Sole Source JA.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

The Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) is conducting this procurement for other than full and open competition for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Systems

Innovations, Integration, and Engineering Services on behalf of the Bureau of Diplomatic

Security, Office of Security Technology (DS/C/ST) and the Protective Technology Branch

(PTB). The estimated amount of the award is $14,250,000.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This procurement is a follow-on effort to SAQMMA14D0135 with Johns Hopkins

University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). This will be a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee

(CPFF), Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the Department’s needs.

This is a follow-on effort to contract for continued engineering analyses, modeling and simulation, hardware/software prototyping, and testing as required to evaluate effectiveness of Counter Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED)

Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems; force protection technologies relative personal and vehicle armor, weapons supporting protective and enforcement needs as well as technical systems facilitating the department’s force protection needs. Independent validation and verification analysis are required for technologies and systems developed by commercial vendors and other federal and state government agencies/entities to assess feasibility, applicability, operational suitability, and contribution to DS mission objectives. JHU/APL shall also leverage current and future TS/SCI CREW research, engineering, and hardware/software prototyping work being done for other government agencies and elements within the Department of Defense (DoD), which significantly assists DS/C/ST in deploying CREW and tactical communications systems to High Threat Posts.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

☒ FAR 6.302-3 – Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert service.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this effort is 10

U.S.C. 2304(c)(3) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii), “full and open competition need not be provided for when it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source or sources in order to establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other non-profit institution or a federally funded research and development center.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

JHU/APL is uniquely qualified to provide these services to DS/C/ST based upon the following:

The US Department of State operates in hostile locations throughout the world. Cutting edge protective countermeasures are an absolute necessity to ensure the safety of US personnel and locally employed foreign nationals stationed at US diplomatic facilities.

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) possess world class capabilities in a wide range of technical specialties. The Department has a compelling need to leverage this expertise to protect personnel and further its mission of diplomatic presence and representation.

In addition to world-class technical capabilities, JHU/APL possess a facility clearance and Top Secret cleared employees. JHU/APL is considered a “trusted agent” within the

US Government. As such, it performs research, development test and evaluation and coordinates highly classified work for the US Department of Defense, the US Intelligence

Community and the US Department of State.

6. A description of efforts to ensure that offers were solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

In accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(10), a notice of proposed award is required. The approved justification will be made publicly available via beta.sam.gov within 14 days of contract award.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will ensure that the final negotiated price for all task orders placed under the contract are fair and reasonable by using the analysis techniques found in FAR

15.404, to include a comparison with the respective Independent Government Estimate(s) and historical information.

8. A description of the market survey conducted and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted.

A market survey was not conducted on beta.sam.gov, GSA eBuy or any other site.

However, the procurement is a result of an existing contract, SAQMMA14D0135, JHU/APL currently has with DS/C/ST.

DS/C/ST is seeking to continue an existing relationship with a Department of Defense

(DoD) University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) by the most efficient and cost effective means possible.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

N/A

10. A listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/A

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required. Include a statement that this J&A for other than full and open competition will be published on FedBizOpps in accordance with FAR Section 6.305 within 14 days of award (or within 30 days if the J&A is for unusual and compelling urgency.)

The Government will continue to review its requirement and continue to survey the marketplace to identify potential sources that can perform this requirement. This requirement will be posted to allow other potential university sources to see if they are able to do the work in the future. Due to the timing of the requirement, the Government is not able to provide adequate time for a full and open competition.