JOFOC_SYMBOLS.GOV.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SYMBOLS.GOV STOREFRONT

The following document is prepared in accordance with FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

NIFC – USDA/FS

3833 S Development Avenue Boise, ID 83709

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

This requirement is for a customized e-commerce electronic storefront for Symbols.gov that processes payments through Pay.gov. The service includes a full consumer facing online shopping experience and an administrative management and reporting suite for the Forest Service to manage “back office” functions that include workflow integration, inventory, shipping, invoices and logistics related to the distribution and management of Symbols’ products. The service includes use of a COTS Shopping Cart application with specialized integration to the U.S. Treasury Department’s proprietary Pay.gov platform with customizations to meet the unique needs of the agency’s product set and workflow needs.

The application will be hosted, managed and serviced by the vendor. TA-AAR-18-02394 approved on 12/4/17.

3. A description of supplies of services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value):

The service includes a full consumer facing online shopping experience and an administrative management and reporting suite for the Forest Service to manage “back office” functions that include workflow integration, inventory, shipping, invoices and logistics related to the distribution and management of Symbols’ products. The service includes use of a COTS Shopping Cart application with specialized integration to the U.S. Treasury Department’s proprietary Pay.gov platform with customizations to meet the unique needs of the agency’s product set and workflow needs. The application will be hosted, managed and serviced by the vendor.

The independent government estimated dollar amount of this acquisition is $41,000.00 for the base year and $41,000.00 for each option year for a total of $205,000.00. The contract period of performance is:

Base Period: June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 Option Period 1: June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 Option Period 2: June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021 Option Period 3: June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022 Option Period 4: June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:

This procurement is eligible for other than full and open competition in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 (a)(2) and 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), statutory authority permits contracting for these services because there is “only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority:

Govolution is the sole source provider of the technologies required by the Forest Service for the integrated Pay.gov e-commerce shopping cart. The Forest Service requirements include an e-commerce shopping cart, transaction settlement processes and specialized data interfaces with integrated connectivity to the U.S. Treasury's proprietary Pay.gov payment processing platform.

Govolution's Velocity Payment System with Velocity’s Shopping Cart provides the proprietary interfaces required for the Pay.gov platform. Further, since the integrated Pay.gov Velocity’s Shopping Cart technology is proprietary, custom development requires Govolution technical services to make the Forest Service required customizations to the core functionality to meet stated requirements by the Forest Service. This technology is not offered commercially through other providers or resellers.

The service entails the provision of a customized e-commerce electronic storefront for Symbols.gov that processes payments through Pay.gov. The service includes a full consumer facing online shopping experience and an administrative management and reporting suite for the Forest Service to manage “back office” functions that include workflow integration, inventory, shipping, invoices and logistics related to the distribution and management of Symbols’ products. The service includes use of a COTS Shopping Cart application with specialized integration to the U.S. Treasury Department’s proprietary Pay.gov platform with customizations to meet the unique needs of the agency’s product set and workflow needs. The application will be hosted, managed and serviced by the vendor.

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

A notice stating the requirements was posted to Federal Business Opportunities (www.fbo.gov) for a period of fifteen (15) business days. No responses were received.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

Price will be compared to the previous contract and will be determined to be fair and reasonable prior to award of the contract.

8. A description of the market survey conducted (FAR Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted.

A notice stating the requirements was posted to Federal Business Opportunities (www.fbo.gov) for a period of fifteen (15) business days. No responses were received.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

None

10. Listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition:

None.

http://www.fbo.gov/ http://www.fbo.gov/

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the services required:

The program is aware of other interested parties, however due to the proprietary nature of the software, specifically the v+cart this change would require replacement or modification to the existing system and therefore would not be cost advantageous to the government.