Final JA SETA redacted.pdf

HC1028-20-F-0003 SETA Bridge

CUI

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Controlled By: DISA Controlled By: IE3 CUI Category: SSEL, PROCURE Distribution/Dissemination Control: FEDCON

POC:

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL (J&A)

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) PART 8 ACQUISITIONS

Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)/Multiple Award Contract Orders under MAS/General Services Administration Schedules (GSA)/

Federal Supply Schedules (FSS)

FAR 8.405-6

Purchase Request Number: To Be Determined Contract Number: GS-35F-225CA Task Order Number: HC1028-20-F-0003 Procurement Title: Communications Center/Gateways & Satellite Systems Engineering & Technical Assistance (SETA) Bridge Estimated Value:

Limited Source Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

J&A Number: Not Applicable (N/A)

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as Contracting Officer, hereby approve this limited source justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B). The acquisition referenced herein is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program.

1. REQUIRING AGENCY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE:

Requesting Agency:

Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)/Transport Program Executive Office (PEO Transport) Services (IE) 6910 Cooper Avenue Fort Meade, Maryland 20755

Contracting Activity:

DISA/Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO)/PS8313 2300 East Drive Building 3600 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225

2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACTION(S): The nature of this action is to procure the continuation of Satellite Communication (SATCOM) support via a bridge modification which will extend the period of performance (PoP) of task order, HC1028-20-F-0003. The PoP for the current task order ends April 14, 2025. The anticipated PoP for the bridge is a four-month base period of April 15, 2025 – August 14, 2025. This extension will ensure continued support during the protest period of the follow-on contract. The SETA effort actively supports comprehensive

Page 2 of 5 Pages program management, integration, technical, operational, life cycle sustainment, migration, transition, and financially oriented support for all aspects of SATCOM’s Gateway Program Office (IE3) responsibilities, for comprehensive management, integration, and technical support.

Fiscal Year 2025 Procurement funds will be used for this modification. The modification will increase the current task order life cycle value by

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: Continuity of services is required for support to PEO Transport and IE3. The order provides contractor SATCOM support to IE3 which in turn provides communications for the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Combatant Commands, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior Government leaders. The support is to maintain requisite contractor management, integration, technical, operational, life cycle sustainment, migration, transition, and financial expertise for IE3. This support is structured to assist DISA offices and program management partners with effective, quality, and timely execution of the DISA SATCOM Management/Jam Resistant Secure Communications and Operational Network Management roles and responsibilities. Further, this task order supports the planned execution, implementation, and sustainment of IE3 and global communication networks, which is consistent with Department of Defense Information Network architecture, as well as the Defense and Strategic Planning Guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense. Support under this task order provides system engineering for senior leadership command, control, and communications systems executive transport aircraft, ground fixed and mobile assets. Engineering efforts also impact the SatStar Network engineering support services to Secretary of Defense Communications Office and the National Airborne Operations Center. This support is required to fulfill tasks regarding troubleshooting, engineering design support, Phoenix Air Ground Communication network transition support, National Leadership Command Capability support, operational test and evaluation, information assurance, and network (including associated equipment) assessment.

The current contract expires on April 14, 2025. This effort was re-competed as a full-and-open small business set aside. On March 17, 2025, the follow-on contract, HC1028-18-D- 0027/HC1028-20-F-6520, was awarded. A bid protest was submitted in a timely manner to trigger an automatic suspension of performance of the follow-on contract pending resolution of the protest in accordance with FAR 33.103(f)(3). The extension of the current contract will allow for continued support of this vital program during the protest period, while retaining the ability to provide a consistent level of effort for IE3 without a break in service.

The estimated cost of support for this extension is

4. IDENTIFICATION OF LIMITED SOURCE AUTHORITY AND DEMONSTRATION OF

CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS: Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized, FAR 8.405-6 (a)(1)(i)(B).

(a) Description of Events. HC1028-18-D-0027/HC1028-25-F-6520 was competed under solicitation number 832369148. Award of HC1028-18-D-0027/HC1028-25-F-6520 was

Page 3 of 5 Pages made on March 17, 2025, and this award was protested. Thereafter, a stop-work order was issued.

(b) Justification.

(1) Minimum Government requirements. PEO Transport, and specifically IE3, depend on the daily services currently rendered by the incumbent task order which are necessary for global communications architecture and networks: engineering, contractor management, integration, technical, operational, life cycle sustainment, migration, transition, and financial expertise. Failure to provide this support to IE3 will negatively impact the global communication architecture and networks that provide the critical management, migration, integration, transition, and sustainment necessary to ensure SATCOM support, posing unacceptable risk to SATCOM support missions and communications for Government leaders and global missions.

(2) Proposed sole source contractor. Due to the bid protest filed by AIX Tech, LLC, Competitive Range Solutions, LLC (CRS) is the only source that can fulfill this requirement without risk of a substantial break in service/support to IE3 and its mission to support communications for Government leaders, global communications, and specifically the Secretary of Defense mission set.

(3) Discussion regarding cause of the limited source situation. A sole-source action is necessary due to a protest filed in response to the award of the follow-on contract, HC1028-18-D-0027/HC1028-25-F-6520. If a bid protest had not been received, this extension would not be necessary.

5. BEST VALUE DETERMINATION:

(a) By placing an order against a schedule contract using the procedures in Part 8, the ordering activity has concluded that the order represented the best value (as defined in FAR 2.101) and resulted in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs. Based on the justification above, a bridge modification to the current task order is the most appropriate and best value course of action to ensure continuity of services/support.

(b) GSA has already determined that prices of supplies, fixed price services, and rates for services offered at hourly rates are fair and reasonable for the purpose of establishing the schedule contract. However, the KO is still required to make a determination of fair and reasonable pricing for individual orders, BPAs, and orders under proposal analysis techniques at FAR 15.404-1. The complexity and circumstances of the acquisition should determine the level of detail and analysis IAW FAR 8.404(d) for acquisitions under FAR 8.405-2(d). A Request for Proposal will be routed to the contractor, CRS, for the bridge modification. The proposal received by CRS will be evaluated for reasonable pricing under proposal analysis techniques at FAR 15.404-1.

6. MARKET RESEARCH: This is an extension to the existing task order to ensure continued support until the protest and transition period of the follow-on contract/order, HC1028-18-D- 0027/HC1028-25-F-6520, are complete. Market research was conducted for the follow-on contract which was conducted within the last 12 months. The market research identified potential

Page 4 of 5 Pages sources which enabled the follow-on contract to be conducted as an ENCORE III small business set-aside. (FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(vi)).

Based on current market research conducted within the last 12 months, it has been determined that only the aforementioned service support provided under the SETA task order, can fully support the Government’s need during the resolution of the protest. The Government market research has determined that there is adequate vendors to support competitive actions for the follow-on and it is not expected that sources will be further limited.

7. ANY OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS: N/A

8. ACTIONS THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT LED TO THE

RESTRICTED CONSIDERATION:

(a) Current Contract: HC1028-20-F-0003

(b) Status. Expires April 14, 2025. Competitive Small Business Set-Aside Source

Selection completed for follow-on. Award announced March 17, 2025. Stop-work order was issued on March 26, 2025, due to a bid protest.

9. REFERENCE TO THE APPROVED ACQUISITION PLAN (AP): An AP was completed for the follow-on HC1028-18-D-0027/HC1028-25-F-6520.

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TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the J&A are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the J&A are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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

ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS JUSTIFICATION ARE TO BE REFERRED TO:

Kristen Unfried, kristen.m.unfried.civ@mail.mil,