JA_WFI Region 4 Final_Redacted.pdf

J&A No. JA-26-0011

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority:

A six-month bridge contract action is required to prevent a critical gap in Waterfront Facilities Inspection (WFI) services, projected from February 11 2026, to August 11, 2026. This gap is unavoidable without this J&A as the follow-on contract award has been delayed, and NAVFAC EXWC has no in-house resources or the specialized engineering and diving expertise necessary to perform this mission-essential work. A lapse in this contract would create a direct and unacceptable risk to Navy mission readiness and national security.

The WFI program is responsible for the mandatory, periodic inspection of the Navy's most critical waterfront assets. A service gap would halt all underwater and above-water inspections, material condition assessments, and engineering services required to sustain and modernize these facilities. The consequences of these facilities becoming unavailable are a strategic downfall. These facilities are built for handling fuel, ammunition, and nuclear weapons for Navy vessels and carriers. Any inability to use them would severely disrupt naval operations, as the movement of nuclear assets alone requires substantial, long-range planning involving multiple vessels at a time. The urgency is compounded by the harsh, corrosive marine environment and the repeated vertical and horizontal impact loading these structures endure, which demand constant, expert inspection to prevent structural degradation and failure.

Given these implications, extending the current contract is the only viable path forward as the incumbent contractor possesses the requisite knowledge, expertise, and resources to continue services without interruption. This bridge contract is the sole means to prevent unacceptable delays, and ensure the structural integrity and operational availability of assets that are fundamental to the nation's strategic defense posture.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable:

This A-E contract was competitively procured through the slate-selection of Architects and Engineers statute. The follow-on contract market research has shown that there will be adequate competition among small businesses, which has been confirmed by the number of SF330s that were submitted in response to the posted Synopsis. This J&A supports the need for the expedited execution of this period of performance extension of the current contract to avoid severe impact to mission critical waterfront facility operations while the evaluation board finalizes their selection for the follow-on contract.

The proposed contract action was not synopsized on the SAM.gov website since this time increase is under applicable exception FAR 5.202(a)(2). However, in accordance with FAR 6.305, the approved J&A will be posted on SAM.gov within 30 days after award of the contract modification.

J&A No. JA-26-0011

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost:

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 36.606 and FAR Part 15 for negotiations. This will be confirmed by evaluating future task orders on an individual basis by conducting price/cost analysis in accordance with the procedures listed in FAR 15.401, Proposal Analysis Techniques.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition:

A competitive follow-on contract is in process and is anticipated to be awarded by May 2026.

The follow-on will be a competitive small business set-aside, Single Award ID IQ A-E contract.