Mod P00031 JA for Exception to Fair Opp - ACO-AR_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as the Advocate for Competition, hereby approve this exception to the fair opportunity process required by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii) as implemented by the agency need for the services is so urgent that providing a fair opportunity would result in unacceptable delays per FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A).

1. Agency and contracting activity identification: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), Arlington, VA.

2. Description of action being approved: This is a modification to the existing Adaptive Capabilities Office (ACO) Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee task order HR001121F0007 awarded to Strategic Analysis, Inc. (SA) for Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Assistance (SETA) Support Services under the DARPA’s Technical and Analytical Support Services (TASS) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ). This action will add a total of 2,880 labor hours to the task order for the new ACO Advanced Resilience (AR) directorate’s urgently required front office, cybersecurity, and subject matter expertise support. DARPA has issued a fair opportunity solicitation to all TASS IDIQ holders for the full ACO-AR requirement beyond this immediate short-term need. These services will accommodate the immediate short-term need for increased ACO-AR resources until the new TASS IDIQ task order’s anticipated period of performance start date of November 21, 2024. The proposed modification will acquire minimal hours to initiate work immediately to meet urgent requirements under a directive from the Deputy Secretary of Defense (DepSecDef). It is noted that a similar Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity for ACO- AR urgent requirements was approved on August 15, 2024, and published to the Governmentwide point of entry on August 29, 2024. This justification adds 2,880 labor hours to more accurately capture the Government’s minimal needs.

3. Description of services required to meet the agency’s needs, including the estimated value:

DARPA’s ACO-AR requires initial front office, cybersecurity, and subject matter expertise support resources to assist in executing classified program work for the new directorate. ACO is a unique, purpose-built program office that operates at the highest security levels and partners with the military services to assist in the identification, development, acceleration, and transition of technologies into Department of Defense (DoD) capabilities. This directorate requires SCI/SAP-eligible, administrative, technical, and analytical services in support of ACO-AR’s mission. The additional labor hours are for services under labor categories currently on the task order.

a. Hours: Additional OY3 hours were calculated from September 1, 2024, through

November 20, 2024. This modification proposes to add a total of 2,880 labor hours, which includes the following labor categories:

SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION – SEE FAR 2.101 and 3.104

6. Additional Supporting Facts: None

7. Actions to Remove or Overcome Barriers to Competition: The proposed modification is a one-time action to provide ACO-AR the ability to satisfy an urgent need for minimal support to initiate work within the agency for a limited duration of less than 4 months. DARPA has identified the TASS IDIQ as the most appropriate contracting vehicle to promote competition for the full ACO- AR requirements and issued a solicitation on August 9, 2024, to all IDIQ holders for the full ACO- AR requirements beyond this proposed modification.

CERTIFICATIONS & APPROVAL: See the next page.