1.5.1-SSJ_Redacted.pdf

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

ICE Acquisition Manual 3006.301-90

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION: SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN

COMMERCIAL ITEMS EXCEEDING SAT, INCLUDING BRAND NAME

J&A-24-0279

In accordance with the procedures of FAR Subpart 13.5, using the statutory authority of 41 USC 1901, and consistent with the content requirements of FAR 6.303-2, this justification is based on the following facts and rationale:

Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Acquisition Management (OAQ), proposes to enter into a contract on behalf of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center (C3) on a basis of other than full and open competition.

Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Type of action: New, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Purchase Order

Amount the current J&A is justifying:

Brief Description: OAQ intends to procure, on a sole source basis, a tool with the ability to perform searches and provide attribution information on quickly and in bulk, then output information related to specific data elements using simplified acquisition procedures. The vendor listed below is the only company that can provide the required services for a seamless integration into C3’s custom tools.

IPQualityScore (IPQS) 600 Brickell Avenue, Suite 3500 Miami, FL 33131-3090

Description of Supplies/Services. Describe the supplies or services to be acquired.

Provide the estimated total value (including options, if any).

This requirement is to provide a IPQualityScore Premium Plan subscription that performs searches and provides attribution information on quickly and in bulk, then outputs information related to specific data elements at an estimated total cost of . This will provide for a seamless integration into C3’s custom tools which will streamline C3’s attribution capabilities to associate against various threat actors to disrupt and dismantle these criminal organizations and arrest the perpetrators.

Period Time Price Total Base 12 mos.

Option Year 1 12 mos.

Option Year 2 12 mos.

Option Year 3 12 mos.

Option Year 4 12 mos.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION: SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN

COMMERCIAL ITEMS EXCEEDING SAT, INCLUDING BRAND NAME

4. Identification of the authority.

This action is being taken under the authority of Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

C3 protects national security by enforcing the nation's immigration and customs laws. One of the leading priorities of HSI is to combat criminal activity conducted on or facilitated by the Internet. C3 delivers computer-based technical services to HSI components to support domestic and international investigations into cross-border crime. C3 is comprised of the Cyber Crimes Unit (CCU), the Child Exploitation Investigation Unit (CEIU), and the Computer Forensics Unit (CFU). This state-of-the-art center offers cyber-crime support and training to federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies. C3 also includes a fully equipped computer forensics laboratory, which specializes in digital evidence recovery.

In addition, C3 offers training in computer investigative and forensic skills.

IPQS’ Premium Plan is a tool with the ability to perform searches and provide attribution information on quickly and in bulk, then output information related to specific data elements for criminal intelligence. This will provide for a seamless integration into C3’s custom tools which will streamline C3’s attribution capabilities to associate against various threat actors to disrupt and dismantle these criminal organizations and arrest the perpetrators.

C3 has purchased IPQS subscription previously, and therefore already possesses the existing infrastructure in place to procure additional IPQS subscriptions as it already works seamlessly with C3’s capabilities and tools. Any other alternative would require a large time commitment and could impact ongoing mission critical activities. IPQS’ subscription integrates in the custom C3 tools that would have to be redeveloped if C3 is required to pivot to another contractor with data not formatted to fit C3’s current solutions. The inability to access IPQS’ data would severely compromise C3’s utilization of tools developed against this application programming interface (API). The tools written by and for C3 utilize the data structure provided by IPQS to support the multiple different data structures presented by each individual API.

Government time and resources were used to write applications and scripts using IPQS-provided data. All these work products anticipate using IPQS’ specific data format. To refactor them would require numerous hours of development and testing work on the part of the Government. In addition, C3 would have to identify current users of our developed tools across all HSI field offices and work with each to update tools, such as virtual machines, that make use of these applications and/or scripts.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION: SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN

COMMERCIAL ITEMS EXCEEDING SAT, INCLUDING BRAND NAME

C3 will continue to monitor sources and meet with other Government agencies to determine if new items/services or vendors are available that meet the technical requirements and the mission.

12. DHS intends to post the requirement pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iii) and 6.305(a).

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION: SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN

COMMERCIAL ITEMS EXCEEDING SAT, INCLUDING BRAND NAME

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13. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

I certify this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

Technical Representative/COR Date

14. Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval.

I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date

KEVIN E

GILLIARD

Digitally signed by KEVIN E GILLIARD Date: 2024.08.19 11:03:19 -04'00'

MICHELLE E LEVINE

Digitally signed by MICHELLE E

LEVINE

Date: 2024.08.19 10:08:24 -05'00'