SUBSCRIPTION TO POLITICO PRO
SOLE SOURCE SPECIAL NOTICE NO. 693JK423Q600002
FOR SUBSCRIPTION TO POLITICO PRO
Upon the basis of the following justification, DOT’s contemplated SOLE-SOURCE purchase of a subscription to Politico Pro would be made under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a), which states that an executive agency may use procedures other than competitive procedures --- (2) “When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.”
1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE REQUIRING ACTIVITY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:
US DOT/OST/S3
OST Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy Resource Directorate
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:
U.S. Department of Transportation/OST
Acquisition Services Division, M-63
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACTION BEING APPROVED:
This acquisition is to purchase a firm-fixed-price five-year subscription to Politico Pro for the
Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy. The contract would be for one base
year and four option years.
However, there is a need to increase the number of online users from 21 to 30. The estimated cost is $57,000.00 and will be funded using the following accounting data: 04X0142000.2023.3030000000.5000000000.26064. The estimated delivery is February 28, 2023.
The Politico Pro Plus Plan includes:
Pro Edge platform with news content for all policy areas
Tools including Directories, Document Drawer, Policy Calendar, Campaign Race Dashboard, Legislative Compass, Regulatory Compass
Customizable alerts for tools included in the platform
Subscription credits to enable policy area push content including newsletters, news content, breaking news alerts
Teleconferences
3. JUSTIFICATION:
The proposed contract will provide continuity in significant enhancements and changes:
Access to all POLITICO Pro policy areas: previously, the team’s plan included access to 14 policy areas. Users now have access to all 30 of POLITICO Pro’s policy areas on the platform and are no longer required to purchase access to additional policy areas if needed as would have been the case under our previous model.
Subscription credit flexibility: with a Pro subscription, each user now has 14 subscription credits that they can attribute to any of Pro’s 30 policy areas to fully customize the news alerts receive they receive based on their individual needs and policy focus.
Full access to legislative and regulatory tracking tools: the team’s subscription now includes full access to Pro’s state and federal legislative tracker along with a newly built out federal and state regulatory tracker for monitoring the federal and state rule making process.
Pro’s re-designed policy intelligence platform: as of this month, the users now have access to a fully redesigned POLITICO Pro homepage dashboard that optimizes workflow by displaying team members’ customized news stories, bill and regulatory tracking, and calendar all in one place.
Projects workflow tool: Pro now includes access to the Projects functionality that allows users to collaborate with one another by organizing and compiling content across the
platform in one workflow tool, streamlining group work and further consolidating aspects of your team’s work that can be completed within the platform.
4. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:
Only one source can provide the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. The statutory authority for the proposed contract with Politico Pro is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1,(a), which states that an executive agency may use procedures other than competitive procedures only --- (2) “When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.” While other vendors may be able to perform this requirement; however, Politico Pro is the only vendor that will meet OST need to continue with providing proficient services in support of the required.
5. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION THAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF:
Not applicable.
6. EFFORTS MADE TO OBTAIN COMPETITION, AND WHETHER A NOTICE WAS OR WILL BE PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY FAR SUBPART 5.2 AND, IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER FAR 5.202 APPLIES:
This Sole Source Special Notice numbered 693JK423Q600002, as published by DOT contracting officer Melinda Riddick in the SAM.gov website, constitutes the needed notice contemplated in FAR 5.207-2.
7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE:
The Contracting Officer reviewed the proposed rates. Moreover, each invoice submitted by the contractor during performance of this contract will be scrutinized for allowability, allocability and reasonableness of billed cost in accordance with FAR Part 31. The anticipated costs for one-year period of this requirement is $57,000.00 and have been deemed fair and reasonable based on historical data. All costs for services will be evaluated to ensure a fair and reasonable cost to the Government.
8. A DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON THAT MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED:
Pricing is deemed fair and reasonable. There are currently no actions being taken to prohibit the competitive acquisition process. Based on manufacture and internet research there is not another direct replacement that would not add additional cost to the government in order to maintain.
9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:
Not applicable.
10. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFOREANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THESE SERVICES:
No Contractors have expressed interest at this time as no notification was issued identifying the opportunity against the existing contract. Politico Pro and OST Contracting Officer will take all steps necessary to ensure that all the rules of procurement integrity are followed in addition to ensuring compliance with the Competition in Contract Act.
11. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION THAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF:
As confirmed by the signature below, the Contracting Officer Representative hereby certifies that the facts and representations included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of her/his knowledge and belief.
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND:
Any entity OTHER THAN Politico Pro—which believes that it is fully capable of meeting DOT’s needs and requirements at the high level of thoroughness and quality indispensable to the Department—may attempt to prove that point by e-mailing a Statement of Qualifications to Melinda.Riddick@dot.gov and to Tammi.Daniels@dot.gov no later than 1:00 PM Eastern Time February 22, 2023.
693JK423Q600002 Department of Transportation Immediate Office of the Secretary Transportation
2/16/23, 4:28 PM