Redacted JandA.pdf

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Control No: [REDACTED] Contractor: Applied Research Associates, Inc.

Supply/Service: [REDACTED]

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR PART 6 JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Programs/Equipment: Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Research, Data, and Services for the [REDACTED]

Authority: 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) 3204(a)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B) - Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

Amount: [REDACTED]

Prepared by: [REDACTED]

Contracting Officer: Caleb Baisden DSN: 290.3396

Contracting Officer Date: 10 Apr 2024 Email: richard.c.baisden2.civ@army.mil

Technical: [REDACTED]

Requirements: [REDACTED]

[REDACTED]

(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4) mailto:richard.c.baisden2.civ@army.mil

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Control No: [REDACTED]

Reviews

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Program Manager:

Legal Counsel:

Command Advocate for Competition:

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Control No: [REDACTED]

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FAR Part 6 Justification and Approval for Other than

Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Adelphi Contracting Division (CCAP-MDI), 2800 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783.

2. Description of Action:

[REDACTED] requests a modification and follow on to contract W911QX-23-C-0010 to increase the ceiling by [REDACTED] and a one

(1) year period of performance (PoP) extension to Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract W911QX-23-C-0010 to be executed by the Army Contracting Command (ACC) Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) Adelphi Division with Applied Research Associates (ARA), Inc., 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A-220, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87110 (CAGE: 9R446). The Government projects modification award in June 2025

[REDACTED]

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

The Government requires support for the continued development, implementation, and extension of over 30 projects, including both the numerous classified ones and the [REDACTED] truly mission critical, unclassified projects [REDACTED]. These services are highly specialized, with part of the work being classified and in [REDACTED]. The intent of this J&A is to justify the award of an additional [REDACTED] of the GEOINT Research, Data, and Services Contract Ceiling. Additionally, [REDACTED] requests the addition of a one (1)-year option period to be made available with a period of performance period of 14 July 2026 through 13 July 2027 [REDACTED].

ARA has built a team of well over 150 mission-critical [REDACTED] cleared professionals who are supporting truly critical [REDACTED] projects. These projects are supporting/have supported [REDACTED]activities in [REDACTED]

Unclassified projects:

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• [REDACTED] Support program handles mission critical analyst functionality that exploits exquisite sensor technology to track potential events of high interest to US National Security. [REDACTED]

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At the unclassified level, [REDACTED] are reducing the time to create mission targeting packages from[REDACTED] and are revolutionizing the Geospatial data construct with its ability to access[REDACTED] data. These [REDACTED] are unique, one-of-a-kind and have proven to provide significant increases to deployed allied force warfighter lethality as well as increases to survivability. Without the appropriate support in place, significant negative impacts to allied forces would be experienced.

Due to numerous uncertainties and a constantly evolving geopolitical landscape, the Government requires additional contract ceiling in order to obtain the [REDACTED] currently being provided on this contract. [REDACTED] has provided an Independent Government Estimate (IGE) based on the last six (6) years of contract history to project Labor Expenses (supported by 37 individual Labor Categories (LCATs), expected Travel and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) required to complete the expected tasking supported by the existing [REDACTED]. The table below provides a breakdown of the estimated ceiling increase for each CLIN, and provides the expected type of funds to be applied:

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as implemented by FAR6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B)– For DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other source would result in (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

As described in 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-1, when only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required the supplies and services ordered are unique or highly specialized, full and open competition need not be provided.

At the time this contract was originally awarded, the Government was not able to accurately/completely anticipate the full need for the [REDACTED] during the current CLIN’s PoP. With the recent change in Administration at the executive branch, there has been a change in priorities, which has resulted in a surge in demand for the type of services provided under this contract. [REDACTED]. This contract has historically been heavily utilized in support of [REDACTED].

This unforeseen demand has caused [REDACTED] to have an immediate need for the additional [REDACTED] in ceiling. This increase encompasses an increased level of effort for the third option year of this contract to keep up with the surge in demand for these services and also adding a fourth option to this contract, because the Government now knows the

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Control No: [REDACTED] current, increased level of need for these services are at a higher demand than at the time of the original contract’s award date.

However, due to this surge in requirements, the current contract ceiling is insufficient to support the current burn-rate to both support the increased demand in support of the southern border and all other projects currently supported. As a result, the current contract ceiling amount needs to be increased in order to meet demand for these services and to continue ongoing requirements, supporting both classified and unclassified applications.

Yet due to the nature of these highly specialized services, the Government would encounter unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements if this modification to increase the total contract ceiling is not completed.

For instance, at the current burn-rate, the total available contract ceiling on the next option period [REDACTED] is only anticipated to cover performance for approximately three (3) to four (4) months. Without an increase to this CLIN’s contract ceiling, [REDACTED] would have no available contract vehicle for the continuance of this effort/fulfilling this requirement. This approach would necessitate the award of a brand-new contract for these services, and—given the procurement lead time associated with awarding a new contract of this complexity/magnitude—this approach would [REDACTED] to complete, which would result in a lapse of services for [REDACTED] at a minimum.

In reality, this lapse in services would likely be [REDACTED], because this timeline only accounts for the minimum procurement lead time required to award a new contract.

However, there would also be significant additional delays related to onboarding and ensuring the new Contractor staff is trained/capable to perform at the level of support required to support this specialized effort, which is discussed in more detail later within this section.

Furthermore, [REDACTED] currently supporting over [REDACTED] under this effort.

These professionals have gained unique knowledge and expertise with [REDACTED]’s current mission support environment and are critical to ensure that the future support maintains the existing defense profile. ARA’s team of current employees and key personnel have gained the knowledge and skillsets needed to ensure successful performance not only on their own contract but for other [REDACTED] programs as well.

Attempting to compete this work to allow a potential award to another vendor would result in a decreased quality of service across all [REDACTED] projects supported, thus resulting in damage to Government as described below.

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Due to the number of employees currently supporting this effort, issuing a new contract would result in unacceptable delays, which could lead to mission failure. The added requirements of the new administration make time of the essence, given the urgency of the current operations. Therefore, it would be unrealistic to issue and award a separate contract at this time.

If a new contract were awarded to any other prime contractor, it would be highly unlikely that they would be able to recruit and retain the necessary personnel currently employed under the existing effort and in the required time. [REDACTED] has direct experience with this scenario—during a similar effort concluded in fiscal year 2024, a new vendor was awarded a contract, which had [REDACTED] positions.

However, the new prime vendor failed to recruit or retain any of the personnel from the previous team.

Given that the scale of the current contract involves approximately [REDACTED] the number of personnel as the contract discussed above, this outcome could have detrimental effects, potentially leading to mission failure or severe disruption to ongoing mission requirements. Furthermore, contracting with another company for these services would mandate that a new Project Manager (PM) be employed by the vendor under that effort to oversee the new contractor personnel, and the required mission knowledge, best practices, and support that ARA personnel have already implemented would need to be re-trained, re-established, and reintroduced to a completely new workforce, leading to substantial duplication of costs.

Furthermore, as alluded to earlier in this section, onboarding a new contractor and their Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) without existing institutional knowledge would likely require a minimum [REDACTED] to reach full, equivalent, operational capacity, and contract performance would likely suffer for an additional [REDACTED] during the initial ramp-up period as the new team gains proficiency, potentially significantly impacting National Defense capabilities (Reference Chart Below). The Government’s estimated cost for training new contractor personnel up to a minimally acceptable standard for the aforementioned projects is estimated to be [REDACTED].

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This estimate was calculated by determining the number of hours required to dedicate solely to training Contractor personnel up to a standard where they have acquired the minimal knowledge in system methodology and processes for each project. There are [REDACTED] on the [REDACTED] projects over thirty-seven approved Labor Categories with an average rate of [REDACTED] estimates that it would take at least [REDACTED] for each of these new employees to develop the expertise required to satisfactorily support the projects that the ARA team currently support. [REDACTED] x 240 hours each x [REDACTED]/hour average LCAT rate equals [REDACTED].

Also, while contemplating the nature of this modification, the Government had to consider the need for a transition period between the current contract vehicle and the follow-on. As such, a [REDACTED] transition period is necessary to ensure continued successful performance during the transition from the current contract to the next. If this modification to increase the current ceiling and add one (1) additional option period were not issued, the timeline would not allow for a transition period, introducing a significant risk to contract performance.

Furthermore, the Government did not fully contemplate the true need for these services at the time the original contract was awarded. Due to the priorities of the current

Baisden, Richard Caleb (Caleb) CIV USARMY ACC (USA) Redact

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Control No: [REDACTED] administration, the need for these services has drastically increased over the course of the current CLINs’ period of performance. [REDACTED].

This unforeseen demand has caused [REDACTED] to have an immediate need for the additional contract ceiling, because of this surge in requirements and the fact that all of the original projects remain requirements of this effort. Simply put, this contract does not have the available ceiling to support both the new projects/priority areas of this administration in addition to the ongoing projects currently supported—many of which are of a [REDACTED].

The original contract was awarded with a base year and two (2) option periods.

Performance is currently in the first option period. However, if the Government does not increase the ceiling on the current contract, it would be forced to exercise the final option early, and it would likely exhaust the entire ceiling well before its anticipated one (1) year period of performance.

If the project services required for the subject modification were completed by any Contractor other than ARA, this would result in a critical fracture in the continuity of services across [REDACTED] and prevent [REDACTED] from supporting mission critical programs that directly affect the National Defense of our country and our allies.

The services provided under this contract are mission critical, supporting ongoing operations world-wide, and any lapse in service would amount to an unacceptable, detrimental delay in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

Specifically, if this modification to increase the contract ceiling were not completed, over [REDACTED] projects executing on the [REDACTED] contract would be detrimentally impacted. [REDACTED]. Continuity of these services is essential and any break in services would result in detrimental consequences for the Government.

Furthermore, and significantly, if the [REDACTED] contract is not extended, [REDACTED]. Based on the aforementioned, it is determined that ARA is the sole vendor that can provide the required project support for the aforementioned projects, updates and operational support.

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Control No: [REDACTED]

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: As required by FAR 5.201, a Synopsis-RFI (Request for Information) was posted to SAM.gov on 04 March 2025 and closed on 19 March 2025. This RFI stated the need for end-to-end support services for the continued development, implementation, and extension of today’s evolving [REDACTED]. No interested vendors submitted a response to this posting.

a. Effective competition. Effective competition is not anticipated for this procurement. To date, no sources other than ARA have written to express interest in this acquisition.

b. Subcontracting competition. An Individual Subcontracting Plan will be required as this is a non-commercial purchase over $750,000.00 awarded to an other than small business. In order to promote subcontracting competition, the resultant contract will include FAR clauses, 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns, and 52.244- 5, Competition in Subcontracting. A subcontracting plan was required and approved prior to award of the current contract. As part of this modification, an updated subcontracting plan to account for the increase in contract ceiling resulting from this modification will be required from the Contractor.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: [REDACTED] will continue to monitor the market for other potential sources to increase future competition for this requirement and any associated services. [REDACTED] will continue to pursue web searches, consultations with knowledgeable Government, university, and industry personnel, and attend trade shows or web-based communications to help locate alternative sources that can provide the required services. The Government will also continue to evaluate opportunities to promote competition by considering the feasibility of pulling out portions of future sole source requirements for competition.

8. Market Research:

The Government conducted market research from June-September 2024. [REDACTED] held extensive technical conversations with its Mission Partner in Chantilly, Virginia about their [REDACTED] team who spent the prior six (6) months performing extensive industry and Government market research. The [REDACTED] team validated that no other capabilities like [REDACTED]—one of the efforts currently being deployed as a part of the [REDACTED] project on this contract— exist and are moving to secure funding for their own [REDACTED] in the future.

During the initial market research, the Government contacted knowledgeable people and subject matter experts (SMEs) within Government and industry [REDACTED] to determine if other vendors have the capabilities to meet the requirements of the [REDACTED] project. In addition, Government representatives continually provide market research

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Control No: [REDACTED] surveillance by searching and reviewing catalogs, literature on manufacturers, distributors, and dealers, along with on-line sources, such as, Amazon Cloud Products Offering, The Drone Databook, and GSA Technology & Services Online Capability Resource to seek qualified and interested vendors. [REDACTED] will continue to monitor the market for other potential sources to increase future competition for this requirement and any associated services. [REDACTED] will continue to pursue web searches, consultations with knowledgeable subject matter experts (SME) in Government, university, and industry personnel, and attend trade shows or web-based communications to help locate alternative sources that can provide the required services.

Furthermore, in the summer of 2024, [REDACTED] performed a detailed review of existing [REDACTED] Enterprise contracts and determined that no other contract options exist that can satisfy and perform the scope or size of the existing [REDACTED] contract.

In accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 205.205-71, DFARS 206.302-1(d), and DFARS Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI) 206.302-1(d), a Synopsis-RFI was posted to sam.gov on 04 MAR 2025 for 15 days; no sources have written to express interest.

9. Interested Sources: To date, only the proposed vendor, ARA, has written to express interest in this acquisition.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history

Contract: W911QX16D0015 / W911QX18F0034 Contractor: Applied Research Associates Award Date: 28 September 2018 Period of Performance: 28 September 2018 – 8 March 2023 Dollar Value: [REDACTED] Competitive Status: Competitive Task Order

Contract: W911QX23C0010 Contractor: Applied Research Associates Award Date: 14 July 2023 Period of Performance: 14 July 2023 – 13 July 2026 Dollar Value: [REDACTED] Competitive Status: FAR Part 6.302-5 -- Authorized or Required by Statute -- Section 874(b)(2) of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) -- Pilot Program to Incentivize Contracting with Employee-Owned Businesses

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b. Other facts. N/A

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signer’s Title: Contracting Officer’s Representative Research Mechanical Engineer

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signer’s Title: [REDACTED] Technical Executive

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13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following:

_X_ Cost analysis

_X_ IGE

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data:

_X_ Will be required.

Richard Baisden Contracting Officer

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Richard Baisden Contracting Officer

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D.CALEB.154299 42995005 X 5005

BAISDEN.RICHARD.CALEB.15

BAISDEN.RICHAR Digitally signed by

BAISDEN.RICHARD.CALEB.1

542995005 Date: 2025.05.12 09:00:30 -04'00'

RD.CALEB.1542

995005 X BAISDEN.RICHA Digitally signed by

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Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of an additional one year period of performance and a [REDACTED]contract ceiling increase on the [REDACTED] contract on an another than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority as described in 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302- 1(a)(2)(iii)(B) For DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other source would result in (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Senior Contracting Official