JA Sole Source NLETS_Approved_28JAN2026_Redacted.pdf

CUI

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Program Manager/Program Executive Officer:

Legal Counsel

Period Period of Performance (POP) Estimated Value

* Due to varying start and end times for subscriptions, this contract will allow for prorated POPs to true up subscriptions.

4. Authority Cited: Title 10 U.S.C. §3204(a)(1) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-(a)(2)(iii)(A), Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. Background: Changing the software baseline on NLETS and NCITE Kiosk to develop another product would result in a substantial and unrecoverable duplication of cost to the Government. Of the estimated cost of is expected to be recouped through competition. The original software developer of this product is , is the only source for their NLETS and NCITE® Kiosk subscription renewals. No other software solution provides the same capabilities required to maintain the ATO. Confirmation of sole source/no authorized resellers email was provided to ACC-APG on 16 December 2025 verifying is the sole developer, distributor, seller, and proprietary owner of the NLETS and NCITE® Kiosk subscription renewals. is the only company that can provide upgrades, enhancements, and troubleshooting required to produce and manipulate their NLETS and NCITE® Kiosk subscription renewals. The Army designated NLETS capability solution to meet DoD and Army Installation access control standards for automating identity authentication and verification of personnel entering Army Installations. is the original software developer of NLETS and NCITE® Kiosk subscriptions and is the only source that meets the Government’s requirements outlined in Section 4. The Government possesses only a commercial subscription description for the software. To purchase and develop the Technical Data Package (TDP) alone would not be sufficient to meet the Government’s requirements. Any product replacement would result in developmental efforts to re-engineer, followed by production, and certification testing efforts. Additionally, to provide the same level of software maintenance support as the manufacturer, hiring of new staff is required that have the capability to do this work and in a similar magnitude as the manufacturer, which is not feasible. This would result in a significant duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

Changing the software baseline on NLETS and NCITE Kiosk to develop another product would cost approximately and take an estimated to re-engineer. The dollar value and timeframe developed by the Government is based on the software selection process and past system work experience.

Adjustments are necessary to accommodate any changes to the selection, testing, certification, integration, and other procedures to obtain funding and complete the transition to an alternate software application. The required re-engineering effort, estimated cost, and timeframe identified in Table 1 below are necessary for a replacement software product to fulfill the current system requirements.

Table 1

Re-Engineering Efforts: Estimated Cost Months

Engineering

Configuration Management Engineering Verification & Validation

Information Assurance

Integration Independent Verification & Validation

Information Assurance Vulnerability Assessment

(IAVA)

Dept. of the Army Military Intelligence-Government Estimate (DAMI-GE) Certification

Fielding and Support

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

OF REENGINNERING

EFFORT

AIE is in Post-Production Software Support (PPSS), or sustainment. Software Enterprise command (SEC) sustains the software baselines fielded by the Program Managers and maintains the ATO until the systems are technically refreshed and new software baselines enter sustainment or until systems are decommissioned.

Furthermore, is the only company who has the knowledge of the configuration management requirements and the security features that are required to maintain the ATO in accordance with US Army Cyber Security standards and policy. is the only known source with the required engineering experience on NLETS program configuration management to include understanding the relationship of the software to the core of the operating system. has the ATO certification requirements and has collected the historical data related to the original software applications integration decision along with having the last refreshment of the baseline.

is the only provider that has the capability to maintain, update, and secure new ATOs to determine the level of accreditation required for the new baseline. The ATO certification is required to ensure the network remains secure and is compliant with the current DoD Cybersecurity policy. The certification requires maintaining access to the latest software application patches, upgrades, and any required security related updates. The current software has already been tested and certified that it is compliant with the latest DoD Information Technology (IT) Cybersecurity policy.

b. Alternatives: On 05 March 2025, the Government awarded a Delivery Order (W909MY-25-F-0034) to (W909MY-24-D-0001) as a pilot to undergoing a comparative analysis of alternatives of vetting capabilities providing NLETS, National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index (NCIC III), State and Local Law Enforcement and DMV vetting service via the centralized Army Law Enforcement (LE) Army Switch for the New York State (NYS) AIE Installations. This analysis is to include fielding timeline, level of effort for development and deployment of a capability to meet Army Adjudication Standards (per AR 190-13, Chapter 8), Cybersecurity and/or ATO impacts, and lifecycle sustainment cost. The comparative analysis and proposed solution and recommendations (Phase I) were projected to take no more than three (3) months after DO was awarded. Phase II of the requirement was to begin a two (2) week pilot at West Point NY July 2025, due to complications with the installation personnel, requirement changes with PMO and contractor the pilot had a delay in schedule. The ongoing nature of the pilot program, which concludes on April 30, 2026, precludes the availability of actionable data on potential cost savings or viability for the Army Switch. If the pilot is eventually deemed successful, the Government will require a minimum of two years to switch over all sites to the Army Switch. This timeline would be contingent on implementation funding. The Government remains committed to maximizing competition and will continue to actively research and evaluate the marketplace for viable alternatives for future requirements.

c. Impact if not approved: Failure to renew maintenance support will not allow AIE to connect to the web-based middleware solution, the Interoperability Layer Service (IoLS) and various authoritative databases at DMDC. The security guards at DoD Installations will not be able to scan and detect identification of criminals, terrorists, and potential insider threats before they gain physical access to installations. Furthermore, without the renewal, automated criminal background screenings will stop and needed upgrades, enhancements, and troubleshooting for the PassControl software that powers the AIE Next System Registration Stations will discontinue. There are currently no alternative options for NLETS and NCITE® Kiosk Subscription.

The software is essential to the Government’s requirement. As the market research indicates, there is no other company that has the capabilities required to meet, or modified to meet, the agency’s needs. Not renewing this vetting service and automated criminal background screening against federal and state/local law enforcement databases would cause vulnerability to installations that cannot foresee a potential threat of the operational environment which is necessary to maintain optimal levels of safety, readiness, and execution to protect DoD. This failure to renew has real-world consequences. It means that known criminals could be granted access to an installation, thereby directly endangering the lives of all personnel and their families while also exposing mission-critical Government property to sabotage or destruction. NLETS track real time crimes across different states, for example, without NLETS, an individual who has committed and been convicted of a violent crime in Nevada, may attempt entry into a base in Virginia and the Government may not immediately be aware and grant access to multiple installations before being notified of the criminal activity and risk. With NLETS, all violent criminals will be flagged and barred entry.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer published a synopsis on sam.gov on 8 January 2026 as required by FAR 5.201 and no quotes or inquiries were received. Requests for Information (RFIs) were posted on 11 December 2025 on General Services Administration (GSA) (RFI#1788257), and Computer Hardware Enterprise Software Solutions (CHESS) (RFI # 550390) websites under the 2017 NAICS. All responses received stated no bid due to not authorized reseller. Based on the information outlined in Sections 5 (Reason for Authority Cited) and Section 9 (Market Research), this is a sole source requirement, and effective competition is not feasible.

a. Effective competition: A RFI was published on GSA and CHESS on 11 December 2025 to notify industry and identify potential sources. No capability statements or quotes were received from any other sources in response to the notice.

This outcome was anticipated, as extensive market research confirms that the required maintenance and support services for the proprietary system are available from only one source. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), , is the sole entity that possesses the requisite proprietary source code, technical data, and specialized expertise to perform the required services without a substantial duplication of cost and unacceptable delays to the Government.

Therefore, no effective competition is anticipated for this acquisition.

b. Subcontracting competition: is the sole developer and does not use subcontractors. does not subcontract out any portion of the software maintenance as they perform all work in-house. As such, subcontracting opportunities are not expected to exist for this requirement.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Commercial software manufacturers are encouraged to increase the number of resellers. Additionally, upon receipt of the requirement, an authorized list of distributors for this software is immediately requested from the original manufacturer. The Government encourages the software publishers to pursue distribution and support services of their COTS software product lines through Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), certified 8(a), and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses. Market research will be conducted annually on the current baseline to determine if changes

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price/cost 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, IAW FAR 15.403-1(b)(3), certified cost or pricing data is not required because the item and/or services being acquired are considered commercial.

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

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of NLETS and NCITE Kiosks subscription renewals in the total estimated amounts of for a four-year (base and three one-year options for increased quantities with subscription performances) contract, pursuant to the authority of Title 10 U.S.C. §3204(a)(1) as implemented in (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The approval is subject to availability of funds, and provided that the supplies and/or services herein described have otherwise been authorized for this acquisition.