UARC3 J and A Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

March 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 4 of 7 detect special nuclear materials; radiation detectors with improved sensitivity, noise characteristics, and operational capabilities; standoff detection of nuclear debris; rapid in situ forensic analysis of nuclear material; and in situ non-destructive testing of nuclear pits.

2. Detection of Chemical and Biological Weapons: including rapid, accurate, and highly efficient bioagent identification; sensors incorporating technology that identify, quantify, and detect chemical and biological agents at the molecular or macro level; sensing technologies incorporated or integrated with autonomous and adaptive sensor networks for various applications; threat assessment tools for identifying emerging biological/ chemical threats both man-made and naturally occurring.

3. Active and Passive Defense against Weapons of Mass Destruction: including countermeasures to central nervous system disorders; rapid production of vaccines for bioagents, next generation respiratory protection equipment; genetic, immunological, and materials approaches to develop and deliver vaccine antigens in a manner to enhance their cellular uptake; regulation of the metabolic process for warfighters in extreme environments; materials development and design for personnel protective equipment and other protective measures; and innovative approaches to drug delivery.

4. Consequence Management: including innovative solutions to avoid or mitigate the effects of a Weapons of Mass Destruction event on personnel and infrastructure through detection, technology development, modeling and simulation, protocols, and design; visualization and simulation of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities; disaster preparation and response, and human behavior patterns; computer- based surrogates of real world systems for training, analysis of alternatives, experimentation and exploration of system vulnerabilities; and decision-making support tools to analyze complex data, assess risk, analyze exposure, and visualize impacts. Consequence management provides solutions to the challenges of how to protect, respond, and restore personnel health and infrastructure after a chemical, biologicical, cyber, radiological, or nuclear incident occurs as triggered by human or natural disaster.

5. Mission Related Research: including test, evaluation, and systems analysis of important topics to DoD through the application of the above core competencies. Related topics of importance could be Space, Cyber and Telecom Law, policies and strategies affecting space traffic management, security and risk management of space and cyber assets, space/cyber/telecom threats, convergence of cyberspace and CWMD pathways that affect mission readiness and national critical infrastructure resilience, space/cyber/telecom deterrence theory and applications; analysis of space/cyber/telecom legal issues, and development of protocols based on international space/cyber/telecom law. Research would include, but be limited to, domestic and international laws, treaties, and agreements to determine impacts and influences of US policy, deterrence strategies, and law on national security and commercial infrastructure, evaluation of the consequences of failing to meet legal standards or requirements, the necessity of legislative action to meet certain national security objectives, analyses of DoD policies that govern action and reaction in the space or cyber theaters, and legal deficiencies or ambiguity of frameworks for decision-makers that highlight hard limits of action.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(3)(B) or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3)(B) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii), Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert Services.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

DoD permits the award of sole-source contracts to UARCs under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(3)(B) or 41 U.S.C. 304(a)(3)(B) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii). Per the 2013 DoD UARC Engagement Guide, this

March 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 5 of 7 authority is applicable to UARCs because of its establishment as part of an educational institution.

NSRI is a 501(c) nonprofit entity operating under the organization structure of the University of Nebraska. It is a DoD-Chartered UARC as outlined in the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering)'s 2013 UARC Engagement Guide. This acquisition will continue to fulfill the intent of the 2012-identified USSTRATCOM requirement to establish a UARC to maintain essential university-based engineering and technology capabilities essential to the DoD - specifically for purposes of this contract, within USSTRATCOM mission areas. It maintains a long-term strategic relationship between the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) (the designated UARC supporting USSTRATCOM) and DoD. The characteristics of this relationship are:

(1) Responsiveness to evolving sponsor's requirements.

(2) Comprehensive knowledge of sponsor's requirements, and problems.

(3) Broad access to information, including proprietary data.

(4) Broad corporate knowledge.

(5) Independence and objectivity.

(6) Quick response capability.

(7) Current operational experience.

(8) Freedom from real and/or perceived conflicts of interest.

The UARC III contract will support all USSTRATCOM mission areas, and will be available to any Government agency requiring support within those mission areas.

The NSRI at the University of Nebraska develops and applies science and technology to enhance the security of the United States and solve problems of national and global significance. NSRI possesses an extensive breadth of capabilities, and is involved in broad programs of long-term research and supporting major DoD systems. The scope of its efforts extends across several areas of science and technology, includes many different warfare elements, and involves many types of activities, from basic research to full-scale operational system testing. The unique capabilities of NSRI stems from the body of knowledge, experience, data, and facilities established through more than a half century of highly diversified work solving problems for a multitude of DoD organizations.

As a DoD-chartered UARC, NSRI maintains the core competencies identified in section III above. These core competencies create the essential engineering, research and development capabilities required to meet USSTRATCOM and other Government agencies mission needs. Beginning with NSRI's extensive involvement in nuclear detection and forensics research, NSRI established awareness for a high confidence of success in USSTRATCOM. Specifically, NSRI holds extensive expertise in USSTRATCOM's assigned mission areas. NSRI assists USSTRATCOM in meeting its critical challenges through a variety of activities including requirements analysis and definition, systems analysis, systems engineering, systems integration and interoperability, systems effectiveness, and test and evaluation activities. NSRI's understanding of these missions and operations will serve as a bridge to permit its effective use in a strategic environment, and ensure the desired strategic effects are achieved.

Generally, UARCs may not compete against industry in response to competitive request for proposals (RFPs) for development or production that involve engineering expertise developed or sustained through contracts awarded under 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(3)(B). This criteria allows NSRI to be a valuable asset due to the independence and objectivity this limitation creates.

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XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my responsibility, is both accurate and complete.