JOFOC AWIN redact_Redacted.pdf

JOFOC-2020-004

1 | P a g e

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER (NSSC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)

1. Agency and Contracting Activity

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) Bldg. 1111, Jerry Hlass Road Stennis Space Center, MS 39529

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved

The NASA Shared Service Center (NSSC) anticipates awarding a sole source firm–fixed price purchase order to Informa Media, Inc. for agency-wide access to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) subscription services. The period of performance will consist of a one year base period and four one year option periods.

3. A Description of the Supplies or Services (Including the Estimated Value)

AWIN provides digital and printed access to Aviation Week and other publications including Aviation Week & Space Technology and Show News, personal alert systems, daily market briefings including Aerospace Daily & Defense Reports, updated databases containing program profiles, company and personnel databases, an archive with fifteen plus years of research enabling trend analysis and report packages/analysis on top performing companies and airlines. This purchase order would ensure that there is continuity of access across the Agency for current subscriptions. This sole source requirement represents a follow-on requirement to NNH16CW43P, in which Informa Media, Inc is currently providing subscription services included under the Statement of Work for the AWIN portfolio. AWIN has been an agency-wide contract that was previously procured through the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Contracting Office.

2 | P a g e

The total independent government cost estimate for this requirement is

, inclusive of all options. The cost estimate is provide below:

4. Identification of the Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition

Authority for the Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition is provided by 41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a). This justification is based on Informa Media, Inc. being the only responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This JOFOC complies with the special documentation requirements of FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii). There no other vendors who have authority to distribute publications, maintain databases, news alerts, support training and education to NASA employees which is proprietary to products that are sold by Informa Media, Inc. Informa Media is the only publishers of AWIN that is the only publication that has all-encompassing coverage of the aviation industry. AWIN is designed to provide researchers and managers access to the latest information on all aspects of the aviation industry. Given the variety of aviation projects throughout NASA, AWIN’s unique coverage best meets the Government’s needs. A contractor other than AWIN would have to hire journalists and analysts worldwide to cover the aviation industry. In addition, a new contractor would need to compile the information in the back files of their searchable database. This would be a costly and time consuming endeavor.

3 | P a g e

5. A Demonstration that the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition requires use of the Authority Cited

The AWIN subscription is based on a specific NASA need to allow NASA personnel to have access to articles, publications, programs, organizations, topics that have impact on their respective programs and projects so employees maintain knowledge of current events in their fields of interest in order to perform their jobs. AWIN is the sole source providing access to all of Aviation Week’s portfolio of in-depth articles, publications, reports, databases on defense, space, aerospace, and security. AWIN is uniquely qualified to meet NASA’s needs for extensive data in the areas of aerospace and aviation in support of ongoing and future research efforts of the Agency.

Informa Media is the only publisher of AWIN that is the only publication that has all-encompassing coverage of the aviation industry. The comprehensiveness of the coverage is not available from another vendor.

AWIN is designed to provide researchers and managers access to the latest information on all aspects of the aviation industry. In addition, a new contractor would need to compile the information in the back files of their searchable database. This would be a costly and time consuming endeavor. It would take months if not years to collect the data and information amassed by AWIN and hundreds of thousands of dollars of contractor time to create the reporting service and database. AWIN is the sole source publication that has all-encompassing coverage of the aviation industry.

6. A Description of Efforts Made to Ensure That Offers are Solicited From as Many Potential Sources as is Practicable

This requirement will be synopsized and posted via Government-wide port of entry in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iii). Synopsis results will be included in the official contract file. Based on the authority cited in paragraph 4, it is concluded that our minimum needs are only reasonably available from the selected source.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government Will Be Fair and Reasonable

Before making an award, the Contracting Officer will determine that the proposed price is fair and reasonable based on one of the techniques identified in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.106-3 – Award and Documentation. This procurement is for a commercial item. Thus, the price can be determined fair and reasonable based on a comparison of the established market price and historical pricing. NASA has historical contract information from previous awards with Informa Media for subscription access and deliverables, there are no anticipated issues that would circumvent a fair and reasonableness price determination. The Contracting

4 | P a g e

Officer will determine price reasonableness during the proposal evaluation process prior to contract award.

8. Description of Market Survey

In accordance to FAR 8.002, market research was conducted to review mandatory sources such as Procurement List with no availability. Due to being unable to satisfy the requirement from the mandatory sources listed in 8.002 and 8.003, the NSSC Procurement Operations Branch additionally reviewed other non-mandatory sources. From our market research it was ascertained that AWIN is not the sole provider of aviation news in general, but it is by far the best overarching publication in the industry. Other publications such as Plan and Plot, Aerospace Industries Association, Air and Space, Flying etc. are focused on commercial, business, and private aviation and offer only a small portion of relevant news and information to NASA. A review of GSA Advantage was performed and the requisite subscription services are not available on GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts. A review of the NASA SEWP contract was conducted as well and it was determined that NASA SEWP does not allow for subscription procurements. A review of Fedlink IDIQs was research via https://www.loc.gov/flicc/contracts/pdfs/FEDLINKVendors2019.pdf yielding no contract availability for AWIN subscription services. A Google search was performed and no additional sources were found.

In addition to above, market research was conducted via Virtual Industry Days that were posted via www.fbo.gov. The industry days confirmed that AWIN was a sole source and that no opportunities were available to purchase the subscription through value added resellers. The interviews were held by the NASA Program Office to determine Agency requirements.

Based off the above market research, the NSSC Procurement Operations Branch has made the decision to issue a Sole Source to Informa Media, Inc via open market.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open

Competition

See paragraph 5.

10. A Listing of the Sources, If Any That Expressed, In Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition

N/A

5 | P a g e

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 the Supplies Or Services Required

The Agency will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions before executing any subsequent contract action for the requirement herein. Due to the nature of the expressed requirement, there are no known actions which the Agency may take to give consideration to other publishers for the requirements described herein. Prior to the award of future contracts, market research will be completed to determine if potential sources have emerged that will allow for competition.

MICHAEL

SWEIGART

Digitally signed by

MICHAEL SWEIGART

Date: 2019.12.16 08:01:28 -06'00'