MARCENT OAMS JA Final.pdf

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO

3250 CATLIN AVENUE

QUANTICO VIRGINIA 22134 5001

IN REPLY REFER TO:

C-21

M00264-25-JA-029

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity

Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region – Regional Contracting Office (MCINCR-RCO), Quantico, VA 22134.

2. Description of Action Being Approved

Approval is requested to contract for the continued provision of critical, highly specialized services for the Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (MARCENT) Operations, Analysis, Management Services (OAMS) requirement using other than full and open competition procedures. This is a non-competitive action to expedite a contract bridge consisting of a hybrid, firm-fixed-price(FFP)and cost reimbursement (CR)contract. The contract bridge will be for 6 months base period, plus a 6-month option period under FAR 52.217-8 while a follow-on contract is awarded by MCINCR-RCO. The contractor for this effort is Leidos, Inc.,(CAGE 5UTE2) located at 1750 Presidents St., Reston, VA 20190.

3. Description of Supplies / Services

MARCENT requires highly specialized services to execute its mission. These services are needed across MARCENT’s organization, including Command Element, Manpower Directorate (G-1), Intelligence Directorate (G-2), Operations Directorate (G-3), Logistics Directorate (G-4), Plans Directorate (G-5), Communication Directorate (G-6), Comptroller Directorate (G-8), Staff Judge Advocate Directorate (SJA), Communications Strategy & Operations Directorate (CSO), and a Force Surgeon Directorate.

Required services include professional services in the areas of command element, manpower, intelligence, operations, logistics, planning, communications, Operations Plans (OPLANS), Concept Plans (CONPLANS), strategy development, doctrinal reviews, operational policy reviews, crisis action planning, deliberate planning support, training and educational plans, and wargaming exercise support within the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS).

Services are provided at following locations:

MARCENT Headquarters located at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL 5th Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) stationed in Manana, Bahrain

The period of performance requested is for a six-month base period from 15 December 2025 through 14 June 2026, plus a six-month option under FAR 52.217-8 Options to Extend Services. The total estimated value is $16,000,000 as shown below:

Estimated Dollar Value

Bridge FAR 52.217-8 Option

Total

$8,000,000 $8,000,000 $16,000,000

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

This action is pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302—1(a)(2)(iii)(B), “services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of follow-on contracts for the continued provision of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other source would result in […] unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.”

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

This bridge action is required to ensure continued provision of mission-essential services during the unexpected delay in the contract recompete process.

A bridge contract is necessary due to delays in the execution of the follow-on procurement resulting from multiple pre-award protests, a change to the requirement, significant competition received and the government shutdown, which were all unanticipated. The requested bridge contract will provide sufficient time to properly execute source selection evaluation and completion of all documentation and reviews needed to make a competitive follow-on contract award.

Multiple Pre Award Protests: After posting the solicitation on 4 August 2025, the Government received 4 North America Industry Classification Code System (NAICS) protests with the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA ultimately dismissed the protests in favor of the Government on 15 September 2025. However, these protests created a one-month delay in the acquisition.

Change to the Requirement: Prior to the solicitation closing date, the requiring office changed the requirement, creating further delays. The changes were based on the Force Surgeon medical credentials and 5 FTEs for G6 support in Bahrain. The contracting officer extended the proposal closing date by approximately one month to provide offerors sufficient time to address the changes to the solicitation

Significant Competition Levels Achieved:. On 22 October 2025, the Government received over 15 proposals in response to the solicitation, exceeding the original estimate of five proposals based on historical competition levels. Given the higher volume, the source selection process will require additional time for thorough evaluation—approximately five business days per proposal.

As a result, the timeline for completion is now expected to extend by three months, accounting for the increased volume of proposals and the upcoming holiday period. Additionally, the review and approval process will take longer due to the volume of documentation required. The overall delay is estimated to be between three and six months. Stakeholders are focused on expediting the process to minimize the duration of the bridge contract period

Government Shutdown: The Government shutdown, which was not considered in the original timeline, has further exacerbated the delays to the acquisition for an unknown duration. Once the shutdown ends, the POA&M will be revised with a new contract award date. The shutdown will create delays due to lack of personnel available to execute the follow-on procurement.

As a result of the aforementioned delays, there is insufficient time remaining to award the competitive follow-on contract prior to the expiration of the existing contract. This bridge action would cover the gap between the end of the current contract and the award of the competitive follow-on contract.

The Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for the follow-on contract effort had an initial contract award date of 15 December 2025. Due to delays, award date is now 12 February 2026. The Government shutdown was not considered in the POA&M. Once the Government Shutdown ends, a revision to the

POA&M will be made to reflect the award date. Such revision will place award date in the late May timeframe. Since current contract services ends on 14 December 2025, it is imperative that continuation of services is in place, to which this contract bridge serves its purpose.

Current contract ends on 14 December 2025. If a bridge is not in place before current contract expiration date, the Command will experience a gap in service across all its directorates, which is mission failure. Therefore, a Bridge Contract is required.

Leidos, Inc. is the only responsible source that the Government reasonably believes can meet this requirement within the available timeframe to prevent a lapse in services. As the sole provider with the unique qualifications, necessary security clearances, and specialized personnel, Leidos is uniquely positioned to execute the required services by the critical commencement date of 15 December 2025 without unacceptable delays. Having provided these specialized services since June 2020, Leidos is the incumbent contractor and is in the best position to perform under a bridge contract, ensuring continuity of critical services prior to the expiration of the current contract (M00264-20-F-0227) on 14 December 2025.

The services provided by this existing contract involve highly specialized support to MARCENT’s mission critical functions. These services require extensive planning, coordination and substantial time for security clearance processing to fulfill requirements. The following examples illustrate the highly specialized nature of the services:

- All contractor staff is considered mission essential per DFARS 252.237-7023 and 7024.

- Personnel assigned must have Secret or above clearance to perform duties on this contract.

- Most of the contractor’s personnel supporting G-6 Communications Directorate are required to possess professional certifications such as DoD IAT certification Level 1 or above, SEC+ certified and Cyber Security Workforce Certification of Security+.

- Synchronized Pre-deployment Letters of Authorization are required for contractor personnel performing in Bahrain or traveling to MARCENT’s Area of Responsibility.

The delay that would be experienced with an award of a short-term contract through full and open competition would result in an unacceptable lapse in in services due to the required timeline to execute the competition (which is at least 6 months), a 30-day transition time necessary to complete the handling of voluminous data and sensitive personnel records, obtain requisite certifications, as well as the time needed to conduct extensive background investigations needed for performance under this contract.

The services are critical to MARCENT’s operations and it is crucial that services continue until an award is made on the competitive follow-on effort. Leidos, Inc., as the original provider of the highly specialized services required, is deemed the only source that can properly fulfill the Government’s requirements without unacceptable delays.

Incurring in a lapse in service will severely damage MARCENT’s mission and negatively impacts the United States interest in one of the most war prone, volatile and dangerous Areas of Responsibilities in the world. Without this contract, MARCENT’s ability to perform operational planning, monitor situational awareness, maintain command and control (C2) infrastructure, execute planning cycles, manage intelligence and logistics processes, and fulfill readiness reporting obligations would be immediately compromised. Existing uniformed and civilian manpower cannot absorb these mission functions without significant degradation to operational capability. The absence of contractor support would create immediate gaps in operational continuity, disrupting coordination with USCENTCOM and its components, subordinate Marine elements, and coalition partners. The resulting lapse in capability would present unacceptable risk to mission success, force protection, and national security.

Uniformed and civilian personnel would be forced to divert from operational priorities to assume contractor functions, further eroding readiness and the ability to respond to emerging crises or contingency operations. Approval of the OAMS bridge contract is therefore essential to maintain operational continuity, ensure C2 integrity, and preserve MARCENT’s readiness posture across the

CENTCOM AOR.

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

ADC I&L (Contracts) issued a blanket waiver of the requirement at DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d) for bridge contracts on 23 December 2020 (SUBJ: Blanket Waiver of DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d) for Bridge Contracts). This memorandum applies to this action and waives the requirement to issue a request for information or sources sought notice when utilizing the authority at FAR 6.302-1.

There are no known sources who can immediately provide the required services without resulting in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. As previously stated, the contracting activity is currently seeking proposals for the follow-on competitive contract being procured as a 100% Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business socioeconomic category via Solicitation No. M00264-25-R-0001. Proposals are due on 22 October 2025. The Government intends to provide notice of the action being approved by this Justification by publishing a synopsis of the action in accordance with FAR 5.203.

The goal of this action is to ensure uninterrupted services are provided while a competitive follow-on procurement can be processed by MCINRC-RCO.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost of the contract will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer shall rely on other than certified cost or pricing data to develop a sound negotiation objective by ensuring that the contractor’s proposal is compliant with all applicable cost and pricing regulatory standards, industry best practices and company disclosure statements.

8. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Future competition

The Government is in the process of conducting a 100% SDVOSB set aside competitive acquisition for the follow-on requirement.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical/Requirements Cognizance:

_____________________ LtCol. Adam McLaurin (813) 827-4040 ____ _______________ Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined this Justification is legally sufficient.

_____________________ Gary Jackson_________ (703) 784-3009 ____ _______________ Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_____________________ Christian Hernandez-Soto (703) 929-9882____ _______________ Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

ADC, I&L APPROVAL

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve, as ADC, I&L (Contracts), the solicitation of the proposed procurement described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1).

Johany M. Deal Date

HERNANDEZ

SOTO.CHRISTIA

N.A.1293127014

Digitally signed by

HERNANDEZ

SOTO.CHRISTIAN.A.129312701

Date: 2025.11.07 12:59:04 -05'00'

JACKSON.GARY

.M.1059767654

Digitally signed by

JACKSON.GARY.M.1059767654

Date: 2025.11.07 13:45:05 -05'00'

MCLAURIN.ADAM.A

NDREW.1285752260

Digitally signed by

MCLAURIN.ADAM.ANDREW.12857

52260 Date: 2025.11.12 09:59:06 -05'00'

Distribution List for DL ONLY Limited Dissemination Control

MCINCR-RCO Personnel LB Personnel Procurement Team Personnel (to include but not limited to: Legal, Customers/Requirements

Owners, Source Selection Personnel, Small Business Representatives)