ML26069A421

Enclosure 7 - Justification Contract No. 31310025C0014

ML26069A421
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/16/2026
From:	Ho Nieh NRC/Chairman
To:	Pallone F, Whitehouse S US HR, Comm on Energy & Commerce, US SEN, Comm on Environment & Public Works
References
CORR-26-0021, LTR-26-0008, 31310025C0014
Download: ML26069A421 (0)

Text

NRC JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Version Control Date: June 10, 2024 Page 1 of 7 (NEAT-AMD-24-0002)

Justification and Approval (J&A) For All Commercial/Non-Commercial Contract Actions U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

• The COR must get approval from their respective Contracting Officer to select the appropriate FAR reference below and supporting rationale prior to completing this document.

• • You must select one option in order for the form to display.

FAR 6.302 FAR 8.405-6 FAR 13.106-1 FAR 16.505 FAR 19.808-1 FAR 13.5 FAR 19 Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC)

Limited Sources Justification (LSJ)

Sole Source Justification for Acquisitions NOT Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP)

Ordering Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity (JEFO)

Sole-Source 8(a) > $25M Contracting with the Small Business Administration (The 8(a) Program)

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services for Acquisitions Exceeding the SAP Sole Source to Socioeconomic Small Businesses Please contact your Contracting Officer (CO)/Contract Specialist (CS) or your point of contact in the Acquisition Policy, Planning and Support Branch for more assistance.

Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Name and Email Yana Shnayder Title Legal Consulting Services for Nuclear Regulatory Commission Rulemaking Requisition Number OGC-25-0011 Product or Service Service Program Office / Division OGC/OGC-FO Award Date Delivery Date (Supplies)

Current Period of Performance Start Date 08/20/2025 Current Period of Performance End Date 02/20/2026 Period of Performance Extension Start Date (if applicable)

Period of Performance Extension End Date (if applicable)

Total Estimated Contract Value (enter ONLY numbers, i.e., 12345)

$250,000.00 Proposed Funding Increase Amount (if applicable)

1. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Type of Action:

Type of Contract Vehicle: [NOTE: the CO will complete this section]

Purchase Order Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), BPA Call against FSS Contract/GSA Schedule Contract Task Order/Delivery Order against FSS Contract/GSA Schedule Contract Task Order/Delivery Order against an NRC Contract or GWAC Contract Other New Award Follow-on Award Ceiling/Price Increase Extension

NRC JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Version Control Date: June 10, 2024 Page 2 of 7 (NEAT-AMD-24-0002)

Description of Action:

The Contractor will assist the NRC by integrating input from NRC staff, leadership, and the EDO in order to establish a fully developed regulatory framework and outline of core regulatory elements, draft regulatory text, and coordinating final rule packages.

• Strategic Direction and Legal Analysis: Serve as advisors for the rulemaking process. Provide guidance on the overall legal strategy for the rulemaking process, including identification of potential legal challenges, interpretation of relevant statutes and case law, and analysis of stakeholder impacts.

• Regulatory Framework Development: Advise on the structure and content of the new nuclear licensing regulations, ensuring compliance with administrative procedure requirements and alignment with current legal precedents. Serve as advisor in coordination with NRC staff, NRC leadership, and the EDO to integrate technical, legal, and policy considerations into a cohesive regulatory framework.

• Drafting Coordination: Coordinate with NRC staff to support the drafting of regulatory language, explanatory statements, and other supporting documentation required for the rulemaking process. This includes resolving different stakeholders views and refining proposed text for legal accuracy, clarity, and enforceability.

• Stakeholder Engagement Support: Coordinate with external stakeholders, including industry representatives, public interest groups, and other governmental agencies.

• Litigation Risk Assessment: Identify and assess potential litigation risks associated with the proposed regulations and recommend strategies for mitigation.

2. Contract Type:

Fixed-Price (FP)

Cost-Reimbursement (CR)

Time-and-Materials (T&M)

Labor-Hour (LH)

Hybrid Sole Source Yes No Brand Name Yes No Vendor Name Consovoy McCarthy, PLLC Contact Name Thomas McCarthy Vendor Address 1600 Wilson Blvd, STE 700, Arlington, VA 22209 Email/Phone

3. Period of Performance & Total Value of Contract Start Date End Date Option Period Value (Ceiling)

Base Period 08/20/2025 02/20/2026

$250,000.00 Option Period 1 Option Period 2 Option Period 3 Option Period 4 Option Period 5

NRC JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Version Control Date: June 10, 2024 Page 3 of 7 (NEAT-AMD-24-0002)

Start Date End Date Option Period Value (Ceiling)

Option Period 6 Option Period 7 Option Period 8 Option Period 9 Total Contract Value

$250,000.00

4. Provide a background and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs, including the estimated value.

As NRC prepares for an evolving future that includes new and different opportunities, an urgent and compelling need exists to engage immediate services of outside counsel. Given that Executive Order 14300, Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued on May 23, 2025, requires the NRC to advance a new set of regulations on an expedited timeline, completing this requirement has proven more difficult with each passing day. The timeline currently set by the Commission staff provides for a full 30 days of Commission review time, along with 90 days for Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)s significance review. As a result, the entire review and revision of NRCs regulations and guidance documents must be compressed into a few short months and completed by February 2026, a mere nine months after the issuance of EO 14300. The purpose of this contract is to acquire expert legal consulting services to assist the agencys ongoing rulemaking efforts for nuclear licensing regulations.

The review and revision of NRC's regulations required by EO 14300 involve a comprehensive rethinking of the license renewal processes for existing reactors, evaluation of applications for new designs of nuclear power plants, oversight and licensing for materials, managing low-and-high-level waste, as well as confirmatory research to support regulatory decisions.

Description of Brand Name Supplies [Complete table if purchasing brand name supplies; includes NASA SEWP, GSA Schedule, or other GWAC Buy.]

Click for 30 more lines CLIN Manufacture Description Delivery Date Part Number Quantity Unit Price Cost Estimate

NRC JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Version Control Date: June 10, 2024 Page 4 of 7 (NEAT-AMD-24-0002)

Total Estimated Cost

5. Authority: [For this section, work with the CO/CS to select the appropriate authority below]

FAR 6.302 - Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition FAR 6.302 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements FAR 6.302 Unusual and compelling urgency FAR 6.302 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC); or to acquire the services of an expert or neutral person for any current or anticipated litigation or dispute.

FAR 6.302 International agreement FAR 6.302 Authorized or required by statute. This includes: (1) Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) 18 U.S.C. 4124 (see subpart 8.6). (2) Qualified nonprofit agencies for the blind or other severely disabled 41 U.S.C. Chapter 85, Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (see subpart 8.7). (3) Government Printing and Binding 44 U.S.C. 501-504, 1121 (see subpart 8.8). (4) Sole source awards under the 8(a) Program (15 U.S.C. 637), but see 6.303 for requirements for justification and approval of sole-source 8(a) awards over $25 million. (See subpart 19.8). (5) Sole source awards under the HUBZone Act of 1997-15 U.S.C.657a (see 19.1306). (6) Sole source awards under the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (15 U.S.C.657f). (7) Sole source awards under the WOSB Program - 15 U.S.C. 637(m) (see 19.1506).

FAR 6.302 National Security FAR 6.302 Public Interest

6. Supporting Rationale:

The following rationale supports the use of the authority cited in Section 5 of this document. See brand name description if applicable.

FAR 6.3 Rationale:

Consovoy McCarthy PLLC is uniquely qualified to perform these services for the NRC based on a combination of deep experience representing clients in connection with regulatory matters before federal and state agencies. NRC expects the rulemaking package resulting from the effort to include broad changes to its regulatory structure and processes so that the agency can respond with increased agility to the imminence of a new future.

NRC JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Version Control Date: June 10, 2024 Page 5 of 7 (NEAT-AMD-24-0002)

7. Market Research (MUST BE COMPLETED):

Market research was conducted to identify potential vendors capable of meeting the technical, quality and delivery requirements, including assessing the market competitiveness. The market research conducted identified a viable source that meet our technical, quality, and compliance requirements, enabling swift sourcing decisions to mitigate operational risk.

8. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

FAR 6.103-2 unusual and compelling urgency applies (previously FAR 6.302-2).

9. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will review publicly available price lists, NRC contracts for the similar services and GSA Federal Supply Schedules to use a pricing guides to determine price reasonableness.

10. Any other facts to support justification:

508 Compliant Non 508 Compliant (please provide explanation regarding the below:)

NA (a) The non-availability of conforming ICT, including a description of market research performed and which provisions cannot be met, and (b) The basis for determining that the ICT to be procured best meets the requirements in the Revised 508 Standards consistent with the agency's business needs.

None

11. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/A

NRC JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Version Control Date: June 10, 2024 Page 6 of 7 (NEAT-AMD-24-0002)

12. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

N/A

13. Publicizing Contract Actions: [The CO/CS will complete this section.]

This contract was awarded on a sole source basis due to the exception under FAR 6.103-2 (previously FAR 6.302-2), in accordance with FAR Class Deviation, signed 7/19/2025, for FAR Part 6 in Support of Executive Order 14275 on Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement.

In accordance with FAR 5.201 and FAR 5.301 this contract action will be publicized on System Award Management will not be publicized due to an exception in FAR 5.202: [if applicable, list exception below].

NRC JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Version Control Date: June 10, 2024 Page 7 of 7 (NEAT-AMD-24-0002)

Approval Signatures:

Technical/Program Office Personnel Certification COR: only sign this document when this document has been approved by the CO.

Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Government's minimum needs or requirements or other rational for restricting competition) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

Prepared By:

Program Office/COR Signature The contracting officer's certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer's knowledge and belief. CO certifies that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The signature below represents the contracting officer's (CO) certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer's knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Signature

[If procurement action is greater than designated Contracting Officer warrant or the total value is from $750,000.00 ($800,000.00 or

$1.5M for contingency operations) to 15M then approval of competition advocate is required]

Advocate for Competition Signature

[If procurement action is > $15M and <$75M, the Head of the Contracting Activity is required for signature.]

Head of Contracting Activity Signature

[If procurement action is >$75M, the Senior Procurement Executive is required for signature and this signature is not delegable.]

Senior Procurement Executive Signature YANA SHNAYDER Digitally signed by YANA SHNAYDER Date: 2025.08.19 13:36:42 -04'00' RICHARD ROBINSON Digitally signed by RICHARD ROBINSON Date: 2025.08.20 07:59:30 -04'00'