JOFOC_-_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

(In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.3 – Other than Full and Open Competition)

1. This document is a justification for other than full and open competition prepared by National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC):

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved:

This justification provides the rationale for using other than full and open competition to award a sole-source contract to ComTech Solutions, (Rochester, NY) to procure Epicor Software Solutions (ESS)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

NASA currently owns Epicor ERP software that is over 10 years old. The software is a proprietary product of ESS. Our business model requires our ERP software to be maintained at the latest version level due to advances in Epicor’s technology as well as upgrades to the Windows Operating System that

NASA utilizes. In addition, there is also a need to expand the number of users at GSFC, increase user functionality and provide services and training.

3. Description of the supplies or services required, including an estimated value:

NASA GSFC requires the latest version and expansion to its Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) software that is required to effectively manage business activities for Code 547, the Advanced

Manufacturing Branch. The update and expansion includes the following: 1) simultaneous data input from a minimum of 30 data collection users, 2) simultaneous data input from a minimum of 35 administrative/office users, 3) simultaneous data outputs from a minimum of 35 combined users and 4) upgrade of 5 currently owned seats to match new module configuration.

The Epicor ERP software is proprietary and as such is the only ERP software that is compatible with the existing Epicor software in Code 547. The software is used to automate shop scheduling, estimating, inventory, material tracking and certification, labor tracking and quality assurance. The software must be capable of producing an electronic man readable document with barcode that can be used as a traveler to define manufacturing processes for each piece of hardware being manufactured. The barcode document will enable Advanced Manufacturing Branch personnel to electronically scan each barcode traveler for the purpose of tracking labor hours and cost, percentage completion of each task and aid in real-time scheduling of resources on each project being worked. There is also an additional requirement for functionality of the software which should include vendor evaluation, purchase order initiation, external document management and customer relationship tracking. The software must be specifically tailored to job shop related duties in order to handle changing requirements (i.e. changing quantities, delivery dates, etc.). Technical support is also needed to install the software onsite. Further support is required to assess the data transfer requirements for moving existing data into the new software, implement the software to ensure functionality and train the designated onsite personnel as required to stand up the entire system.

The proposed contract is anticipated to be awarded [TEXT DELETED] with delivery due fifteen (15) months after contract award. The total estimated value of this acquisition is approximately [TEXT

DELETED].

4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as cited under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1,”Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements”.

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

The rationale supporting the use of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) is that ESS is the only known supplier who possesses the highly specialized equipment, material, personnel and processes to fulfill the requirement as described below.

The software is proprietary to ESS and they utilize a business model for assigning specific accounts to resellers for their software. ComTech Solutions (CTS), is the only Epicor reseller designated by ESS to support the NASA GSFC account. CTS is an experienced installer, implementer and continuous support provider of the Epicor product.

If a different software were to be chosen, GSFC would require experienced manufacturing engineers to perform extensive work over several months to assess and validate available off the shelf Tier 2 ERP software solutions currently in use across the manufacturing industry. This work will incur a significant effort and cost which is a replication of previous effort. In addition, NASA GSFC has existing compatible Epicor software in Code 547, thus Epicor would be the only available option to complete any upgrades to the existing software. A different software would not be compatible to the existing Epicor software in Code 547. As a result of previous effort, costing was shown to be significantly more than maintaining the current version and expansion of Epicor

Before selecting and approving another vendor, a rigorous series of evaluations and presentations would be performed to ensure a high level of flexibility, accountability and reporting capacity throughout the system. Upgrading Epicor is the only solution that meets the specifications required for the manufacturing facility without incurring a long and expensive validation process. As a result no other supplier can provide the Epicor ERP software. CTS is the only company that can meet the Government’s need and that has the knowledge, manufacturing skills and technical expertise to fabricate, test and deliver the ERP software.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.2:

A notice to the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website was published on September 10, 2018, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA GSFC’s intent to award this sole-source contract to Epicor Software Solutions and provided potential sources with the opportunity to be considered based on their qualifications and capability statements due by

September 25, 2018. The results of this synopsis are contained in Section 10 below.

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

The proposed price by CTS will be evaluated by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, the Contract

Specialist and the Contracting Officer to determine if the price is fair and reasonable. Since certified cost or pricing data is not required for commercial items in accordance with FAR 15.403-1(b)(3), data other than certified cost or pricing data will be used as necessary to establish a fair and reasonable price.

Strategically, this will include utilizing data related to prices (e.g., established catalog or market prices, sales to non-governmental and governmental entities), relying first on data available within the

Government; second, on data obtained from sources other than the offeror; and, if necessary, on data obtained from the offeror. Cost data may be used if necessary.

8. Description of the market research conducted, and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted:

Market research has been conducted for the ERP software procurement. Assigned procurement and technical personnel reviewed available on-line product literature provided by potential vendors. Vendor quotes were obtained from multiple tier 2 ERP systems and evaluated.

NASA does not believe any alternate sources can (within this limited time frame) fulfill the contract requirements without risk of an unacceptable delay to the critical missions noted above in section 5.

Multiple vendors were analyzed for their ability to meet requirements in the statement of work and only

CTS, a designated certified reseller for Epicor Software Solutions, was able to satisfy these requirements.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

The ERP software was originally purchased by NASA AMES Research Center under contract number

NNG10RN54P. The software was transferred to GSFC for implementation in the Advanced

Manufacturing Branch. This system is ten (10) years old and it is a proprietary system which requires upgrades that must be purchased from the certified reseller.

10. Sources, if any, that expressed an interest, in writing, in the acquisition:

As stated above in Section 6, in accordance with the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.2, a notice of NASA

GSFC’s intent to award this sole-source action was synopsized on the FedBizOpps website. Questions were received from three (3) companies and responses were provided. No capabilities were received.

The following companies provided questions:

Murano Corporation

PeachMargaritas

Bloomberg

11. The actions the Agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

At this time, it is not anticipated that there will be subsequent acquisitions for the same requirement.

However, the Agency will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.

JOFOC Signature Page for Upgrade and Expansion of Enterprise Resource Planning Software

TECHNICAL DIRECTORATE: I certify that the facts presented in this justification are accurate and complete.

Signature Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature Date