THE FALLACY OF COMPROMISE


A particular government procurement requirement may include both classified and unclassified specifications or elements that describe the government’s procure- ment need. Te guide will identify those specifications or elements that must be protected from unauthorized disclosure.


The justification and approval (J&A) documents the decision to limit full and open competition for federal contracting opportunities. To demonstrate that disclo- sure of the government’s needs would compromise national security, the J&A must identify the applicable security classi- fication guide by title and date. To address the FAR’s national security exception, the J&A must explain that restricting disclo- sure of the specific classified information is necessary to protect the national security.


Competition must not be limited merely because the acquisition is classified, or merely because access to classified matter will be necessary to submit a proposal or to perform the contract. Competition may be limited only to the extent neces- sary to satisfy the needs of the agency or as authorized by law. Consistent with the provisions of the security classifica- tion guide, the contracting officer must describe the government’s procurement needs in such a way that the solicitation would not disclose the nation’s secrets or compromise national security in order to promote full and open competition.


4. How should a potential offeror obtain and protect the government’s classified procurement requirements? (Tere's no substitute for understanding what it means to "need to know.")


Acquisition officials must articulate the government’s need to prevent divulging the nation’s secrets and, at the same time, must solicit offers from as many poten- tial sources as is practicable. Te national


112 Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2021 TO KNOW OR NOT TO KNOW


Possession of a clearance does not automatically constitute the need to know. Justification and approval must explain the need-to-know restriction when access to classified information is fundamental.


security exception to full and open compe- tition in the FAR requires agencies to request offers “from as many potential sources as is practicable under the circum- stances.”


Unquestionably, many interested contrac- tors may have the personnel and facilities authorized to receive classified informa- tion and may concurrently be actively engaged in performing similar, highly classified work, perhaps at levels far higher than the classification level applied to the government’s requirement.


When a potential offeror requires access to classified information, the contracting officer must ensure that the solicitation contains a draft Department of Defense (DD) Form 254, “DOD Contract Security Classification Specification”, the “Security Requirements” clause at FAR 52.204-2, as well as detailed instructions to potential offerors on how they may request access to the classified information.


Te government uses the DD Form 254 to convey security requirements to contrac- tors when contract performance requires access to classified information.


Te "Security Requirements" clause at FAR 52.204-1 requires the successful contract awardee to comply with the DD Form 441 "Security Agreement" and the "National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual," DOD 5220.22-M.


5. Should possession of the required personnel and facility clearances permit an individual or entity uncondi- tional access to classified procurement information?


In 2016 the Air Force issued a classified justification and approval for award of a sole-source contract to L3 Technologies based on FAR 6.302-6. Te Boeing Co. challenged the Air Force’s justification and approval in a protest to the GAO, arguing that the rationale for citing the national security exception in the justification and


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