9-17-2024_JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY-Gartner redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Federal Student Aid (FSA) is proposing to procure subscriptions and licenses via a fixed-price non-competitive task order with Gartner, Inc. 56 TOP GALLANT RD, STAMFORD, CT 06902 USA, Tel:

240-586-1153 FEDLINK Contract #LCFDL24D0001.

1. Identification of agency and contracting activity

United States Department of Education (ED), Federal Student Aid (FSA) Acquisitions.

2. Nature/Description of Action Being Approved

The purpose of this acquisition is to transition LCFDL21D0001 to LCFDL24D0001 for the commercially available seated subscription and information technology analysis/consulting support via Gartner seat licenses. FEDLINK opted to not exercise the options of the contract in place; therefore, a new contract is required. The new contract will only cover the period of performance of September2024 to September 2026. FSAwill keep #LCFDL21D0001 pricing for the first four listed products and there is a necessity to add an additional license for ETD CISO office to the contract.

The award of a firm-fixed-price task order will be processed under FedLink ordering procedures.

3. A description of the services required to meet the agency’s needs (including estimated value).

This will enable FSA to support its mission by providing access to proprietary published research regarding enterprise IT architecture, selection of technology, implementation of IT, IT portfolio management, and IT policies (especially as it relates to the federal government).

The objective of this acquisition is to allow FSA’s system designers and analysts the continued use and access to the existing seated subscriptions, research, and consulting services, without a lapse in the use term. This will prevent the loss of ongoing analysis using proprietary published research by Gartner.

Additionally, the objective is to purchase new seated subscriptions and consulting services to assist with the interpretation and application of the results of the published research regarding IT and its implementation. FSA manages a large number of significant and mission-critical IT projects valued at

$732 Million. The Enterprise Technology Directorate and other FSA offices require the assistance of independent and unbiased sources(s) of information regarding IT and its implementation.

Total estimated dollar value during delivery period. The total estimated dollar amount for the base year is $454,613.00 for the licenses needed by FSA. The total estimated dollar amount for the base year plus the one-year option is $918,003.00 as detailed in the tables below.

Base Year

License Type Qty Unit

Price Total

Enterprise IT Leadership Team Plus Leader License

1 $87,734.00 $87,734.00

Gartner for Technical Professionals Advisor Team

License 1 $63,724.00 $ 63,724.00

Enterprise IT Leadership Team Plus Advisor Member License 4 $37,946.00 $151,784.00

Gartner for IT Leaders Reference Standalone 1 $20,467.00 $20,467.00

CISO Executive - Individual Access (new) 1 $130,904.00 $130,904.00

$454,613.00

Option Year 1

License Type Qty Unit

Price Total

Enterprise IT Leadership Team Plus Leader License

1 $90,805.00 $90,805.00

Gartner for Technical Professionals Advisor

Team License 1 $65,954.00 $65,954.00

Enterprise IT Leadership Team Plus Advisor

Member License 4 $39,274.00 $157,096.00

Gartner for IT Leaders Reference Standalone 1 $21,183.00 $21,183.00

CISO Executive - Individual Access (new) 1 $128,352.00 $128,352.00

$463,390.00

4. Identification of the exception to fair opportunity.

FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), Only one awardee has the capability of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized.

The nature of this acquisition is to continue receiving Gartner support via a new Gartner contract which would replace the existing agreement for Gartner. The licenses support the FSA mission by providing access to published research regarding enterprise IT architecture, selection of technology, implementation of IT, IT portfolio management, IT policy (especially as it relates to the federal government), and vendor-independent consulting services. This critical access is necessary for planning and executing mission essential projects. The licenses provide FSA users with independent source(s) of information regarding IT and its implementation to support the FSA mission. Access to unbiased analysis is critical for planning, purchasing, and implementing IT infrastructure. FSA users (CIOs, IT Leaders, etc.) depend on this analysis in developing budget spending plans to stay within budgets and eliminate the purchase of redundant or non-effective IT, as well as maximizing the use of current IT.

This is critical to our efforts to stay within allotted budgets and maintain an effective and efficient IT infrastructure. Gartner's database of IT research has 140,000 documents, toolkits, and best practice case studies with access to over 2,000 analysts. These seated licenses and information technology analysis/consulting support are an integral component in the function of the programs.

Switching to another technology and business advisory subscription service, away from Gartner, or simply canceling this support would result in a loss of useful IT data and would require custom consulting services far exceeding the cost of the advisory and consulting services that Gartner provides to FSA. Even more important than the immediate dollars to switch, would be a loss of important decisional data impacting time to delivery of multiple programs and endangering mission critical priorities across FSA. Gartner currently is supporting FSA’s enterprise architecture team researching the following technical areas: Data Integration Tools, Activity-Based Costing Software, Enterprise

Architecture Organizational Structure, EA Program Metrics, and FSA’s cloud strategy review. FSA plans to continue this data exchange.

Market research indicated a small business set aside was not possible because competitors were unable to provide the same or similar types of Seated Subscription Membership Research in the subject area of CIO

Executive Subscription, IT leaders, Technical Professionals, Enterprise IT leaders and Executive

Programs. Currently, one competitor, Forrester, provides zero web-based IT research repository documents only in: Augmented Analytics, Immersive Technology or Digital Ethics. Another competitor, Fusion PPT LLC, provides no research documents on any of the key research trends that shape the IT industry. Choosing either of these competitors would fail to satisfy FSA’s requirements, create a severe cost impact and potentially create incompatibility issues. The following table compares Gartner and its leading competitor Forrester across multiple categories crucial to FSA.

Factor Gartner Forrester Elaboration

Total Analysts (Excluding

Consultants)

2,250 230

(115 IT)

Gartner analysts are true practitioners/SMEs, not broad generalists.

CIO Membership 10,000+ 250 CIO and Industry response in and out of government is exceptional

Client Enterprises

16,000

3,000 Gartner has a broad understanding of various end-user environments and vendor needs.

Client Inquiries/year

490,000+

40,000 Gartner is in constant conversation with the front lines of business and technology.

Peer Connect Members/LinkedIn

Followers

116,000+/1.3M

1,000/250K Gartner has the peers for meaningful interactions and LinkedIn followers showing influence.

Vendor Briefings/year 23,000+

(4,000+ unique vendors)

6,000

Gartner analysts stay abreast of what’s happening in industry.

Contract Reviews/year

11,000+

Limited analysts/ more consulting

Gartner analysts regularly discover cost savings opportunities in this dynamic setting.

Strategy Reviews/year 20,000+ ~1,000 Gartner analysts help drive successful strategy across many enterprises.

Published Docs/year 11,000+

(Library of

197,000)

1,900 Gartner offers coverage with deep insight across the breadth of technology topics.

Destination Events/year

Gartner produces the most relevant and regarded events for IT/business professionals.

Total Destination Event

Attendees

57,000+

15,000

Gartner events attract the most IT decision makers with interactions that include CIOs including FSA and other Government Agencies.

5. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure That Offers are Solicited from as Many

Potential Sources as is Practicable

Based on the data collected from the Program Office; Acquisitions will post a notice of intent for 3

(3) days on www.Sam.Gov to solicit potential sources to confirm this is a sole source. Once confirmed this will be posted within 14 days of the award date.

http://www.sam.gov/

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

Gartner’s pricing is based on their FEDLINK Contract, which is offered at a discount from their commercial pricing. They have provided these same services under similar terms and pricing to multiple

Federal Government customers through competitive procurements, which demonstrates price reasonableness. Gartner’s proposed pricing reflects their best price to be consistent with the pricing of similar work, under similar terms and conditions.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

N/A

8. Actions to Promote Future Competition

The market for subscription support services continues to evolve so the Program Office will continue to evaluate other licenses and subscriptions that may become available in the future.

9. Program Office Certification of Accuracy and Completeness

This is to certify that the portions of this justification developed by the undersigned program office personnel, including supporting information and data verifying the Government's minimum needs, schedule requirements and other rationale for other than full and open competition, are accurate and complete.

Technical/Requirements Representative Certification (Required)

Digitally signed by ANDREW

ANDREW WANDLER WANDLER

Date: 2_024.09.17 08:32:19 -04'0_0' Andrew Wandler Date

Program Office Manager

Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

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

Peter Janssen Date

Contracting Officer

Competition Advocate Review and Approval

Digitally signed by BETTY

HOAPILI

Date: 2024.09.17 06:38:29

-04'00'

Betty Hoapili Date

Competition Advocate

PETER JANSSEN Digitally signed by PETER JANSSEN

Date: 2024.09.17 09:25:47 -04'00'

BETTY HOAPILI