47QTCB24Q0014 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)

Kantara Membership

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 Kantara

Initiative LLC. This justification and approval are being requested to procure access to membership services and voting rights through Kantara Membership Subscriptions. This membership would allow GSA to become active participants in several workgroups to include identity assurance, DEIA, and standards development. More specifically, participation in the identity assurance workgroup gives GSA visibility and the access it requires into the third-party assurance process. GSA requires voting rights to influence the assessment standards. This is important because the Kantara assessment is a requirement for the CSP SIN.

Membership enables GSA to continue to build on the initial relationship with Kantara in the identity space and gain improved awareness and knowledge of identity trends and industry changes.

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

AGENCY’S NEEDS

The ITC requires an annual organizational level membership with Kantara Initiative. This Agreement covers the services and benefits that Kantara provides as a benefit of membership. Membership will allow

GSA visibility and voting rights and the opportunity to influence the NIST SP 800-63 assessment processes and procedures for, which directly affects the newly created Credential Service Provider (CSP) Special

Item Number (SIN) on the GSA Schedule.

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).

Docusign Envelope ID: 255C351A-21EA-4F26-B388-99D52E6134EC

5. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF

AUTHORITY CITED

Establishing the new CSP Special Item Number (SIN) is most beneficial to agencies and vendors alike.

Firms submitting applications on the new CSP SIN are required to have a Kantara third-party assessment certification. The CSP SIN was posted in MAS 21 refresh on May 28, 2024.

As a member of Kantara, GSA would become active participants in several workgroups to include identity assurance, DEIA, and standards development. More specifically, participation in the identity assurance workgroup gives GSA visibility and the access it requires into the third-party assurance process. GSA requires voting rights to influence the assessment standards. This is important because the Kantara assessment is a requirement for the CSP SIN. Membership enables GSA to continue to build on the initial relationship with Kantara in the identity space and gain improved awareness and knowledge of identity trends and industry changes.

Increased knowledge of emerging technology and identity trends in ICAM is vital to better serve federal agencies in meeting their needs and requirements. The Kantara Initiative is the only organization that provides third-party assessments against NIST SP 800-63, ensuring vendors are compliant. It is expected that at least one other third-party organization will enter the market in the near future.

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 Kantara Initiative LLC (UEID: D8A4MNPXBJJ1) 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.

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.

Jeffrey Voiner

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

7/24/2024

7/24/2024