Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition- RAND National Defense Research Institute (NDRI)
Awarded Limited / Sole Source Justification Posted
See the award notice from .
- Solicitation number
- WHS-2025-1564
- Agency
-
Washington Headquarters Service
Department of Defense
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Contract number
- HQ003426DE016 Federal IDV award
- Awardee
- The Rand Corporation
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Place of performance
- Arlington, Virginia 22202, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of War, Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate intends to award a sole-source indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to RAND National Defense Research Institute (NDRI) for unclassified and classified research and analytical services on a sole-source basis under FAR Subpart 6.3.
RAND NDRI is the only Federally Funded Research and Development Center specializing in the 16 Department of War-approved core competencies required to support national security research. The justification cites the requirement for unquestioned objectivity, independence from conflicts of interest, and capability to handle sensitive military and intelligence information. Market research conducted through a SAM.gov synopsis posted on 28 January 2025 generated one industry response from T-Fox LLC, which was determined to lack the necessary experience across the required core competencies. No other FFRDCs, for-profit contractors, universities, or in-house personnel can meet the requirements effectively. This is a non-competitive follow-on acquisition to a previously awarded non-competitive contract.
The ordering period spans ten years: a five-year base period from 30 June 2026 to 29 June 2031 and an optional five-year option period from 30 June 2031 to 29 June 2036. Task orders will be awarded on a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee or completion basis. Funding types include research, development, test and evaluation, operations and maintenance, and working capital funds. The contract will support the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Office of the Secretary of War, Joint Staff, Unified Combatant Commands, Defense Agencies, and Department of War Field Activities. Work is performed worldwide with administrative oversight at the Washington Headquarters Service. The total ceiling amount is redacted.
Notice text
The RAND Corporation operates the National Defense Research Institute (NDRI), whose primary sponsor is the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)). NDRI is a studies and analysis Federally Funded Research Development Center (FFRDC) that supports the Department of War (DoW) and other Non-DoW Agencies.
DoW research capabilities at NDRI represent a continuing investment by the DoW in objective research and analysis. The strategic relationship between DoW and NDRI was established and is maintained to bring private sector expertise to bear on research, development, and analytic tasks that are integral to the mission and operations of sponsoring organizations and that cannot be met as effectively by existing government resources, or by other not-for-profit or for-profit contractors. The RAND NDRI FFRDC was established to be an independent research institution.
Awarded contract HQ003426DE016 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2026-07-02.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| A04 JOFOCWHS20251564 Redacted 7-14-26.pdf | ||
| A04 JOFOCWHS20251564 Amendment 1 Redacted.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| The RAND Corporation National Defense Research Institute (NDRI) | Award Notice | |
| This notice | Limited / Sole Source Justification | |
| Notice of Intent - RAND National Defense Research Institute (NDRI) | Special Notice |
Similar open opportunities
| Opportunity | Agency | Set-aside | Responses due |
|---|---|---|---|
| This is a notice of intent to issue a sole source contract | Defense Threat Reduction Agency | No set-aside | |
| Research and Studies for the Office of Net Assessment | Washington Headquarters Service | No set-aside |
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