JA Redacted Final 4.8.2026_Redacted.pdf

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

This document is a Justification and Approval (J&A) for a sole-source contract awarded by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy under the authority of unusual and compelling urgency. The contract was awarded to United Capital Investment Group (UCIG) on March 11, 2026, for the transportation of approximately 8,000,000 U.S. gallons of DLA Energy-owned JPS jet fuel from Horizon Terminal in Djibouti to Camp Lemonnier (CLDJ) in support of Operation Epic Fury. The contract is issued under CLIN 0015 with an 18-month base ordering period from March 11, 2026, through September 30, 2027, with a 6-month extension option available extending to March 31, 2028. The estimated total quantity for the one-year period is 8,000,000 gallons of Aviation Jet Fuel (JPS), with an additional six-month estimate of 3,000,000 gallons.

The justification asserts that UCIG is the sole vendor licensed and authorized by Djibouti's Ministry of Energy to supply petroleum products in-country, making competition infeasible despite the requirement's unusual and compelling urgency relating to geopolitical crises affecting regional fuel supply. DLA Energy conducted market research confirming UCIG's exclusive authorization status and that the DLA Energy-owned fuel located in Djibouti's tax-free zone can only be imported through UCIG. The contracting officer determined the proposed price fair and reasonable based on analysis of UCIG's pricing submission, considering extraordinary operational tempo, mandatory local fees, and pricing influenced by current geopolitical conditions. No other sources expressed interest in the acquisition, and the J&A was not publicized prior to award due to the unusual and compelling nature of the requirement.