1. JEFO Bridge 3.9.21- LDLR signed (006).pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

SF 1014 - JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION

TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Treasury Standard Form – 1014 (Rev 5/18)

Prescribed by Treasury: DTAP 1016.505

1. Identification of the requiring activity and the contracting activity:

The requiring activity is the IRS Information Technology, Applications Development – Submissions Processing and the contracting activity is IRS Procurement, Office of Information Technology Acquisition (OITA).

2.a Nature and/or description of the action being approved:

The purpose of this Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity is to obtain approval to award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) bridge contract with Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) to provide continued services while the re-compete process is being completed.

The period of performance and option periods should be consistent with the Market Research, Acquisition Plan and Statement of Work.

Base Period: May 1, 2021 – July 31, 2021 (3 months) Option 1: August 1, 2021 – August 31, 2021 (1 month) Option 2: September 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021 (1 month) Option 3: October 1, 2021 – October 31, 2021 (1month) 2.b Name of the vendor. Booz Allen Hamilton 2.c Requisition No.: 5000119105 2.d Bridge contract: ☒ Yes ☐ No 2.e Brand name: ☐ Yes ☒ No 3.a A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs:

The proposed acquisition is to acquire ongoing contractor services that will monitor and maintain IRS mission digital services for OLS and their business partners in support of Taxpayer First Act (TFA) initiatives and the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

3.b Includes IT: ☒ Yes ☐ No PSC: D315 NAICS: 541512 3.c IGCE/Estimated dollar value:

The IGCE is $7,855,080.00 inclusive of three (3) month base and three (3) one-month option periods. Refer to the IGCE for additional details.

4.a Identification of the exception to fair opportunity being used:

☒ FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A) – The agency need for the supplies or services is so urgent that providing a fair opportunity would result in unacceptable delays.

☐ FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) – Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized.

☐ FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C) – The order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract, provided that all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order ☐ FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(D) – It is necessary to place an order to satisfy a minimum guarantee.

☐ FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(E) – For orders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, a statute expressly authorizes or requires that the purchase be made from a specified source.

☐ FAR 16.505(a)(4) – The requirement is for an item peculiar to one manufacturer.

4.b Supporting rationale:

The proposed acquisition is to continue critical contractor services without any lapse in contractor support. The Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) contract currently provides contractor support for IRS mission critical digital services required to support TFA and ARA initiatives. OLS plays a critical role in the development of the Where’s My Payment application; the rapid expansion of the Taxpayer Digital Communications platform, the high demand for constant updating of content on irs.gov and developing emerging products in support of ARP. Any lapse of contractor support could put critical digital taxpayer services in jeopardy resulting in substantial work interruptions, obstacles, restraints, and losses in efficiency. The contractors on this contract are critical to the IRS’s ability to deliver digital solutions to the taxpayer community. The efficiencies achieved with the development of online applications and updated irs.gov content to give taxpayers options would be lost if this contract lapsed prior to the award of a new one.

5. A determination that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on a comparison of the proposed prices with the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and based on comparing prices/costs and labor hours with prior and similar task orders issued and by performing cost and price analysis techniques in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.404.

6.a Any other facts supporting this justification:

This work in support of the Office of Online Services is critical to the overall mission of the Federal Government. A Performance Work Statement (PWS) and an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) were developed and support the justification.

6.b Attachments: ☐ Yes ☒ No

7. A statement of the actions, if any, the Requiring Activity and Contracting Activity may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies and services is made:

The current BAH bridge expires on April 30, 2021 and the new contract is scheduled to be awarded in July of 2021. With the real possibility of a delay due to protest awarding a bridge with ample time to transition to a new contractor is critical. OLS is responsible for delivering mission critical TFA and ARA support. We cannot risk not having contractors to support that mission. This bridge contract would provide the necessary time needed to successfully transition with low risk.

8. Certifications and Approvals:

8.a Program Office Certification (Requiring Activity). I hereby certify that any supporting information and data provided (e.g., the Government’s minimum needs or requirements, or other rationale for the limited sources) and which form the basis for this justification for an exception to fair opportunity, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Vicki Price Date: 04/01/2021

Signature:

8.b Contracting Officer Certification and Approval. I certify this justification for an exception to fair opportunity is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as the authorized contracting officer for this acquisition, I hereby approve the processing of this requirement based on the authority specified in 4.a above.

Name: Alicia R. Foster Date: 04/01/2021

6. Additional Reviews and Approvals (As applicable):

9.a Bureau Chief Information Officer or Authorized Designee (for IT requirements that are over $5 million, but not exceeding $68 million) (Contracting Activity). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and representative of the Government’s need. Therefore, I hereby consent to the approval of this justification. (Note: The Bureau CIO may delegate their authority for proposed contracts over $5 million, but not exceeding $13.5 million to the Associate Bureau CIO(s).)

Name: Date:

Signature:

9.b Advocate for Competition (if over $700,000, but not exceeding $13.5 million) (Contracting Activity). I have reviewed this justification for an exception to fair opportunity and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as the ordering activity’s Advocate for competition, I hereby approve this justification based on the authority specified in 4.a above.

Name: Date: