47QTCB24Q0008 Brand Name Justification.pdf

SOLE SOURCE (BRAND NAME) JUSTIFICATION

FOR

ACQUISITIONS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

General Services Administration (GSA)

Federal Acquisition Service (FAS)

Information Technology Category (ITC)

Coding it Forward Fellowship Program

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

The requiring activity is General Service Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Office of Information Technology located at 1800 F Street NW Washington, DC 20405. The contracting activity is Office of Enterprise Telecommunications Solutions Acquisition, 1800 F Street NW

Washington, DC 20405.

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

The Government intends to award a sole source (brand name) firm fixed price (FFP) contract with Reveal

Global Consulting LLC, a partner (authorized reseller) of Coding it Forward’s (CIF) Fellowship 10-week program. This justification and approval is being requested to procure access to CIF’s Fellowship program, a paid 10-week summer opportunity for early-career technologists in the highly competitive, specialized, and unique IT fields of cybersecurity, data science and analytics, design, product management, and software engineering.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE

AGENCY’S NEEDS

The requiring agency needs six (6) fellows during the 2024 summer period. The cost is approximately

$156,000.

4. AUTHORITY CITED

This document serves as a justification for sole source (brand name) acquisition of commercial products and services conducted pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b); justified and approved in accordance with FAR

13.106-1(b)(1)(i).

5. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF

AUTHORITY CITED

DocuSign Envelope ID: 82BAFFB7-F0BA-4C88-9FB7-31071F46CA82

The model that CIF uses to recruit, train, and retain talent is so effective it was the primary influence for the Biden Administration’s launch of the U.S. Digital Corps, a two-year fellowship for early-career talent in the federal government. CIF manages a rigorous application process that evaluates candidates' technical proficiency, commitment to public service, and ability to excel in challenging work environments. As a federal agency partner, CIF has provided fellows to federal agencies via their fellowship program for several years; they performed successfully with great results and minimal risk. The benefit of onboarding early-career technologists in the highly competitive, specialized, and unique IT fields of cybersecurity, data science and analytics, design, product management, and software engineering has benefited all participants/stakeholders. GSA has a continued need for entry level positions to be filled and this program provides an efficient and successful gateway for GSA to access a pool of talented individuals for permanent hiring purposes.

6. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO OBTAIN COMPETITION

In order to promote competition for this acquisition, a notice of intent to award a sole source contract action to Reveal Global Consulting LLC (UEID: EJ2ERLR7UWM4) will be posted (along with the brand name justification) to the Government-wide Point of Entry (https://www.sam.gov) in accordance with FAR

13.106-1(b)(3). This notice will provide an opportunity for interested parties to submit a written response to include a general statement that their company can provide the required items. Then, a determination by

GSA regarding the best approach to procure future proposed contract actions is based upon responses to the notice and solely within the discretion of the Government. All information received will be considered only for the purpose of determining to procure this requirement competitively in the future.

7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST

TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

The anticipated price for this requirement will be fair and reasonable. Before award, the following techniques will be utilized to determine fair and reasonable prices:

a. FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(i), Market research;

b. FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii), Comparison of the proposed price with prices found reasonable on previous purchases;

c. FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(vi), Comparison to an independent government cost estimate.

8. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS

Market research was conducted by reviewing the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), the Federal

Procurement Data System (FPDS), and the Small Business Administration's Dynamic Small Business

Search (DSBS). Search results from both SAM.gov and FPDS revealed only non-competitive (sole source brand-name) opportunities and no results from the DSBS inquiry. GSA also questioned CIF about their partners and/or authorized resellers and they responded via email dated 3/8/2024 stating Reveal Global

Consulting LLC (signed teaming agreement with CIF) and The Washington Center are the only two providers for CIF’s Fellowship program.

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE JUSTIFICATION

Not Applicable

10. A LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN

THE ACQUISITION

Not Applicable

11. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION

All efforts will be made by the Government to assess alternate sources for supply. ITC will monitor the market and re-evaluate the requirement to see if other solutions can be used in order to increase competition.

In addition, as technology changes and improves, alternate brands or solutions may become feasible, which will assist in removing barriers to competition.

12. CERTIFICATIONS

PROGRAM MANAGER CERTIFICATION:

I verify that the above supporting data that is the responsibility of technical personnel (verifying the

Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for this sole source (brand name) justification), which forms the basis for this justification are certified as accurate and complete.

Udaya Patnaik

Project Manager

Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER APPROVAL:

In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), the undersigned determines that the circumstances of this sole source (brand name) contract action deem only one source reasonably available and the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Further, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Celeste Harris

Contracting Officer

Date

3/14/2024

3/14/2024