JEFO BJACH Wireless Redacted (final).pdf

Control No: Johnson 2024-1

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support an exception to fair opportunity determination in accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B).

Program Manager:

_ Date: See digital signature

Small Business Professional:

Date: See digital signature

Local Legal Counsel:

Director, MICC- Fort Johnson

Option Year 9 Period: Begin 09/30/2033 End: 09/29/2034 $67,157.66

Total Est value: $675,000.00

4. Authority Cited:

10 U.S.C. 3406(c)(2) as implemented by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) – Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The Army is required to obtain wireless services and devices from the Navy Spiral 4 Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) as a mandated strategic source. Navy Spiral 4 is a multiple award MATOC with multiple contractors to include . is the only Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) Navy Spiral 4 contract holder with FirstNet devices and services because it was awarded an exclusive contract from the Government (FirstNet Independent Authority within U.S. Department of Commerce) to provide the national Public Safety Broadband Network known as FirstNet. Therefore, is the only Navy Spiral 4 holder that can provide the required service of a Public Safety Broadband Network known as FirstNet. FirstNet provides guaranteed device priority, preemption and integration for first responders who utilize this network. Furthermore, this network will be hardened as needed from the physical security perspective and will be resilient, secure and highly reliable from the network perspective. FirstNet will utilize (and provides) all available types of bandwidth and integration methods to provide connectivity during catastrophic or critical incidents. This lack of communications interoperability has been documented in numerous real-world findings. Other services claim to have the same capability, but real-world execution has proven these services don’t provide first responders priority, preemption or a means to integrate that service with first responder land mobile radios, Geographic Information System( GIS) tracking, asset tracking, Common Operating Picture and more.

a. Scope: To execute an enterprise fielding of FirstNet enabled devices with annual subscription to activate and operate the devices on the nationwide public safety broad band network at 73 locations throughout the Strategic Support Area (SSA).

The devices would be provided with all the required accessories and already uploaded with five preferred FirstNet Applications (apps) for first responder utilization as listed in order 1: Response for FirstNet (Intrepid Response), 2:

Advanced Mission Critical Push-to-Talk. FirstNet is an independent authority within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Authorized by Congress in 2012, its mission is to develop, build and operate the nationwide, broadband network that supports first responders’ mission to save lives and protect U.S. communities.

FirstNet is developing the first nationwide public safety broadband network to provide first responders the advanced communication and collaboration technologies needed during critical emergencies, especially while working in a unified capability with multiple agencies responding to an event. On 28 Mar 2017, was awarded a 25-year exclusive contract through Department of Commerce for FirstNet services in the United States. The contract was awarded utilizing full and open competitive procedures which resulted in a single award to to provide Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (FirstNet memo, 16 Apr 2018). FirstNet wireless services in support of the Department of Defense (DoD) are only available from the U.S. Navy Spiral 4 contract awarded to as the mandatory source. On 28 Sept 2018 DoD Deputy Chief Management Officer signed into effect a policy that requires all DoD components, including Army, to procure unclassified wireless mobile devices and services utilizing the Department of the Navy’s indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, multiple award contract.

b. Alternatives: There are no alternatives available to the federal government that comply with all (not some) of the capabilities that are provided in the Public Safety Broadband Network known as FirstNet. The Department Commerce issued one contract award to for this capability to provide a comprehensive network solution to each of the 56 states and territories. The comprehensive network solution provides services that include the deployment and provisions of a Nationwide Core, and Radio Access Network (RAN) services, backhaul, aggregation and the use of national transport networks and operation centers, deployable capabilities, use of operation and business support systems, an applications ecosystem, network services and the integration of maintenance, and ongoing evolution of these systems required to function fully as an operational wireless 3rd Generation Partnership program. The Nationwide Public Safety network (NPSBN) contract between FirstNet and has a period of performance of 25 years from the date of award (2017-2042). There is also no other alternative that satisfies this requirement under the Navy’s Spiral 4 Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). BJACH will require FirstNet capabilities on each shift for critical hospital staff, emergency and first responders at a minimum.

c. Impact if justification request not approved. Failure to rapidly execute and standardize wireless communications for First Responders will continue to exasperate the current inability to effectively respond to and mitigate critical emergencies throughout the Army, which increases the risk to government property, personnel injury and in the aforementioned cases, multiple deaths due to the inability to communicate, manage and effectively respond to emergencies.

Implementation of FirstNet will allow the Army Installations to immediately enhance Force Security and Installation Readiness as it solves communications and coordination issue that have previously occurred between U.S. Army and public first responders.

connections and do not interface and interoperate directly with the Army’s Land Mobile Radio systems. Civilian community first responders have been using this interface already, but the Army has been slow to adopt and deploy the technology/ capability of FirstNet until now. The implementation of the FirstNet for local, state, and Federal first responders, mitigates communication overload.

Army Installations will immediately enhance Force Security and Installation Readiness with implementation of FirstNet as it solves communications and coordination issue that have previously occurred between U.S. Army and public first responders.

c. Mission Impact:

1) Reduced first responder communications capabilities delays Medical

Evacuation, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Security, and Police response to the entire installation to include training ranges due to communication gaps. An integrated, redundant FirstNet interface to LMR can mitigate this communications deficiency with improved coverage area, multiple means of connectivity, and direct interface with LMR that will improve response measures.

2) Installations are the Army's epicenter from where our military capabilities are projected to meet worldwide requirements. The strength of installations resides with our ability to create and project combat power to the tactical point of need.

Installations are part of the Strategic Support Area (SSA), where military might is generated, projected and sustained during the fight. IMCOM installations require quality infrastructure to support operations, and to protect Soldiers, families, equipment, and our networks. The Army must be able to mitigate threats generated from our adversaries whether from land, sea, air or cyberspace within the SSA. Army installations must have the infrastructure, facilities, communication networks and equipment to meet future challenges that include the enemy obstructing the Army from deploying out of the homeland. Today’s threats are changing. The National Defense Strategy explains that the homeland is no longer a sanctuary. Installations must be resilient to challenges facing our infrastructure and services, and our protection of the SSA must be updated to match the role of installations in the Strategic Support Area. Failure to implement first responder communications updates such as FirstNet may create mission failure in a “Contested Mobilization/Deployment” environment within the SSA.

The enemy will seek to obstruct, cut or eliminate communications systems to stop deployment; therefore, the protection of these installations must include multiple and redundant means of first responder communications that integrate with existing communications systems, but yet can operate independently.

9. 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.