LSJ for DIS Gartner 2024_Redacted.pdf

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

OFFICE OF BUDGET, FINANCE AND AWARD MANAGEMENT

DIVISION OF ACQUISITION AND COOPERATIVE SUPPORT

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

GSA ORDER EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program, 41 U.S.C.

152(3), Competitive Procedures and 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies.

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Limited Sources Justification.”

The National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support (DACS), on behalf of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) proposes to award a task order pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(c), Limiting Sources for an order exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

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

(a) Type of action: Firm-Fixed Price Task Order against a GSA Contract

(b) Amount the current J&A is justifying: $299,060

(c) Brief Description: DACS intends to procure on a sole source basis, Gartner services from the following company:

Gartner Inc.

56 Top Gallant Road Stamford CT, 06902

3. Description of Supplies or Services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The OCIO is charged with the design, development, operations, and maintenance of critical enterprise information technology (IT) systems, services, and capabilities for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Gartner for Technical Professionals provides in-depth, technical advice that NSF needs for faster and more effective architecture, engineering, and implementation decisions. This can be done via its documents, teleconferences, webinars, and training events led by its technical experts who provide customized input and advice.

Gartner Solution Qty Investment Period Unit Price Total Investment

Executive Programs V2 Guided: Team Leader

1 April 1, 2024 – January 31, V2 Guided: Partner Member

V2 Guided Team:

Cross Function Member

Gartner For Technical Professionals Team - 1 April 1, 2024 – January 31, Gartner Solution Qty Investment Period Unit Price Total Investment (1 Team Leader and up to 4 Team Members)** Total Investment $299,060.00

4. The authority and supporting rationale (see 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A)(B) or (C) and a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service:

Authority:

Choose only one of the following three authorities:

☐ (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays;

☒ (B) Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized;

☐ (C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original order or BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.

Rationale:

Pursuant FAR 8.405-6(a)(I)(i)(B) Gartner is the only firm capable of providing specialized information technology-focused research, tools, and advisory services to support NSF's key digital initiatives.

Gartner provides multiple unique offerings that will support the NSF OCIO. Specifically, Gartner's IT Score maturity assessments, Digital Execution Scorecard (DES), and CIO Initiative Accelerators are unique capabilities that will enable NSF to evaluate the maturity of its IT functions, develop key performance indicators to measure improvements over time, and lay out a framework to document resource plans and achieve strategic outcomes. Additionally, Gartner focuses on many technical areas of IT that are not covered by other research consulting vendors. Gartner is the only IT research and advisory subscription provider that offers research dedicated to the technical implementation of strategy for practitioner-level personnel and technical domain architects. Gartner for Technical Professionals (GTP) provides practical and detailed technical insights targeted toward technical domain architects within software, data and analytics, security and risk management and infrastructure and operations functions. GTP is the only research subscription that provides IT architectural decision-support tools such as Solution Paths, Planning Guides, Decision Points, and reference architecture, including access to the Reference Architecture Resource Center. Finally, Gartner is the only provider to offer peer-reviewed research that is 100% non-sponsored and completely vendor-neutral.

5. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d).

The order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d).

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Although formal market research was not conducted, NSF evaluated several IT advisory services (e.g., Info-Tech, Forrester, CIO Executive Board) to assess if alternative solutions would be feasible. Gartner services provided the best alignment to NSF's requirements.

7. Any Other facts supporting the justification.

N/A

8. A statement of the action, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

NSF will continue to evaluate alternatives to Gartner services as part of the annual renewal process.

9. Since this LSJ exceeds the SAT, posting is required in accordance with 8.405-6(a)(2).

10. Requiring Office Technical Certification

I hereby certify that the services described in this document represent the Government’s minimum need and the rationale which forms the basis for this justification is complete and accurate.

Nancy Kaplan, Chief Advisor, DIS Date

11.Contracting Officer Certification and Approval

I hereby determine that the circumstances described herein exist and that the information is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Katrina Barry, Contracting Officer, DACS Date