Sole Source Justification FUNDEDMOD-26-000375.pdf

Version 8.0 January 2026

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

Advanced Operations, Engineering, and Architectural Information Technology Support Services

Identification Number: FUNDEDMOD-26-000375

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD), proposes to enter into a contract on the basis of other than full and open competition in support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), N-Wave Program Office.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

NOAA intends to award a contract modification to ANG Signal, LLC, UEI: LSE2QCQLHJV5, under Contract number 1305M325P0085. NOAA anticipates to execute the modification prior to the current contract expiration date of 2 April 2026.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value).

The Government requires continued support for the advanced operations, engineering, and architectural Information Technology (IT) Support Services of the N-Wave program and associated portfolio of network services. The N-Wave program plays a fundamental role in supporting NOAA's operational mission by ensuring secure, high-speed network connectivity for critical data transmission and remote collaboration among researchers, agencies, and external partners. This acquisition is essential for ensuring uninterrupted IT operations and maintaining key network services, including cloud networking, enterprise managed local area network (LAN), enterprise wireless, enterprise firewall, and enterprise remote access virtual private network (VPN). These services directly support NOAA's ability to conduct scientific research, weather forecasting, and environmental monitoring, ensuring that critical data and real-time information remain accessible to mission stakeholders. The services required under this acquisition are anticipated to be performed at multiple NOAA sites and facilities primarily within the continental U.S. Labor categories required under this acquisition include IT security specialists, network engineers, cloud computing specialists, cloud systems engineers, and IT engineers. A one-year extension to the existing contract is necessary in order to permit the continuation of critical IT services and prevent a gap in coverage while the follow-on requirement is being solicited and awarded competitively.

With this modification, the expiration date for the existing contract will be extended up to one year from 2 April 2026 to 2 April 2027. The extension period consists of a three-month base period and a 9-month option period. The total estimated value for this modification is

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

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.102 entitled, Restricting Competition.

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

ANG Signal, LLC is the only responsible source that can provide these services to the N-Wave Program Office based upon the following:

This bridge contract is necessary for continuity of operations and to ensure that there is no break in service in providing critical IT support under the N-Wave program while the fully competed, follow-on requirement is being solicited and awarded. Highly specialized IT services covered under this requirement include critical IT infrastructure support for cloud-based networks, local networks, wireless connections, firewalls for security and remote network access across NOAA and DOC. Any disruptions in providing IT support for the aforementioned systems will have catastrophic impacts including network outages affecting NOAA's scientific and operational missions, failure of secure cloud connectivity impeding critical research and forecasting initiatives, disruptions in real-time data access, increased cybersecurity risks due to gaps in firewall and remote access security and loss of interoperability with research and education networks, hindering NOAA's ability to collaborate with scientific partners and government agencies.

Per Department of Commerce leadership guidance, Procurement Memorandum (PM) 2026-01 and PM 2026-06, this document incorporates Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) references as implemented under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO).

The incumbent contractor, ANG Signal, LLC, has developed, deployed and currently operates the critical IT infrastructure and cloud-based services for the N-Wave program. ANG Signal, LLC subject-matter experts possess Tier-3 level knowledge of N-Wave's cloud, managed local area network (LAN), enterprise wireless, enterprise firewall, and enterprise remote access virtual private network (VPN) services. ANG Signal, LLC also developed and integrated N-Wave's unique cloud networking services in collaboration with lnternet2, Science Research and Education Regional Optical Networks, and the Global Network Operations Center at Indiana University. This partnership is exclusive to the science and research network community and ensures secure, high-speed connectivity for NOAA's cloud environment. ANG Signal, LLC's experience in integrating this specialized IT infrastructure is unparalleled and essential to maintaining NOAA's research and operational capabilities making it impractical for any other contractor to assume these responsibilities without extensive delays and risks.

As the incumbent contractor, only ANG Signal, LLC possesses the immediate resources, knowledge, and infrastructure to ensure complete continuity of operations. Only ANG Signal, LLC is in a unique position to provide the critical IT services at the level of quality required without causing unacceptable delays and disruption of services to the N-Wave program. The scope of work is not changing and the contractor will continue working without interruption with established staff through the bridge contract's period of performance. As a result, ANG Signal, LLC is in the best position to continue providing IT services without delay to the N-Wave program to support critical IT infrastructure across NOAA and DOC while efforts to award the fully competed follow-on requirement is underway.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Part 5 and, if not, which exception under FAR Part 5 applies.

A presolicitation notice was posted to the GPE as required under FAR Subpart 5.1 on 4 March 2026. No responses were received in response to the presolicitation notice.

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The contracting officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on FAR 12.204(a), Price reasonableness. Prior to award of the proposed modification, price information shall be obtained from the contractor and a price analysis will be performed and documented to sufficiently determine that the cost to the government for the proposed modification will be fair and reasonable.

8. The market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted).

Market research was conducted by the N-Wave Program Office and the WAD to identify available sources and to evaluate the availability of the marketplace to meet the requirement. Based on market research results, multiple small businesses can provide the IT services required under the competitive, follow-on requirement. However, due to the need for continuity of operations, only ANG Signal, LLC has the immediate specialized expertise, infrastructure and institutional knowledge required to sustain mission critical IT services required under this bridge action without causing unacceptable delays and disruption of services to the N-Wave program.

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

All supporting facts have been documented herein. There are no additional facts to be reported in this section.

10. A listing of any sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

No sources have expressed a written interest in this acquisition based on the presolicitation notice posting.

11. A statement of any actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition, if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

NOAA intends to overcome any barriers to competition by soliciting and awarding the follow-on effort for this requirement competitively through the GSA MAS. Additionally, the acquisition team has and will continue to conduct extensive market research to ensure that competition is maximized for the follow-on effort.

Per Department of Commerce leadership guidance, Procurement Memorandum (PM) 2026-01 and PM 2026-06, this document incorporates Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) references as implemented under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO).

12. CERTIFICATION

The JOFOC has been prepared and certified by:

Technical/Requirements Personnel:

I certify that the above narrative is accurate and contains complete data necessary to support the recommendation for other than full and open competition. I further certify that the narrative verifies the Government's minimum needs or schedule requirements and any rationale used to justify other than full and open competition procedures.

Matthew Smith Date N-Wave Contracting Officer Representative

Contracting Officer:

I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Remo Dela Cruz Contracting Officer

13. REVIEW and CONCURRENCE

Review:

Office of General Counsel

Attorney Advisor, Contract Law Division

Concur:

Head of Contracting Office

Chad Hepp Director, Western Acquisition Division

Date

Date

Per Department of Commerce leadership guidance, Procurement Memorandum (PM) 2026-01 and PM 2026-06, this document incorporates Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) references as implemented under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO).

14. APPROVAL

Approved:

NOAA Competition Advocate

Binita Sharma Date NOAA Competition Advocate

Per Department of Commerce leadership guidance, Procurement Memorandum (PM) 2026-01 and PM 2026-06, this document incorporates Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) references as implemented under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO).