IB08 JEFO Oracle Software Renewal 29 July 2025_ signed_Redacted.pdf

Justification Review Document FAR Part 16 Exception to Fair Opportunity Justification

Program Equipment: Oracle WebLogic software renewal in support of the United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) Recruiting Services Network (RSN) Web tier and its associated web-based recruiting applications.

Authority: FAR 16.505(a)(4) � Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer.

Amount:

Prepared by: PH:

Contract Management Specialist Date: 16 July 2025 Email: l

Contracting Officer: PH:

Contracting Officer Date: 16 July 2025 Email:

Technical: PH:

IT Specialist Date: 18 July 2029 Email:

Requirements: PH:

Information Technology Team Lead Date: 16 July 2025 Email:

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support an exception to fair opportunity.

Program Manager / Chief, Recruiting Support Branch:

Email:

MICC Legal Counsel:

Director, MICC-Fort Knox:

Assistant Director, Small Business Program:

6. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. The renewal of support for the Oracle software is to support the RSN web tier and its associated web-based recruiting applications. These web-based applications are comprised of custom written code that WebLogic exclusively supports. These components make up the application infrastructure that run the custom written applications for the individual recruiting functions necessary to recruit and enlist a Soldier in the U.S. Army. These applications were written under an Army program that digitized and automated the recruiting process from a paper-based process. The Army Recruiting Information Support System (ARISS) program cost several hundred million dollars to develop and test. There are over 100 custom-written applications that handle the recruiting process. Changing the underlying architecture to another vendor�s offering would require a large-scale development effort which would take thousands of hours of development and testing. The Oracle software infrastructure supports the entire web application tier. Without this system in place, the web application tier would fail. The Army would not be able to carry out its mission of recruiting soldiers.

b. Oracle Database Application servers are currently in use and have been for over 16 years. This procurement provides support, software upgrades, and bug fixes which are required by several cyber security mandates. Use of another solution would likely result in failure of several web-based applications to support the recruitment of soldiers.

While there are other similar products to the Oracle software, they are not compatible with USARECs Oracle applications. Therefore, web-based applications currently in place must utilize Oracle to remain functional. If a replacement product were used, the application code would need to be rewritten and tested prior to implementation. This effort would require a large development effort which would take thousands of hours and cost millions of dollars. This could result in failure of the Army�s recruiting mission.

Therefore, there are no known alternatives to fulfil this requirement.

c. Pursuant to AFARS 5139, CHESS was given first consideration for the requested software products. Of the software available through CHESS and DOD-ESI, only the Oracle software provides a product that meets the salient characteristics required.

d. Alternatives: A different software product will increase the risk of incompatibility issues with existing equipment and systems, incur greater costs for equipment and software, and the need for additional training for the USAREC IT workforce.

Furthermore, USAREC currently has an extensive financial investment of approximately $5 million in Oracle software, all of which is used to support the USAREC mission. An alternative would require extensive multi-year project planning and implementation to change this suite of software. Even if USAREC procured an alternative, the maintenance support requested in this procurement would still be required while reprogramming of the alternative was ongoing.

e. Impact if not approved: There are multiple applications within the ARISS that were developed in the Oracle database programming language. Customers access this information via the RSN network. Without the support requested in this procurement, USAREC administrators will not be able to complete patches, updates or repairs rendering the applications and network vulnerable to external threats and may result in an unstable operating environment. This directly and negatively impacts applications which support enlisted, and officer recruiting and enlisted and officer records.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: USAREC has reviewed both CHESS and NASA SEWP and determined that while there are no Oracle vendors available on CHESS, there are multiple vendors on the NASA SEWP site who are authorized to provide Oracle software required for this effort. There is an ongoing effort to standardize code allowing for more transparent application development. This standardization will allow greater use of commercial-off-the-shelf/government-off-the-shelf technology. USAREC will continue to monitor advancements in commercially available information technology products and services, particularly those listed within existing enterprise-related contracts under either the Army CHESS Program or the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative.

8. Market Research: Per AFARS 5139, all in scope items must be procured through an Army CHESS contract vehicle unless a statement of non-availability (SONA) and Information Technology Approval System (ITAS) waiver is obtained for the product.

Determination has been made that the requested items are not available on CHESS and an approved SONA and ITAS waiver have been obtained. Further market research on the NASA SEWP website was completed, and it was determined that it could be utilized in support of this procurement. USAREC contacted multiple vendors with NASA SEWP contracts and obtained budgetary quotes from several of the vendors. These quotes were averaged to determine the cost estimate.

9. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History

Contract: W9124D-24-F-0311 Contractor: Emergent, LLC Award Date: 1 September 2024 Competitive Status: Brand Name Authority: FAR 16.505(a)4

Contract: W9124D-23-F-0369 Contractor: Emergent, LLC Award Date: 31 August 2023 Competitive Status: Brand Name Authority: FAR 16.505(a)4

Contract: W9124D-22-F-0286 Contractor: Emergent, LLC Award Date: 31 August 2022 Competitive Status: Brand Name Authority: FAR 16.505(a)4

10. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

IT Specialist

11. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Information Technology Team Chief

12. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. This determination will be made using price analysis. As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data will not be required and the following exception applies: FAR 15.403(b)(3), a commercial item is being acquired.

Contracting Officer

13. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of Oracle WebLogic software using an exception to fair opportunity pursuant to the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.505(a)(4) - Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer. The estimated value of the contract is for a 12-month period of coverage from 1 September 2025 through 31 August 2026. This approval is subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Alternate to the Command Advocate for Competition U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX