REF_Bridge_Exception to FO_Redacted .pdf

Docusign Envelope ID: 96208AEE-53BC-4CCA-932B-76F3E4C9A163

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION

TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

UNDER INDEFINITE

DELIVERY/INDEFINITE QUANTITY

(IDIQ) CONTRACTS

Solicitation 47QFCA25R0026

Rapid Equipping Force (REF) Mission

Support Bridge in support of:

United States (U.S.) Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

(DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory

(ARL)

DEVCDM

ARMY RESEARCH

--•LABORATORY

United States (U.S.) General Services Administration (GSA)

Federal Acquisition Service Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) Army

Interagency Agreement Number 47QFCA21S0008

Controlled by AAS Contracting Officer Jack Hahne:

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Docusign Envelope ID 96208AEE-53BC-4CCA-932B-76F3E4C9A163

The General Services Administration (GSA) Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) makes this Justification for the issuance of an Exception to Fair Opportunity order pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.5.

a. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity:

Agency:

GSA AAS acting in suppo1i of U.S. Almy Research Laborato1y (ARL)

Contracting Activity:

GSA AAS Contracting Office (QFAC) 1800 F Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20405

b. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved:

The United States (U.S.) Almy Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) ARL and AAS Contracting Office propose to issue a sole source bridge Task Order (TO) under the ASTRO Multiple Award (MA) Indefinite Delive1y/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle to suppo1i ARL's REF Mission Suppo1i bridge requirements. This action will be executed pursuant to an exception to fair opportunity under FAR 16.505. The sole source bridge TO will include Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) for Labor and cost reimbursable CLINs for Long Distance Travel and Other Direct Costs (ODCs). This effo1i will provide continued suppo1i to ARL for professional services suppo1i including research and analysis, outreach, and program management, as well as operations management, training, logistics, and solutions management to meet the urgent requirements of U.S. Almy forces deployed globally.

AAS is actively pursuing a new competitive TO for follow-on REF Mission Suppo1i effo1is. However, due to funding constraints, organizational restmcturing amongst civilian agencies and DoD commands, and evolving Inission priorities within the U.S.

Almy, this competitive TO will not be awarded in time to avoid a gap in service. This requirement is cmTently being supported by Booze Allen Hainilton through the REF Mission Suppo1i TO, which is set to expire on October 2, 2025, after exercising all viable option periods. Issuing this sole source bridge TO is necessaiy to prevent a lapse in service that would disrupt ARL' s ability to provide critical suppo1i for Soldiers deployed globally.

c. Description of Supplies/Services and Estimated Value:

The scope of this effo1i is to provide specialized services for equipping the warfighter with immediate solutions in response to urgent challenges faced by U.S. AI·my Forces and strategic Inission paitners. The work to be perfo1med under the bridge contract is intended to sustain the scope of work being perfo1med under the current REF Mission Support TO. The primaiy place of peifo1mance is Adelphi, MD. Perfo1mance will also occur at multiple locations in the Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). The estimated value of the bridge is The planned period of perfo1mance is August 28, 2025, through August 27, 2026.

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An inte1n1ption in services would result in a critical failure to advance mission objectives that directly suppo1i urgent operational needs. The contractor provides specialized expertise and technical suppo1i essential to rapid prototyping, testing, and fielding of emerging technologies that address high-priority capability gaps for U.S. forces. A gap in service would disrnpt ongoing development efforts, delay data analysis and integration activities, and risk misalignment with key program milestones, including field demonstrations, operational assessments, and technology inse1iion. Continuity of service is therefore essential to maintain mission readiness and ensure that critical capabilities are delivered in suppo1i of national defense priorities.

The se1vices will include the following task areas:

Task 1 -Program Management

This task will include program management suppo1i under the REF Mission Suppo1i Bridge TO. This includes the management and oversight of all activities perfo1med by contractor personnel, including subcontractors, to satisfy the requirements identified in the TOR.

Task 2-Transition Support

This task will include transition-out suppo1i when required by the Government.

Transition-out suppo1i activities will include facilitating a seamless transition from the incumbent contractor to the incoming contractor or Government personnel at the expiration of the REF Mission Suppo1i Bridge TO to the BEATS TO.

Task 3 -Solutions Support

This task will include lifecycle solutions suppo1i, with sustainment, typically between one to two years after fielding innovative technology. Solutions suppo1i entails validating requirements, identifying technology, and deploying operational equipment that meets the needs of the warfighter outlined in the TO requirement.

Task 4 -Integrated Logistics Support

This task will include contractor suppo1i to provide CONUS and OCONUS logistics support and expe1iise to ARL including facilities management and accountability, storage, wananty maintenance, transportation, chain of custody, invento1y, reconciliation, sustainment (typically for one to two years after equipping), and disposal of ARL prope1iy (e.g., equipment and materials).

Task 5 -Operations Support

This task will include operations suppo1i to cover a range of task areas critical to DEVCOM ability to effectively address warfighter requirements. This includes suppo1iing both OCONUS-focused efforts like deployments and threat intelligence as well as CONUS-focused suppo1i such as security, planning and strategic communications, training, IT and communications systems, KM, and Info1mation Assurance (IA). The contractor will coordinate activities and info1mation with Almy staff (e.g., staff for three- and four-star flag officers), Major Commands, DoD agencies, strategic mission paiiners, political appointees, members of Congress, and deployed units globally. The contractor will maintain awareness of U.S. Almy operations and policy to

Version 02/28/2025 Page 3 both facilitate U.S. Almy and ARL mission, goals, and objectives and to effectively represent ARL with external entities.

Task 6 - Organizational Support

This task will include providing organizational suppo1t to DEVCOM to facilitate effective and efficient business management. The contractor will attend meetings and provide info1mation and input on matters pe1taining to DEVCOM human resources and administrative functions. This includes preparation of agendas, minutes, and other documents as needed for meetings and briefings. Additionally, the contractor will assist DEVCOM management on organizational structure and process changes needed to implement improvements to DEV COM business management processes.

d. Identification of the Exception to Fair Opportunity and Rationale:

This Task Order (TO) Justification is being prepared as required by:

FAR 16.505, Exception to Fair Opportunity Process

The rationale is:

The order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency as a logical follow-on to an order ah-eady issued under the conti·act, provided that all the contractors were given fair oppo1tunity to be considered for the original order (FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C)).

A fair oppo1tunity to compete was given under the original TOR 47QFCA19K0013, issued under Contract GS00Q14OADU108, when proposals were solicited from all contractors in the GSA OASIS Unrestricted MA IDIQ - Pool 1. Five proposals were received and evaluated on a best value dete1mination. The justification for this follow-on sole source bridge TO is based on a logical relationship to the original competed TOR, as it continues work within the same general scope and suppo1ts unintenupted perfo1mance during the time period covered by the cmTent extension under FAR clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services. While the bridge TO will cover essential tasks necessaiy to maintain continuity, its anticipated value is lower than the original award because certain tasks have been completed and will not be re initiated until a new, fully competed TO is awai·ded. This limited effo1t ensures operational continuity while avoiding duplication of effo1t.

The sole source bridge TO is in the interest of economy and efficiency, as competing and awarding to any other source would likely result in substantial duplication of costs to the Government that are not expected to be recovered through competition, cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling U.S. Army's requirements, and risk failure to meet critical mission priorities. A sole source award streamlines the acquisition process, reduces costly administrative burden, and provides the most logical means of ensuring mission critical services continue for this specific requirement.

e. Determination That the Anticipated Cost is Fair and Reasonable:

The most recent yeai·s of historical cost and fee data will be used in conjunction with any Fo1ward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) and other sources to dete1mine a fair and reasonable price. The incumbent is a well-established conti·actor with approved

Version 02/28/2025 Page4 accounting and purchasing systems. The Government will also use invoices and actual costs to establish an accurate Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). A cost realism analysis will be conducted on the incumbent' s proposal to evaluate whether proposed costs are realistic for the work to be perfo1med, reflect a clear understanding of the requirements, and are consistent with the technical approach. This analysis will support the dete1mination that the proposed costs are fair and reasonable for the scope and nature of the effo1t. It is anticipated that transitioning from a Cost-Plus-Award-Fee to a CPFF contract type will reduce contractor risk and thus reduce the associated fee.

Additional cost savings are expected from using the ASTRO IDIQ, which does not include a Contract Access Fee (CAF).

f. Other Facts Supporting the Justification:

There are no other facts.

g. Statement of Actions:

To remove the baITiers that led to this exception to fair opportunity, the agency has aheady initiated a competitive acquisition for the REF Mission Suppo1t bridge TO, with an estimated award date of March 2026. The REF Mission Suppo1t sole source bridge TO is limited to a single 12-month order period to maintain continuity of services while allowing sufficient time for the competitive award process, resolution of any possible protests, and an appropriate transition from the incumbent contractor to the new awardee.

Furthe1more, the agency commits to improved task order monitoring, planning, and forecasting practices to fmther anticipate acquisition lead times and reduce reliance on non-competitive bridge. These improvements include definition of earlier requirements, closer coordination between technical and contracting teams, and more rigorous tracking of perfo1mance and schedule milestones.

h. Certification by Technical or Requirements Personnel:

I hereby ce1tify that the supporting data is accurate and complete.

Project Manager, AAS Almy

i. Signature of Authorized Officials:

7/23/2025

Date

I hereby ce1tify that the Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I dete1mine on the basis of the findings above that the exception to fair oppo1tunity is in accordance with the requirements and is in the best

7/23/2025 a ne Date Contracting Officer, AAS Almy

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Assisted Acquisition Services

I hereby ce1iify that the Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I detennine on the basis of the findings above that the exception to fair oppo1iunity is in accordance with the requirements and is in the best interest of the Government.

Client Executive, AAS Almy Assisted Acquisition Services

7/30/2025

Date

I hereby ce1iify that the Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I dete1mine on the basis of the findings above that the exception to fair opportunity is in accordance with the requirements and is in the best interest of the Government.

Advocate for Competition, AAS Almy Assisted Acquisition Services

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7/31/2025

Date