A04 JA Sole Source - Geopolitical Forecasting_Redacted.pdf

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March 28, 2025

Control No. 1649-JA

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES

FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

UNDER FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) 13.5

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: The Contracting Activity is the Department of Defense

(DOD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Acquisition Directorate (AD), Enterprise Security Services Directorate (ESSD). Requiring Agency is the History and Library Directorate (HLD) - Pentagon Library.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: This action requests the approval to issue a sole source contract for

Geopolitical Forecasts Database Subscription Services, on behalf the (HLD) Pentagon Library. This action will be a firm-fixed price contract with a total estimated value of $73,720.70. The anticipated period of performance is for one 12-month base period with three option years. The period of performance is anticipated to commence on April 15, 2025.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: The requirement is for access to an authoritative database resource for strategic geopolitical intelligence and forecasting information to support the research needs of Pentagon policy and decision makers. The provider must have a proven history of successful forecasting of major geopolitical events.

NAIC: 519290 “Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services” PSC: DH10 “ IT and TELECOM”

Performance Periods

Performance Period Dates Amount

Base Period April 15, 2025 – April 14, 2026 $18,000.00 Option Year 1 April 15, 2026 – April 14, 2027 $18,207.00 Option Year 2 April 15, 2027 – April 14, 2028 $18,571.14 Option Year 3 April 15, 2028 – April 14, 2029 $18,942.56

4. AUTHORITY CITED: This action is under the procedures of under the procedures of Federal Acquisition

Regulation (FAR) 13.5 under the authority of:

☒41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified Acquisition Procedures

☐41 U.S.C. 1903, Special Emergency Procurement Authority

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED: Only one vendor can provide the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized. This is a follow-on requirement for the continued provision of highly specialized database access. RANE provides comprehensive, independent, unbiased, and nonpartisan analysis and predictive, strategic geopolitical intelligence and forecasting through its Worldview database subscription service. RANE is the sole source for access to this unique database content which utilizes proprietary methodology.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: A notice of intent to sole source to RANE Network, Inc was issued on sam.gov on March 25, 2025 for three calendar days until March 28, 2025. The notice did not yield any objections from vendors regarding the issue to sole source.

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION: The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated prices will be fair and reasonable by using the techniques identified at 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii)(vi) to ensure award will be fair and reasonable prices. The Government will conduct a comparison of the proposed prices to the independent cost estimates. Certified Cost and Pricing Data will not be obtained.

8. MARKET RESEARCH: Market research was conducted during March 2025 by reviewing previous and current contracts awarded for Geopolitical Forecasting Support Services and issuing a Notice of Intent to Sole Source an award. Results yielded no other sources. Due to the propriety database contents that belong to RANE Network is the only source available to satisfy the requirement for providing Geopolitical Forecasting Subscription Support Services. RANE Network is a small business under NAICS 519290. As such, this requirement will be solicited from a single source small business and awarded a direct award IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i).

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF SOLE SOURCE: N/A

10. INTERESTED SOURCES: To date, no other sources have expressed an interest in this requirement.

11. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION: Is this acquisition for a non-competitive follow-on acquisition previously awarded on a non-competitive basis?

☐Yes. A copy of the previous justification is attached. The actions to remove any barriers to competition cited on the previous justification ☐ were ☐ were not completed [Must include explanation of why the answer is “no”].

☒No. The original acquisition was conducted on a competitive basis.

☐Not Applicable. This is a new requirement.

CERTIFICATION

I, hereby, certify that the supporting data under my cognizance included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Julie Hiltz Contracting Officer’s Representative/Program Office

Date

APPROVAL

I, hereby, certify that the supporting data under my cognizance included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

This justification is, approved.

Karen. A. Smith Contracting Officer

Date