# Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity (Use of 52.217-8 Option)

Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/ja2024031069

- Solicitation number: JA-2024-03-1069
- Notice type: Justification
- Status: Awarded to Quasars Incorporated
- Department: Department of Homeland Security
- Agency: Transportation Security Administration
- Contracting office: Enterprise Information Technology (70T030)
- NAICS: 541519 Other Computer Related Services
- Product or service code: DJ01 Support services focused on supporting security policies/controls, processes, measuring compliance of relevant legal/compliance requirements, to include Section 508, and responding to security breaches. Also provides support for IT Security systems providing Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) for real-time Cyber Security and protection such as vulnerability scanning, managing firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and security information and event management (SIEM). Includes Disaster Recovery (DR) services to support DR policy, process and means, dedicated failover facilities and perform DR testing.
- Place of performance: Ellicott City, Maryland
- County: Howard County (FIPS 24027). https://abierto.us/counties/howard-county-md-24027
- City: Ellicott City. https://abierto.us/cities/ellicott-city-md-2426000
- First posted: July 16, 2024
- Last posted: July 16, 2024
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d7cbd344753e4eef872f532e74a6a2f4/view

## Description

TSA utilized the Option to Extend Services clause, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.217-8, for the TSA Information System Security Officer (ISSO) Services Task Order HHSN316201200166W / 70T03020F6NPIE008 that shall restrict the number of sources provided a fair opportunity to be considered (FAR 16.505(b)(2)). This Exception to Fair Opportunity supports the execution of this option.

Use of the FAR 52.217-8 Option clause to modify the contract is necessary to avoid an interruption in required ISSO services and to allow the competitive follow on procurement’s successful contractor an appropriate Transition-In period. The Transition-In period is necessary to sustain the critical operations that support TSA’s network infrastructure.

It would be impractical based on the highly specialized nature of the services, policy requirements mandating ISSO services, and the security requirements to onboard contractor personnel to transition to a new contractor before an award has been made.

**(Note:** The PSC Code for this action is actually D306 - IT AND TELECOM - SYSTEMS ANALYSIS. Due to a system issue this PSC is not available to select at the time of posting. The CO has alternately selected the most closely associated PSC for this notification. )

## Award on USAspending

- Recipient: Quasars Incorporated (UEI S5XLBEKB7161)
- Contract: HHSN316201200166W
- Obligated: $0.00
- Competition: Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources, 214 offers received
- Link: award number HHSN316201200166W equals the contract number; awarding office not confirmed (medium confidence)
- Record: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_IDV_HHSN316201200166W_7529/


## Publications

- July 16, 2024: Justification. Notice d7cbd344753e4eef872f532e74a6a2f4. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d7cbd344753e4eef872f532e74a6a2f4/view

## Points of contact

- Shannon Welch, shannon.welch@tsa.dhs.gov

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Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract and USAspending.gov award data. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/ja2024031069.