Signed_Sole_Source_Redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

PURSUANT TO FAR SECTION 13.106-1(b)(1)

Instructions for customizing this template:

1. I have considered the guidance in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.104 and 13.106-1a. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine that the specialized Microsoft (MS) Technical Support Services listed on TBD is available from only on a brand name basis, and full competition is precluded for the reasons indicated below.

2. This acquisition is restricted to the following:

Authorized, certified providers of Microsoft Premier Support Services, including, but not limited to:

NGEN

4640 Forbes Blvd Lanham, MD 20706

New Tech Solutions 4179 Business Center Drive Fremont, CA 94538

M5 Tech.

166 Fort Evans Rd.

Leesburg, VA 20176

3. The Premier Services are estimated to cost $ and is required to be performed on 9/30/2018 thru 09/29/2019.

The Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General (HUD OIG) has a requirement for Microsoft Premier Support Services in support of its implementation of Microsoft cloud services and overall MS Enterprise Agreement. HUD OIG currently has an ongoing Enterprise Agreement (EA) with Microsoft. Via the EA, HUD OIG receives reduced pricing for all Microsoft licenses. The licenses include: MS Office Professional, MS SharePoint, MS Customer Management System (CRM), MS Visual Studio, MS Exchange, MS SQL Server licenses, and other assorted Microsoft licenses. The MS EA represents a significant investment by HUD OIG. It also represents a significant cost savings. The licenses procured by HUD OIG typically cost two (2) times the cost when not procured via an Enterprise Agreement. By transitioning to Office365 and Microsoft Azure, HUD OIG will be able to continue receiving cost savings on MS licenses, and also benefit by continuing to use MS technology which will facilitate ease of use and cost savings, to include Office365, and Microsoft Azure. By implementing cloud services HUD OIG will reap the benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

Microsoft Premier Support Services are comprised of comprehensive support solutions that offer direct, expedient and unique access to Microsoft product development teams, software developers and source code for current and future products enabling

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions

(a) specialized insight into the Microsoft architecture of current solutions that can facilitate smooth migrations to existing and future unreleased products/versions;

(b) quick and comprehensive resolution of product support, trouble-shooting and hot-fix type issues; and

(c) Immediate and focused technology feedback link between the end user and the Microsoft product development teams to help shape the direction, features and functionality of future products. In addition, the Premier Support offers specialized from Microsoft product development teams on how enterprise customers can best plan for, deploy, manage and maximize productivity of existing and future Microsoft products.

Use of other than MS Premier Support would not meet HUD OIG’s needs, as it would no other source is capable of providing the specialized knowledge and direct access to Microsoft’s development teams.

4. The circumstances of the requirement deem only one source reasonably available due to brand name restrictions.

Specific characteristics of the services, to include close support from the Microsoft Product Development Teams and internal, specialized insight into Microsoft processes necessary to ably and efficiently implement a large scale adoption of MS Cloud Services are limited by direct reach back to Microsoft, and in turn Microsoft only partners with a limited pool of certified service providers to supply this capability. As such, only those that have partnered with MS, and can provide the MS Branded Support, can provide the necessary reach back.

A patent, copyright, proprietary data, or licensing agreement limits competition.

Specifically, Microsoft only licenses its direct support/premier services through its network of authorized/partnered providers on a brand name basis.

5. Other information to support a Brand Name Limited purchase:

Market Research was performed in support of this acquisition, to include surveying three different providers and consulting with MS personnel itself. Government websites, to include GSA, Schedule 70, and other Federal Procurement venues.