A02 JA Russo-Ukraine War Assessment_Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) Modified for Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501

1. Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity: Defense Health Agency (DHA), United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Contracts Group 1, Contracts Branch 4.

2. Nature and/or Description of Action being Approved: This approval is for a new Firm Fixed Price contract. This is an individual J&A Modified for FAR 13.501.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Due to the ongoing conflict as well as the ever-changing battlefield environment, the DHA, Research & Engineering Directorate, Combat Casualty Care (CCC) Portfolio requires a contract to provide the American College of Surgeons (ACS) military Advanced Surgical Skills and Exposures in Trauma (ASSET) courses with ensuing symposia(s) to yet-to-be trained Ukrainian frontline medical personnel and their supporting Ministries. The surgical training courses developed in part by the Uniformed Services University (USU) Department of Surgery will be administered by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) and their subcontractor, Aspen Medical. This effort directly supports Department of Defense (DoD) and Congressional priorities, as evidenced by Section 736 of the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act/NDAA (Public Law #117-263) which mandates that DoD seek to establish bilateral partnerships between the US and Ukraine (UKR) in support of improved trauma care and combat-related mental health care; as well as, efforts to collaborate on medical system development, mental health care and trauma-related research and education/ training (i.e. ASSET courses). Furthermore, an additional objective in providing these ASSET courses is having Ukrainian frontline medical personnel provide critical treatment data as part of the DoD's ongoing Casualty Care Assessment of Russo-Ukraine War. By interviewing Ukrainian frontline medical personnel during the ensuing symposia(s), the DoD (through its contractor partners) are able to obtain, access and analyze UKR battlefield medical metrics now to learn lessons before engaging with a peer or near peer opponent of its own in the future. The goal is to collect data and for analysis to develop practical lessons learned that will contribute to low morbidity and mortality on future battlefields across tactical, medical, and logistical domains.

1 NOV 2024

NOV2024

4. Statutory Authority Permitting the Sole Source Acquisition: 41 United States Code 1901 as implemented in FAR 13.501(a)(l)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items and expanded by Class Deviation 2024- O0005.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Authority Cited: Class Deviation - Temporary Authorization for Covered Contracts Related to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel, 2024-O0005, authorizes acquisition flexibilities for covered contracts related to Ukraine. As part of its charter under 10 USC§ 178 to advance military and civilian medicine, HJF is the only responsible source to act as a prime contractor (integrator) for this effort. HJF has the unique infrastructure already in place to provide key administrative and scientific support between its partnerships with Aspen Medical and USU.

Prior to the U.S. State Department restricting travel into UKR for Government Officials, USU and HJF provided support to UKR through several activities including translating trauma curriculum and education resources, as well as mental health resources. HJF has previously partnered with Global Surgery Management Group to support a Visiting Surgeon Program in Lviv, UKR.

This allowed USU Faculty and former military surgeons to travel to UKR and provide support to a key Ministry of Health evacuation hospital. In addition, HJF supported several key existing activities that will provide infrastructure and expertise for planned and future US efforts in support ofUKR. These programs include the Center for Traumatic Stress, Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Center for Health Services Research, Center for Deployment Psychology, the Center for Global Health Engagement, and the USU Department of Surgery Global Surgery Program. All previously mentioned engagements provides HJF with the historical data of Ukraine's medical capabilities from the beginning of the Russo- Ukraine conflict to include in the lessons learned. Additionally, HJF currently supports the USU Department of Surgery and DHA in the administration of the ACS ASSET courses that are required for all US military surgeons.

Therefore, HJF is the only responsible source to study the introduction and utility of this course for UKR military and civilian surgical teams.

In support of the current funded award HJF, via its subcontractor Aspen Medical, has established a local presence to conduct logistical support for conducting the ASSET courses and symposia(s). No other vendor is poised to provide this type oflocal support; nor does any other vendor have this type of established network and support from the UKR government to provide the stated services without significant cost and delay. HJF has already translated the training material into Ukrainian utilizing a human translator as lower-costing Artificial Intelligence translators were found to be inaccurate. HJF has the working relationship with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to identify Ukrainian medical ASSET trainees and coordinate the sponsorship to travel outside the country. Without a timely award to HJF, the Ukrainian medical personnel would not receive the identified training necessary to address critical knowledge gaps. CCC would not be able to continue the technical data collection and analysis of medical lessons learned from the Russo-Ukraine War to benefit the Government's future advancements in preparation for large-scale combat operations.

Period Period of Performance Estimated Value Type of Funding Base Period 15-Sept-2025 to 14-Sept 2026 FY24/25 Defense Health

Program, Research, Development, Test & Evaluation funding

7 NOV 2024

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of "Casualty Care Assessment of Russo-Ukraine War" Research and Development services procured in the amount of on sole source basis pursuant to the authority of 41 United States Code 1901 as implemented in FAR 13.50l(a)(l)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items and expanded by Class Deviation 2024-O0005, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the supplies and/or services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.