REDACTED Exception to Fair Opportunity Justification (FAR Part 16)_W911QX19F0075 2026 Bridge.pdf

This is a Justification Review Document for a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 16 exception to fair opportunity procedures. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Chief Information Office seeks a 100-day bridge extension modification to the existing hybrid Cost and Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) Task Order W911QX19F0075 with Agile Defense Inc., valued at [REDACTED], extending performance from March 11, 2026 through June 19, 2026. The modification maintains critical Information Technology (IT) Modernization Support Services while resolving a Government Accountability Office (GAO) level protest received on the follow-on contract W911QX25F0053, which was awarded to Link Solutions Inc. on May 13, 2025.

The services encompass comprehensive IT modernization support including help-desk support, IT consulting, training, migration and modernization implementation, and on-site project support for both classified and unclassified systems at ARL. The contract was awarded under the Army Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) Information Technology Enterprise Solution Services (ITES-3S) multiple award vehicle as a 100% Small Business set-aside on September 27, 2019. The justification cites urgent operational need under 10 U.S.C. §3406(c)(1) and FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A), noting that without continuity of the incumbent's specialized services, ARL would experience mission-critical delays. Market research confirmed multiple vendors are capable of fulfilling the requirement, but the incumbent possesses unique institutional knowledge and specialized expertise necessary to maintain service continuity during the protest resolution period. The modification includes six Contract Line Item Numbers for IT Service Operations, IT Projects, and Travel across two option periods with associated costs and periods of performance.