N0018919PZ332 _N0018919PZ332_WFTD_JA.PDF

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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVSUP FLEET TDGISTICS CENTER NORFOLK

700 ROBBINS AVE, BLDG 2B

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111-5083

IN REPLY REFER T0

RW. 2RrJ2C

J&A # 19-029

JUSTIFJCATJON AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF SOLE SOURCE

1. Contracting Activity. The contracting activity for this action is NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk, Philadelphia Office.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved. This is a sole source action to be awarded as a firm fixed price contract to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), 12010 Sunset Hills Rd. Reston, VA 20190-5856, and CAGE: 6XWA8.

3. Description of Supplies/Services. The Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) has a requirement for advanced technical training of shipboard communication and network systems, including the newest installations of Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES), Integrated Shipboard Network System (ISNS), Automated Digital Network System (ADNS), Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS), among others.

System-specific subject matter experts (SMEs) with instructor credentials, cybersecurity certifications, and in-depth systems experience are required to instruct C1WT’s most advanced IT-rating courses and to provide a wide range of technical support necessary to setup, troubleshoot, repair, and baseline racks of technical training equipment (III) and software integrated within the instruction of each course. SMEs provide technical expertise and recommendations to CIWT and its subordinate commands regarding course curriculum and related TTE and software issues. SME support may include contractor participation with CIWT in Requirements Sponsor, Resource Sponsor, and Systems Command stakeholder meetings regarding course revisions, TTE upgrades, system virtualization and other initiatives.

SMEs must be current in each system’s architecture, ship specific system installed variants, fleet casualty reports and other system hardware and software faults to respond to CIWT’s technical information needs as well as answer the broad spectrum of questions posed by students already assigned or reporting to ships with advanced technical CANES and fleet communications systems. Instructor SMEs provide CIWT’s subordinate commands critical continuity for course instruction, TTE system administration and use, and troubleshooting support, to include supporting the training and qualification of military instructors. Contractor SME technical support and course instruction is required at CFWT in Pensacola, FL, and its subordinate Information Warfare Training Commands/Sites (IWTCJS) including 1XVTC Virginia Beach, IWTS Groton, and TWTC San Diego, with mobile training provided at IWTS Hawaii and Rota, Spain.

Additionally, CIWT N7 staff requires SME support in executing complex in-progress and planned initiatives to revise the curriculum, and TTE architecture to include the Multipurpose Reconfigurable Training System 3D (METS 3D) delivery methodology of the Journeyman Communications Course (3CC) and virtualized enviromnent of multiple CANES variant baseline, and other related advanced technical IT courses. Proficiency in facilitating NETC course and curriculum development processes and broad technical knowledge of course content is required for effective execution of CIWT’s initiatives. C~WT N7 requires SME support in the daily operation of its advanced technology IT systems courses and scheduling. A thorough understanding of course optempo, instructor resources, TTE and virtualization capabilities, NETC schoolhouse management and training instructions and processes, and training management resources (e.g., eNIRS, CeTARS, etc.) is required to directly support CIWT N7 and its IWTC/S.

The contract will be funded with fiscal year 2020 Operations and Maintenance, Navy (O&MN) appropriation tunctmg.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 USC 1901(e)(2) - a sole source acquisition under the special rules for commercial items, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

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5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority. The advanced technical training performed under this contract equips students to operate, manage, and repair Navy-unique advanced technical digital and fleet communications systems capabilities — system of systems that provide all internal data processing and all external shipboard communications.

The DOD, Navy, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR), NETC, and CIWT identified the knowledge, skills, and professional certifications needed by the Navy IT workforce to ensure the fimction and reliability of the Navy’s federated computer network systems. Correspondingly, the contractor training this workforce, at a minimum, must possess the same or higher credentials and corporate training knowledge. The contractor workforce’s credibility and proficiency in providing the training and technical support required by CIWT is critical. Any interruption in the performance or quality of these services significantly increases the probability of the following:

1. Non-responsiveness to outages of ship’s internal computer networks and external coimnunication systems and enclave environments.

2. Increased cybersecurity and operational security risks, safety mishaps, and corresponding mission degradation.

3. Increased number of casualty reports (CASREPS) and costs related to worldwide onboard tech assist visits.

4. Failure to maintain proper mobilization readiness (e.g., manpower shortages, lack of critical skill sets in advanced technical training, etc.).

The services under this contract are highly specialized, complex, and of a critical nature. With students attending CIWT’s courses year-round and the need for seamless support and expertise to its ongoing initiatives, any disruption of the contractor’s technical instruction and SME support will adversely affect CIWT’s operations and ultimately fleet readiness.

SAIC has been successfully performing the required services under Seaport contract order N00l78-04-D-4l l9-EX08.

As the incumbent, only SAIC has the staff with the systems-spebific ex~ertise, instructor qualifications, and experience, corporate knowledge, and professional certifications required to continue coñrse instructibn and provide the necessary advanced technical support to CIWT without interruption. CIWT’s courses teach operation, administration, management, troubleshooting, and repair of U.S. Navy advanced technology shipboard systems.

Personnel with the credentials necessary — instructor qualification and experience, system-specific training and experience, and cybersecurity certifications applicable to the specific systems’ hardware and software — are rare and difficult to recruit. As these systems are developed and fielded by Navy lnformatiàn. Warfare Center (NIWC) and trained by CIWT, only individuals involvedin theft 4evelopment and active dutyNth~ ITs Who have attended CIWT’s courses or served in the Navy-unique environment have the unique systems knowledge and experience. Those requirements combined with the need to be a trained,~qualified and experienced instructor using the Navy’s newest and most advanced technology systems reduces the pool of potential instructors/SMEs to a very limited number.

Two CIWT initiatives underscore the importance of maintaining instructor/SME continuity. The first is CIWT’s upcoming transition of the training delivery solution, for its CANES Systems Administrator Course. During the next year, CIWT will be transitioning its current CANES course to a fully virtualized environment. The current course has content focused on only a single CANES system variant and is taught at only two RVTCs in traditional classroomllab settings using multiple racks of equipment that require dozens of software licenses. C~WT intends to adopt a fully virtual environment that increases availability to seven training sites worldwide and promises content versatility that supports all fielded software versions of CANES. Only SAIC instructors have the CANES technical expertise to provide informed course content and delivery recommendations to ensure a smooth transition using this advanced training delivery methodology. In addition, only SAIC’s CANES instructors/SAkEs have successfully demonstrated the ability to simultaneously train multiple system versions during a single course convene. The versatility of the incumbent contractor provides CIWT with important capability and capacity prior to and during the transition period, and to dynamically adapt to and satis~’ short-notice Fleet demands once the virtual training enviromnent is fully operational and implemented.

The second example involves CIWT’s consolidation of its facilities footprint to reduce costs and strengthen command and control. Specifically, CIWT continues to move courses and theft associated interconnected and complex TTE suites from hosting commands to its own RVTC facilities. SAIC’s instructors, who are experts and hold the corporate knowledge on the courses and TTh suites, are integral to the successful planning, relocation and reactivation of these courses. No other instructors, military or contractor, have the historical knowledge of the CUrrent installations nor the in-depth expertise necessary to identify risks and recommend mitigation steps to help ensure the course is back online prior to the next scheduled convene.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable. Market research conducted by C~WT included a review of potential sources. Global Business Solutions, Inc. (GBSI) submitted a quotation under current Seaport contract order N00178-04-D-4119 EXO8; however, GBSI was determined to be technically unacceptable. A recent review of GBSI’s technical capabilities by CIWT has revealed GBSI does not have the experience in specific Navy Technical Training Equipment (TTE) and technical support and therefore cannot meet the instant requirement. Vector Planning and Services, Inc. (VPSI) was also reviewed by CIWT as a potential source;

however, VPSI also does not provide specific Navy TTE training and technical support and therefore cannot meet the instant requirement.

In addition, a sources sought notice, along with the Performance Work Statement (PWS), was posted to the Government wide Point of Entry (OPE) on 22 April 2019 under posting number N0018919QZ220. In response to the i~otice, one required technical capability statement was submitted for evaluation from industry. The technical capability statement from A. Harold and Associated (AHA), LLC was reviewed by CIWT but did not demonstrate an ability to provide the required services. CIWT stated A}IA did not possess experience with providing instructors of students or technical support of Navy systems as required by the instant requirement. AHA’s past performance included mainly courseware analysts, formatting, and development, which is not similar to the required instructors and technical support of Navy specific systems.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition. Pursuant to DEARS PGI 206.302-1(d), a sources sought notice was issued on 22 April 2019. The results are detailed in paragraph 6. Since the prior acqui~ition was solicited on a fill and open competitive basis, no previous justification exists for the approval authority to determine whether the planned actions to remove barriers to competition have been completed in accordance with DFARS PGI 206.303- 2(b)(i)(B).

Additionally, the contracting office contacted the requiring activity to determine whether the requirement could be revised to improve competition. The requiring activity advised that the requirement represents their minimum needs;

therefore, the requirements could not be revised in that regard. However, the requiring activity added, the transitioning to new equipment systems will be completed by the end of FY2020. The transition to these new systems together with scheduling an Industry Day and/or Pre-Proposal Conference will increase the possibility of competition for the FY2021 follow-on requirement. In the interim, the requiring activity will continue to perform market research to try to identify additional sources for fiture requirements.

9. Contracting Activity Point of Contact. The NAVSUP FLC Norfolk point of contact is Michael Placido, Code 260.2C who may be contacted by telephone: DSN 442-9654, Commercial (215) 697-9654; or e-mail:

michael.placido(W,navy.mil.