The document outlines the justification and approval for a sole-source contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) for an independent technical review of the National Levee Safety Guidelines. This procurement falls under the National Levee Safety Program, established by the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, to develop consistent best practices for levee safety across the U.S. The NAS is uniquely qualified to conduct this review due to its independent status and expertise, which ensures an objective evaluation free from industry bias. The contract requires NAS to review the first edition of the guidelines and document its methodology, providing recommendations for future editions. The review process is crucial for ensuring the guidelines are technically sound and widely accepted. The justification for using NAS exclusively rests on the necessity for impartiality, the complex nature of the guidelines, and the inability of government agencies or other firms to provide a similar level of expertise without bias. Market research confirmed that no other firms could match NAS's qualifications for this specialized task. The document concludes with approvals for the sole-source procurement, contingent upon the availability of funds, solidifying the importance of independent oversight in developing national levee safety practices.