MFR FAR 6.302-2 Unusual and Compelling Urgency.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE TEST CENTER (AFMC)

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CALIFORNIA

One AFMC…Powering the World’s Greatest Air Force

21 July 2025

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

FROM: AFTC/PZIOB

Attn: Chris Barnes 5 South Wolfe Ave., Building 2800 Edwards AFB, CA 93524

SUBJECT: Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition for Specialized Hantavirus Remediation Services – Area 1-32 Solid Rocket Motor Test Complex.

Reference: (a) FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency

(b) FAR 5.202(a)(2), Exceptions to Synopsis Requirements

1. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved:

This is a request to approve a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract for comprehensive specialized Hantavirus remediation and cleaning services for all six affected facilities at the Area 1-32 Solid Rocket Motor Test Complex, awarded to Patriot Environmental Services, Inc.

(UEI: N9Q8GMQM7NS8), a verified large business. The estimated total value of this acquisition is $51,111.23. This single award will cover the entire defined scope of Hantavirus remediation for the affected complex, with specific prioritization for the immediate remediation of Buildings 8910 and 8911.

2. Description of the Supplies or Services Required: The Government requires immediate, comprehensive specialized cleaning and remediation services to mitigate a confirmed Hantavirus outbreak within the Area 1-32 Solid Rocket Motor Test Complex. This includes full-scope cleaning, decontamination, and sanitization to render the affected facilities safe for personnel re-entry and resumption of operations.

The facilities requiring these services are:

• Building 8910 (5,000 sq ft)

• Building 8911 (1,200 sq ft)

• Building 8370 (9,300 sq ft)

• Building 8354 (10,500 sq ft)

• Building 9100 (4,500 sq ft)

• Building 9428 (1,600 sq ft) While the entire scope is covered under a single award, the remediation of Buildings 8910 and 8911 is designated as the top priority due to their indispensable roles in immediate test operations. The remaining buildings (8370, 9100, and 8354, 9428) will be remediate sequentially following the completion of 8910 and 8911, or as mutually agreed upon based on mission needs.

CUI

CUI

3. Authority Cited: The authority for other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-2, "Unusual and Compelling Urgency." Due to the extreme urgency, the requirement to publicize this acquisition in accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(2) is also waived, as such a delay would result in serious injury to the Government.

4. Justification for Limiting Competition: A confirmed Hantavirus outbreak has occurred across multiple facilities within the Area 1-32 Solid Rocket Motor Test Complex. This outbreak presents a severe and immediate health risk to personnel and has directly led to the cessation of critical solid rocket motor test operations. Immediate and specialized cleaning services for all affected facilities are required to prevent serious injury to the Government, which includes safeguarding personnel health, mitigating further spread of the virus within the complex, preventing re-contamination, and ensuring the timely and full resumption of vital test operations.

Specifically, building 8911 serves as the central control room for all test operations within Area 1-32, and without access, all testing is halted. Building 8910 supports Building 8911 by housing and modifying test components. Denied access to these facilities compounds the operational standstill, creating an immediate, severe bottleneck.

However, the Hantavirus outbreak is not confined to just these two buildings; it is a systemic issue affecting the broader complex. Leaving other confirmed contaminated buildings (8370, 9100, 8354, 9428) unaddressed concurrently, even if not the immediate operational bottleneck, poses a continued health risk to personnel, increases the potential for re-contamination of remediated areas, and impedes the full restoration of the test complex's capabilities. A fragmented approach, involving separate competitive processes for each building or phases beyond the initial critical two, would introduce unacceptable delays, administrative burden, and logistical complexities in managing a public health emergency.

The operational impact of this forced cessation of activities is severe and unacceptable:

a. X-Bow Program: Six (6) scheduled tests are currently on hold.

b. DIRT Test #10: Originally scheduled for 8 July, this test has been delayed, creating a ripple effect that will impact at least four (4) additional follow-on tests.

5. Long-Term Schedule Impact: The Area 1-32 test complex is fully booked through the next calendar year. The delays already incurred by this outbreak will push back a minimum of nineteen (19) subsequent tests. Critically, several of these directly support the Rocket Cargo program, an AFRL Vanguard initiative delivering strategically significant data vital to national defense capabilities.

Delaying this acquisition to solicit full and open competition would result in unacceptable disruption to critical DoD test programs, significant financial loss due to idle assets and personnel, and continued unacceptable risk to personnel health. The immediate resolution of this issue is paramount to prevent further degradation of nationally important test schedules and to protect Government personnel.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Due to the confirmed Hantavirus outbreak and the immediate, severe impact on critical test operations across the entire complex, the timeframe to safely restore Building 8911 and 8910 (and subsequently the other affected facilities) is exceptionally narrow. Market research was conducted to identify vendors capable of providing specialized Hantavirus remediation services with rapid mobilization. Patriot Environmental

CUI

CUI

Services, Inc. (UEI: N9Q8GMQM7NS8), a verified large business, was identified as the only known vendor capable of rapidly mobilizing and providing the specialized Hantavirus remediation services for the entire affected complex within the necessary timeframe required to mitigate the public health emergency and minimize mission impact. The extreme urgency necessitated direct engagement with this contractor. Comprehensive solicitation of multiple sources for the entire scope was not feasible, as it would have directly resulted in the severe injury to the Government outlined above, further prolonging the operational standstill and health risk.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: For this specific, urgent, and comprehensive Hantavirus remediation requirement at the Area 1-32 Solid Rocket Motor Test Complex, competition was not feasible due to the unusual and compelling urgency. The Government fully intends to pursue full and open competition for any future requirements for similar specialized cleaning or environmental services, once the immediate public health emergency is fully resolved and normal acquisition timelines can be accommodated.

8. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Price: Prior to award, the Contracting Officer will ensure the price for the entire scope ($51,111.23) is fair and reasonable. Price reasonableness will be determined through a technical review of Patriot Environmental Services, Inc.'s proposals for each facility, comparing labor, equipment, and material costs against current market rates for specialized environmental remediation services, and leveraging any available historical pricing data for similar services. Considering the extreme urgency, the price analysis methodology will be strategically adapted to promote efficiency while maintaining the integrity and rigor of the evaluation process.

9. Procurement History: There is no prior procurement history for this specific specialized Hantavirus remediation service at the Area 1-32 Solid Rocket Motor Test Complex.

10. Other Facts: This requirement targets the entire identified scope of the Hantavirus outbreak within the Area 1-32 complex, with immediate prioritization given to Buildings 8910 and 8911.

11. The waiver of the synopsis requirement under FAR 5.202(a)(2) is directly justified by the same unusual and compelling urgency that necessitates this sole source award. Any delay in publicizing would exacerbate the severe operational and health impacts described herein.

//SIGNED//

Chris Barnes Contracting Officer & Lead Contract Specialist Services Branch | AFTC Edwards AFB Desk: 661-277-8356