in awarding the follow-on contract. The initial three month period will line up the contract with the end of the MQ-9 contract, and if the six-month (-8) is required to be exercised for MQ-9 the two additional three-month options will allow the CO the ability to continue to match the end of period of performance for the two contracts.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

Scope of Work. The contractor shall furnish all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and all other items and services required to support MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) with Air and Ground Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) training support. The contractor will provide realistic training support through training syllabi for the warfighter to include Opposing Forces (OPFOR), Friendly Forces (BLUFOR), and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) support. In addition, the PWS provides for Air and Ground Testing support and support for USAF Weapons School (WS) training exercises, continuation training (CT), and mission qualification training (MQT). The work identified in this PWS supports training at Holloman AFB, Creech/Nellis AFB, March ARB, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, USAF WS, and

556 TES.

The purpose of this training program is to support RPA pilots and sensor operators (SOs) to achieve the following qualification levels: Initial Qualification (IQT), Combat Mission Readiness (CMR), Re-qualification, and Instructor Upgrade. In addition, USAF WS Training includes advanced reconnaissance and surveillance sensors, weapons, ISR target management, and mission planning and execution. Also, the PWS may require input in the development and integration of common operating standards, concepts, technologies, tactics, techniques, procedures, and training through the use of real-time ISR, surface attack, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), and Close Air Support (CAS) training scenarios on military ranges where aircrews conduct ISR, simulated attacks, CAS, and CSAR from the aircraft.

The estimated price for the bridge for nine months. The price estimate includes the current monthly prices from the extension, which is based upon the last option period pricing on the current JTAC ISR contract and an additional for inflation. The Labor CLINs are governed by two Collective Bargaining Agreements which expire 30 Sep 2022 and 30 Sep 2023 respectively. This action will be funded by ACC/A3R using 3400 appropriation.

ITEM SUPPLIES/SERVICE QTY UNIT

8001 Holloman AFB, NM - Labor 9 Months 8002 Creech AFB, NV - Labor 9 Months 8003 March ARB, CA - Labor 9 Months 8004 Hancock ANG, NY - Labor 9 Months 8005 Travel NTE 1 Lot

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8006 Fuel NTE 1 Lot 8007 NM Gross Receipt Tax NTE 1 Lot

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

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii), Only one responsible source and no other services will satisfy agency requirements, and required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(4).

The Rockhill Group (TRG) is currently performing the required services outlined in Section III on contract FA4890-16-C-0011.

The contract was solicited as a competitive small business set-aside, using a Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process. The current contract extension under the 18-month bridge will end on 30 Sep 2023. Award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Air Force's requirements.

ACC believes that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition, and would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Air Force's requirements.

Phase-in costs of approximately , costs for evaluation team time and TDY travel would duplicate costs incurred for the follow-on contract award. Also, additive to the direct costs would be the mission impact caused by a break in service if the competition cannot be concluded by 30 Sep 2023: i.e. stopping production at the Formal Training Unit (FTU). ACC also believes award to any other source would result in substantial startup costs to potential vendors for proposal preparation, staffing costs, and learning curve costs for such a short period of time of only 9 months.

The extension permitted by FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, has been exhausted. A competitive acquisition in the time remaining before the current contract expires is not practical. The current contractor can continue the current effort for the extended period with no loss in efficiency and no adverse impact on the mission. Accordingly, TRG is the only vendor capable of providing the supplies and services described in Section III above without the Air Force experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition, and without experiencing unacceptable delays in fulfilling requirements.

TRG is the only contractor fully trained and equipped, and that has the knowledge and expertise ready and capable of meeting the government's requirements during the bridge contract modification period. TRG's access to personnel, capabilities and resources is currently in place. No other contractor can meet the Government's requirements over the next 90 days. The Air Force does not have military personnel to provide this training and is therefore dependent upon contractual support to ensure that continuous critical training requirements of the JTAC ISR program are met. Any attempt to award an interim competitive contract would result in further delay and complete shutdown of the JTAC ISR qualification training, simulator, mission flying and launch and recovery instruction at all locations, thus reducing the ability of the warfighters to accomplish their mission in the

AOR.

Accordingly, The Rockhill Group is the only vendor capable of providing the services described in Section III above without the U.S. Air Force experiencing unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

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.

The original award solicited from as many potential sources as practicable and awarded through competition. An RFI, as required by DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d) for the original acquisition was published on 2 April 2015 and received from potential offerors, and ultimately were received in response to the solicitation. TRG was selected as the best value to the government. However, due to the nature of the follow-on requirement (see paragraph IV above), it is necessary to extend performance through an additional nine-month bridge as to not disrupt the current effort while a competitive acquisition is underway. RFIs issued for the follow-on requirement to ensure that offers are solicited from as many sources as practicable have been satisfied through the efforts described in section VII below.

IAW FAR 6.305(a), a copy of the J&A will be publicized within 14 days after contract award.

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

The anticipated cost for this modification will be fair and reasonable after comparing the proposed prices for the bridge contract to the original competed prices, as well as recent pricing for similar awarded contract efforts. Collective Bargaining Agreements containing labor rates effective for fiscal year 2023 are in effect and will also be used to compare pricing. No changes to staffing are expected during the nine-month extended period of performance. The current contract was competitively awarded, and proposed pricing and labor rates were found to be fair and reasonable based on adequate price competition.

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

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

N/A

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

See Section VIII above.

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.

No barriers to competition exist for the JTAC ISR requirement. Based on market research, the follow-on contract is anticipated to be competitive.

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.