Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity (JEFO) for SWA-TS3 Bridge

The U.S. Army is seeking an exception to fair opportunity for the South West Asia - Signal Service Support (SWA-TS3) Bridge contract to ensure continuous and uninterrupted mission-critical communications support for USARCENT operations in the Southwest Asia region. This justification is tied to Solicitation Number W52P1J20F0674, posted on July 16, 2026, and is managed by the Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RIA), under the Department of Defense. The NAICS code 541519 identifies the service as other computer-related services, reflecting the specialized technical nature of the signal support requirements that demand immediate and specific expertise only currently held by the incumbent provider. Given the operational urgency and the need for seamless transition without degradation of service, fair competition is deemed impractical and contrary to the best interests of national security and mission readiness. The contract is being awarded without competition to maintain existing technical capabilities, personnel familiarity, and system interoperability in a high-tempo, high-risk environment. The primary point of contact for inquiries is Bryan Verschoore, reachable at bryan.m.verschoore.civ@army.mil, with secondary support provided by Emily Stohlmeyer via phone at 520-693-0169. The contracting office is located in Rock Island, Illinois, with performance expected across the Southwest Asia theater, though no specific location details are provided. The justification underscores the necessity of maintaining operational continuity, the complexity of replacing incumbent services without risk to communications infrastructure, and the lack of qualified alternatives capable of meeting the immediate and stringent demands of the mission environment.