SSJ _ANSI_FINAL -REDACTED.pdf

Sole Source Justification (SSJ)

Date: 3/8/2023

Pursuant to the requirements at 41 U.S.C. 1901 or the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1903 Special emergency authority as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 13.5 and consistent with the content requirements of FAR 6.303-2.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Procurement Operations (OPO), Information Technology Acquisition Center (ITAC), prepared this Sole Source Justification (SSJ) on behalf of the Office of the Chief Information Officer, (OCIO), Solutions Development Directorate (SDD), Research Library and Information Services (RLIS).

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

DHS/OPO/ITAC intends to award a sole source contract to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 without seeking competition to obtain access to commercial industry technical standards from U.S. standards organizations that are referenced within the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 - Protection of Environment.This action is being taken pursuant to FAR subpart 13.5. ANSI is the developer of the ANSI Collection content, and is the sole provider of said service.

3. Descirption of Supples/Services

This requirement is for a subscription to ANSI licenses to obtain access to commercial industry technical standards from U.S. standards organizations that are referenced within the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 - Protection of Environment. The industry standards in the ANSI Collection are required to ensure compliance with DHS-approved standards as well as providing specifications for design, manufacturing and repair. The subscription provides immediate access to standards that are required and otherwise difficult to find.

http://uscode.house.gov/ http://uscode.house.gov/

4. Identification of the authority.

This action is being taken in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901 or the authority of 41 U.S.C 1903, as implemented by FAR subpart 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Only one responsible source can satisfy Agency needs.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

ANSI is a private, nonprofit membership organization supported by a diverse constituency of private and public section organizations. All standards developing organizations own the copyright and/or have the exploitation rights to documents they publish and/or license to ANSI.

ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). DHS must meet industry technical standards and other standards that are referenced within the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 - Protection of Environment and Code of Federal Regulations Title I Part 51 - Incorporation by Reference. DHS considers the use of standards in all rulemakings, incorporates regulation standards whenever required, and continuously reviews regulations to update outdated, obsolete, or unnecessary standards.

ANSI offers unique and highly specialized content in providing the commercial industry standards and exclusive licensing agreement. This agreement is for proprietary content and ANSI is the only provider of the ANSI Collection content. ANSI standards are recognized as essential requirements to support the mission functions of DHS, including information security, safety, and mechanics.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable

The Research Library & Information Services (RLIS) program office performs on-going market research such as reviewing Government and Commercial databases, reviewing professional journals and attending conferences to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the sole source requirement before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made. DHS intends to post this requirement on BetaSam pursuant to FAR 5.301 and FAR 6.305(a).

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

8. Description of market research

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10. Market research showed that ANSI is the only provider of the unique and highly specialized content found in the ANSI Collection. ANSI standards are recognized as essential requirements to support the mission functions of DHS, including information security, safety, and mechanics. There are no other vendors capable of providing this information.

9. Any other facts supporting the justification.

None.

10. A listing of the sources, if any that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

ANSI is the only provider of this unique and highly specialized content.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for supplies or services required. (Include a statement of actions taken or will be taken to increase competition for future acquisitions of the same item/service).

Commercial services are reviewed each year. The RLIS requests feedback from the users to determine that the services are still meeting mission requirements. Stakeholder feedback is used for subsequent future acquisitions. A sole source synopsis will be issued in BetaSam requesting that parties express their interest in writing to the contracting officer. At this time, ANSI is the sole provider of their subscription. If it changes in the future, then competition will be pursued for this requirement.

12. DHS intends to post the requirement pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iii) and 6.305(a)

13. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification. I certify this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

Technical Representative/COR

14. Contracting Officer Certification and Approval