SF-1009.pdf

Treasury Standard Form – 1009 (Rev 10/18)

Prescribed by Treasury: DTAP 1013.106(b)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

SF 1009 - FAR 13.106-1(b) SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR

ACQUISITIONS AT OR BELOW THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

1. 1. Identification of the requesting activity and contracting activity.

Internal Revenue Service – Office of Acquisition Strategy – Contracting Division for IT Internal

Revenue Service - National Headquarters (Reserved) Deputy Commissioner Procurement, Office of Business Operations.

2.a A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

The purpose of this sole source justification is to obtain approval to award a Firm Fixed Price contract procuring U Leadership Boards, I Leadership Boards – Insight, and R M Research

Member – BT. Period of Performance: date of award – 02/20/2020.

2.b Name and business size of the vendor. Forrester Research, Inc. Other Than Small Business

2.c Requisition No. 5000061066

3. IGCE/Estimated dollar value.

IT Research and Advisory Council - Forrester Research, Inc.

Qty 1 LB_U Leadership Boards $28,698.49 (Anne Shepherd) Qty 1 LB_I Leadership Boards – Insight $5,001.92 (Anne Shepherd)

Qty 6 R_M Research Member – BT $3992.19 each Total $23,953.14 (2=Anne Shepherd;

2=David Salinas; 2= Louis Capece)

TOTAL VALUE $57,653.55

5000061066/Q9QT01ITA-61066 POP: date of award through 2/20/2020.

4.a Identification of the circumstances that preclude competition (Check the appropriate box that applies).

Urgency Exclusive licensing agreements Brand-name Industrial mobilization.

X Other Only One Responsible Source

4.b Supporting information and facts (i.e. the details surrounding the requirement that supports the selection made in 4.a).

The Forrester research and advisory council contract supports technology research for infrastructure and operations. The services provided are best practices technical exchange forums with outside entities, webinars and white papers on “Effectively Managing

Outsourcing Partners”, “IT Infrastructure Maturity Model”, “Mobility” and “Technology

Innovation”. These exchanges are instrumental to our aspiration to become a world class IT organization.

Forrester’s North American Research, Inc. is the largest and longest-running survey of consumers, second to only the US Census. Forrester Research, Inc. is designed by research professionals for marketing and strategy professionals, providing high-quality representative data and insights on the digital lives of consumers that drive more effective planning, strategy and execution.

There is no other partner or vendor exist that can provide this services to the IRS. Additionally, Forrester has been working with our organization for multiple years and has an understanding of our mission and objectives which make the execution of these services on point and expeditiously.

The Research and Advisory Council data services provided by Forrester Research, Inc. has been in use since FY11 to the present and no other brand will suffice.

Among the unique features that Forrester Research, Inc. provides are:

Forrester is the only research firm with extensive knowledge of The Internal Revenue Service’s research needs in a variety of areas - they are currently involved in many critical initiatives. They are also the only organization that offers:

Proprietary demand-side Business and Consumer Technical Demographic data: Consumer

Technical Demographic is the largest and longest-running research study focused on consumers’ use of technology. It is a data service formed over 10 years ago consisting of 20+ yearly surveys in North America, and US Hispanic markets with 190,000 annual responses on how taxpayers adopt and use technology and how technology, the internet, social media and mobile devices are changing the way that individuals shop, bank, get services, consume media, spend time with brands, entertain themselves, communicate and learn from one another, adopt and use social media, mobile devices and other cutting edge technologies. For example, with this data, IRS will be able to glean important insights in understanding the underserved, especially taxpayers’ attitudes and behaviors, moral attitudes, media preferences, mobile and social media and peer influences.

• Forecast View: Forrester analysts employ a unique methodology that includes deep consumer demand side data along with supply side metrics from proprietary company and industry sources.

• The Wave vendor and product evaluation methodology: The most robust in terms of number of detailed criteria, most transparent in that it exposes those criteria, and most uniquely, users can customize the weightings of each criteria in order to generate a custom evaluation.

• Unique tools around RFP development, program assessment and evaluation tools in every discipline.

• Total Economic Impact (TEI) proprietary methodology: An ROI methodology that incorporates risk and flexibility.

• Workforce Technical Demographics: Which allow firms to understand the wants and needs of their diverse workforce in order to increase productivity, growth and overall staff retention.

• Forrester Leadership Boards: Provides Interactive Marketing, eBusiness, Marketing

Insight, Consumer Product Services, Customer Experience, Customer Intelligence, CMO &

Marketing Leadership professionals with the unique opportunity to be part of a professional community that offers the opportunity to learn and share best practices with their peers in both the public and private sectors.

• Subject matter experts: The analysts that do the research are the same individuals who deliver the inquiries, advisory and consulting services to our organization.

• Technology research for the sake of business: All reports are uniquely written in a style and language that enables IT collaboration with the Business.

• Extensive customer support model is unique in the industry: Forrester has been named #1 research provider for three subsequent years (2006-2008) by independent third-party, Knowledge Capital Group.

• The lowest analyst: client ratio in the industry (12:1).

• Only Forrester possess the years of research and staff dedicated to the discipline of Customer Experience, which is a key initiative for the

Commissioner.

5. Any other important information.

IRS conducted market research utilizing the internet/ Our organization did conduct a search on GSA’s eLibrary, however we were unable to identify an organization that could provide the depth and breadth of information needed to accomplish what we need to achieve. These services are available from only one source. Since Forrester Research is the sole owner of the Consumer Technical Demographic data, it is not technically feasible for another company to provide the product.

Forrester has assisted our organization with a number of key initiatives over the last year and as a result of the success of these efforts and their current organizational knowledge of our business environment and their continued support is essential to the success of a number of our current programs:

With the new administration and changing technology and product offerings coupled with the complexity of the IRS – the organization needs objective outside expertise. Forrester has demonstrated extensive knowledge of the IRS environment and has the expertise necessary to assist with our current programs. Forrester has been responsible for providing our organization with related research and services and has been the only responsible source that can continue to provide this level of support. The Consumer Technical Demographic data services provide us with data to support and or reject business cases, design effective taxpayer programs, engage our employees and validate current programs. The service provides the means to obtain fast, accurate, statistically significant information at a low cost. This service has and will continue to further our initiatives.

6. Certifications and Approvals.

6.a Program Office certification (Requiring Activity). I hereby certify that the supporting information and data provided, and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Virginia L Lowery Date:

Signature: Virginia L. Lowery Digitally signed by Virginia L. Lowery

Date: 2019.03.13 09:21:50 -04'00' 6.b Contracting Officer approval. In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), as a warranted contracting officer, I hereby determine that the circumstances of the acquisition make only one brand-name or source reasonably available for the reasons provided above; therefore precluding competition and supporting the Government’s determination to solicit as a brand-name requirement or solicit and award to the vendor stated in section 2.b.

Name: Faith Ashton Date:

Signature: