P06- Sole Source 13.5 Less SAT Redacted.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Limited Source/Brand Name Justification

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions Control No. (if applicable) ______________________

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

The requiring activity is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC-BC), Economic and Policy Analysis Division (EPAD) in support of USDA’s Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Risk Management Agency (RMA) and FPAC-BC.

The contracting organization responsible for this action is the FPAC-BC, IT/Enterprise Branch, Acquisition Division (AD).

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

Input-Output Modeling System (IOMS), Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN) software provides economic data, analysis, and a modeling application. The economic data includes national data as well as data for all states, counties, zip codes and congressional districts. This requirement will update FPAC’ current IMPLAN software to the most recent version and allow FPAC economists to meet their mission objective of providing economic analysis in support of FPAC’ mission to preserve and improve the natural resource base upon which the sustainability and productivity of U.S. agricultural production and its producers depend.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

The “Rural Development Act of 1972”, Public Law 92-419 required improvements to the economic modeling capabilities within the USDA. USDA Forest Service (FS) directed the development of an economic impact modeling system, which, in over 50 years, has become known as IMPLAN. The culmination of evolved economic modeling developed within IMPLAN (originally) as a peculiar piece of IOMS to USDA positions this software as a unique and only product to meet the government’s needs.

A Peer Review of Sources of Variation in Economic Impact Multipliers (2015), in the alternatives of IMPLAN such as Reginal Input-Output Modeling System (RIMS II), and Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), was performed by FPAC- EPAD and confirms IMPLAN as the only IOMS to meet the mission needs. There are two components of IMPLAN, software and databases. The software performs the calculations and the databases, which are updated annually, provide the basic information needed to create the IMPLAN input–output models. They provide information from 536 different industrial sectors, closely following the North American Industry Classification System and accounting conventions used by the U.S.

Bureau of Economic Analysis. The databases incorporate comprehensive data for the entire United States.

IMPLAN is currently used by at least six USDA agencies: FS, Rural Development (RD), FSA, RMA, NRCS, and FPAC- BC. These agencies implement or assist in implementation of programs that reach into every rural community in the nation. These agencies require analysis of the economic impacts or contributions of various aspects of these programs on an ongoing basis. The results of these analyses are often used in the budget allocation process as well as the development of talking points by agency leadership. Using a common set of economic data and models makes the analysis and interpretation of the impacts of agency programs more transparent to agency leadership. It also facilitates better analysis as analysts can draw on the experience of economists across agencies and the department in using the databases and modeling system and interpreting results.

In accordance with (IAW) IMPLAN’s Sole Source Provider Letter, dated March 20th, 2025:

IMPLAN Group LLC is the sole source for IMPLAN Data and software. IMPLAN Group LLC is the exclusive developer, manufacturer, and sole distributor of the IMPLAN U.S. databases, IMPLAN formatted OECD data and the IMPLAN economic modeling software. There are no agents or dealers authorized to represent this product in the U.S. or in any other country. The copyright for the IMPLAN software and databases are held by IMPLAN Group LLC. IMPLAN Group LLC does not offer its products via 3rd party party resellers, and is the sole source of their IMPLAN line.

https://www.congress.gov/92/statute/STATUTE-86/STATUTE-86-Pg657.pdf https://college.agrilife.org/rptsweb/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2015/05/Journal-of-Travel-Research-2015-Crompton-0047287515617298.pdf

4. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market Research was conducted between the dates of March 20th, 2025 thru March 27th, 2025. The findings concluded IMPLAN as the only IOMS to meet the mission needs; offered as a sole source product from the manufacturer.

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

The Period of Performance (PoP) shall be for One (1) Base Year (BY).

BY Estimated Value: $135,061.00 BY PoP: 5/10/2025- 05/09/2026 (Estimated) Total Estimated Value: $135,061.00

6. Recommended source(s).

The following vendor is recommended, as the sole source authorized provider of IMPLAN:

Vendor CAGE UEI

IMPLAN Group, LLC 6XYJ1 W5MKBYCDR596

Certifications

Supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Dr. Bruce McWilliams Economist

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.

Joel Miro-Marquez Contracting Officer