A04 Limited Source Justification VISSION-X redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

ACQUISITION

DIRECTORATE

Control No. 2021-WHS-0237

JUSTIFICATION FOR LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION (LSJ)

UNDER FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION SUBPART 8.4

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

The Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) Enterprise Research & Engineering Division, Technology Analysis & Services Branch (ERED/TASB) 4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 09F09 Alexandria, VA 22350-2900

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

The purpose of this action is to approve a sole source award for VISSION-X products to continue services of the Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) portal for the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The awardee will be HPC-COM LLC, as they are the only source for the VISSION-X line of products. The RIF provides a collaborative vehicle for small businesses to develop innovative technologies that can be rapidly inserted into acquisition programs to meet specific defense needs. The RIF is currently administered by the USD (R&E) SBTP Office.

The contract type will be firm-fixed price, utilizing 2021 RDT&E funding for the base year. The base period of performance for this requirement will be for one (1) year starting at the date of contract award and will have two (2) twelve (12) month option years, for a total of up to three (3) years. After three years, the RIF portal will be closed (officially shut-down). HPC-COM LLC will transfer the required data to government systems.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

This acquisition is for the VISSION-X products to operate as an online portal to host a number of key program management functions and act as a critical data repository for the RIF program. The required VISSION-X applications and support package will allow continuation of important records management obligations and the expansion and improvement of the portal services required to meet the increasing needs of the Services and Components. These improvements include, but are not limited to:

Execution Status Reports: to include real time project data for review by Services and OSD;

Managerial Reports: to include monthly and quarterly reports for presentations and review by higher management;

Archival Services: for project and program closeout.

The required VISSION-X products are listed as follows:

Part # Qty Description VX6M4 1 VISSION-X SOA Service Center Programmatic Add-On (Maintenance/Support Service) VX1M4 1 VISSION-X Enterprise Service Bus (Maintenance/Support Service) VX3C 1 VISSION-X ESB Database Schema Tailoring Package (Perpetual Software License) VX5C 1 VISSION-X ESB Capabilities Package (Perpetual Software License) VX3M4 1 VISSION-X ESB Database Schema (Closeout Option Only)

Supplies/services include RIF portal term and perpetual software licenses (Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), Database Schema Tailoring, and ESB Capabilities Packages)), as well as maintenance and support services (State of the Art Service Center Programmatic Add-On and ESB).

An additional contract option (ESB Database Schema) is available to close out the online support application (i.e. the portal) and develop a stand-alone application to support government access to data after. This option will only be executed by the Government Contracting Officer at request of the RIF Office.

The anticipated start date is 25 January 2022. The required period of performance is for a twelve-month base year and two (2) twelve-month option periods.

4. CIRCUMSTANCES JUSTIFYING LIMITED SOURCES.

FAR 8.405-6(b) Items peculiar to one manufacturer. The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs.

The acquisition of this service must be continued with the incumbent, HPC-COM LLC., as they are the only source for the VISSION-X line of products listed in paragraph 3 above and on the schedule in GSA e- Buy and Advantage. The VISSION-X products are proprietary and provide a robust software as a service (SaaS) that must be maintained and used to: 1). monitor on-going RIF efforts; 2). reconcile prior years’ data; 3). monitor and track existing projects; and 4). ensure information is adequately archived for out-year reviews and audits.

Market research and discussions with knowledgeable individuals in government and industry regarding market capabilities, did not identify similar platforms that would fulfill this requirement. The contracting office posted a sources sought notice to SAM.gov and received responses from three (3) small businesses.

Their capability statements were forwarded to the SBTP’s technical subject matter expert, who found all three companies were not capable of fulfilling the requirement. Similar platforms provided by: 1). The EDH Company; 2). RV Global Solutions; and 3). De Lune IT Services, does not provide some of the required analytical tools required; therefore, these analytical tools would need to be developed. It is not in the government’s best interest to procure a start-up system that will involve substantial funds and manpower to configure, transition to, and integrate for a three-year period of performance. It is the government’s intent to bring this portal to sunset within three (3) years.

In addition, HPC-COM, LLC provides VISSION-X software - which enables a complex analysis of the RIF data behind the platform. The VISSION-X software suite is the only product in the market that offers integrated databases of RIF awards, transition statistics, success story formation, and RIF program manager interface that covers all future and existing technology transition funding and contract requirements. The VISSION-X products are unique SaaS solution tools capable of supporting electronic white paper and proposal submission, evaluation, selection, post-award tracking, and reporting for the program’s significant and complex execution requirements. The current contract, HQ003419F0059, was procured as a sole source requirement through HPC-COM LLC’s GSA Schedule, GS-35F-0178X.

If the VISSION-X software suite by HPC-COM LLC is not acquired, the RIF program will not have access to the high quality data analytic tools needed to evaluate and manage RIF awardees and inform policy decision-making. The impact of this lack of access includes inefficient use of research, development, test & evaluation (RDT&E) funds and failure to properly monitor technology development and contract status.

Based on the above comments, an exemption from full competition is justified under FAR 8.405-6(b).

Currently, there are over 200 active projects, totaling in excess of $250 million in outstanding expenditures and $500 million in original contract value. These projects need direct administrative and technical support from the Services, OSD, and RIF Office. The RIF portal enables this continued support by providing critical program management and centralized repository functions.

Moreover, the RIF must have an active portal ready for successful cradle-to-grave execution from the solicitation to award through transition phases. In addition, the RIF must continue to expand what has already been developed to ensure the successful reporting and transition of the remaining projects. The strong strategic products developed through the RIF and properly documented through its portal system will lead to better equipment fielded to the Warfighter.

5. BEST VALUE DETERMINATION:

The Contracting Officer hereby determines this action represents the best value to the government in that the price is considered reasonable based on historical pricing and the performance of the software has been satisfactory.

6. MARKET RESEARCH:

Market research was conducted on mandatory sources in accordance with FAR 8 and DFARS 208. The required software as a service (SaaS) is not available on Federal Prison Industries, Ability One, DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI), and SEWP V. A search was conducted on GSA for VISSION-X software which revealed only one supplier, HPC-COM LLC (HPC). HPC provided a sole source letter that confirms they are the manufacturer and do not have authorized resellers and/or other distributors. A sources sought notice was posted and the government received responses from three (3) small businesses; Delune IT Services, RV Global Solutions, and EDH Company. Delune IT Services and RV Global Solutions intended to resell VISSION-X products by HPC-COM LLC (manufacturer); however, the manufacturer does not have authorized resellers. The contract specialists made several attempts to contact EDH Company, which resulted in no response. Additional web research and discussions with industry did not find similar products that meets the RIF requirement. To further clarify the requirement, the government conducted several conference calls with the manufacturer (HPC-COM LLC) and the customer. Based on the telecoms, the government was able to further develop the statement of work (SOW).

7. OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS:

The RIF portal provides cost effective and mature technology that will meet the increasing Services and OSD requirements for RIF participation and execution. Continued improvement to the RIF portal will provide capabilities and economies of scale, that will only improve the execution of the program overall.

Streamlining the scope and funding contract vehicles will further improve the value of the RIF portal by reducing annual costs. The government is purchasing existing licenses, maintenance, and support. There is no additional development cost to the government for customizations, as this is included in the packages (most specifically #VX6M4 and #VX1M4).

8. ACTIONS TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS THAT LEAD TO THE

RESTRICTED CONSIDERATION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES IS MADE:

(a) Efforts to obtain competition: Government personnel in the RIF Office and WHS/AD conducted a sources sought on SAM.gov and noted that no other product or service can meet the need and that the manufacturer does not have any authorized resellers/distributors.

(b) Actions to increase competition: Technical personnel within the RIF Office will continue to evaluate the market for other available products that will fulfill the government’s unique need to provide functionality for the RIF portal if the RIF program is extended by Congress.

9. If this acquisition is for new work as a logical follow-on to on original Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), was the original order was placed under the FSS ordering procedures?

Yes, the original acquisition was issued on a competitive basis.

No, a copy of the previous justification is attached (See A04a). The actions to remove any barriers to competition cited on the previous justification were were not completed

Not Applicable.

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.

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing, this justification is, hereby, approved.

Date