A06. FAR 6.302 JOFOC - SCINet Indiana Univ SOCaaS NOCaaS_Redacted.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.3

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) Agricultural Research Services (ARS) Research, Education, and Economics (REE), and Departmental Administration (DA), Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP), Procurement Operations Division (POD).

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The USDA proposes to negotiate on a sole source basis with Indiana University for specialized Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) and Network Operations Center as a Service (NOCaaS) on a firm-fixed-price basis for a period of one base year plus four option years.

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

This requirement is for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Scientific Computing Initiative Network (SCINet).

This effort will provide unique SOCaaS and NOCaaS support within a scientific research computing environment. The SCINet is a high-performance computing network that supports research in the agricultural sciences. The network is designed to help researchers analyze large amounts of data and perform complex simulations, allowing them to better understand and improve crop yields, animal health, and other aspects of modern agriculture. SCINet's infrastructure includes a variety of powerful computing resources, such as high-performance clusters and cloud-based computing services, as well as advanced software and tools for data analysis, modeling, and visualization. With the help of SCINet, researchers can perform more detailed and accurate analyses than would be possible with traditional methods, which is essential for advancing the field of agricultural science and increasing food security. This network is separate from USDA’s core network infrastructure and requires specialized security and network operations.

The estimated value is:

Base Period Option Period 1 Option Period 2 Option Period 3 Total

Total $ 3,100,000.00 $ 3,162,000.00 $ 3,225,240.00 $ 3,289,744.80 $12,776,984.80

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, titled "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements."

5. Supporting rationale demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Mindy.Klask Sticky Note Accepted set by Mindy.Klask

The USDA’s SCINet program supports highly specialized scientific computing, advanced research environments, and intricate network architectures serving USDA scientists nationwide. The SCINet network operates independently of the USDA network infrastructure and requires specialized security and network operations. Operating a high-performance scientific research computing network is fundamentally different from operating a typical public or private network. This is a niche market for university and government research programs. Indiana University (IU) provides a unique and highly specialized service for the provision of SOCaaS through their “OmniSOC”, as well as NOCaaS through their “GlobalNOC”. OmniSOC and GlobalNOC are uniquely positioned to meet these specialized requirements due to their proven expertise, highly integrated operational frameworks, and established track records in serving research and education networks.

Indiana University’s OmniSOC is a first-of-its-kind SOCaaS solution specifically designed to protect, monitor, and respond to cyber threats within large-scale research and education environments. It provides a necessary level of situational awareness and threat intelligence that aligns with the complex and heterogeneous computing environments supported by SCINet. The OmniSOC team has developed proprietary methods, tools, and analytical frameworks that leverage academic research collaborations and threat intelligence sharing across multiple research institutions. OmniSOC provides system architecture analysis, SIEM solutions, security policy development in the research environment, deployment and implementation, as well as automation and artificial intelligence within the highly specialized government and academic scientific research community. These capabilities are not readily available through standard commercial security service providers, making IU’s OmniSOC uniquely suited to meet SCINet’s cybersecurity needs.

Similarly, IU’s GlobalNOC is a unique research-focused NOCaaS, offering a breadth and depth of technical, engineering, and operational support services for advanced network infrastructures.

GlobalNOC personnel have decades of combined experience operating large-scale research networks, collaborating with federal agencies, and ensuring seamless, high-performance connectivity. This level of expertise is critical for SCINet’s mission, as SCINet supports mission-critical data exchange, collaborative scientific workflows, and complex computational research that demands stable, secure, and continuously optimized network operations. These capabilities are not readily available through standard commercial network service providers, making IU’s GlobalNOC uniquely suited to meet SCINet’s network needs. No other known NOCaaS provider can offer the same combination of specialized experience, academic partnership, advanced research focus, and comprehensive support in a manner that seamlessly integrates with SCINet’s advanced computing environment.

Commercial NOC and SOC providers such as Barracuda Networks, Symantec, Noction, INOC, and others do not focus on specialized advanced scientific research networks. Commercial NOC and SOC providers do not provide the level of capability necessary in the unique SCINet research environment. In addition, commercial providers occasionally outsource personnel and capabilities to third party providers outside of the U.S. which is not feasible for SCINet.

Given these unique capabilities and niche market, Indiana University is the only responsible source to ensure continuity of operations, maintain the integrity and security of SCINet resources, and support the USDA’s critical scientific research efforts without interruption. Any deviation to a different unqualified vendor would risk delays, increased cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and diminished network performance, as no other provider has demonstrated the ability to deliver the required services at the scale and complexity necessary for SCINet.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

A sole source notice of intent will be posted to www.sam.gov notifying the public of USDA’s intent to negotiate directly with IU for the acquisition of this requirement.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable based on price analysis in comparison to the prices currently in the purchase order and other market price data available for similar and recently procured equipment and services.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted.

Market research was performed by surveying the industry and relevant experts within USDA and university research environments. Historical experience and market research demonstrates that the required SOC and NOC services within the unique scientific research environment are not readily available from typical commercial providers. IU has set up these specialized SOCaaS and NOCaaS specifically to serve the scientific research community as the required capabilities are distinct from the average commercial SOC or NOC.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

N/A

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

N/A

11. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

USDA will ensure that any additional market research, as necessary, is conducted before any subsequent contracting actions are undertaken. If appropriate alternatives are identified that would create a competitive environment, USDA will undertake appropriate action to maximize competition.

Certifications & Approvals

Supporting data that form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

Rob Butler Program Manager, SCINet

The information contained in this Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Mindy Klask Contracting Officer

Additional Reviews & Approvals

Signatures are required at each threshold up to the total estimated dollar value of the acquisition

Advocate for competition for the procuring activity (if over $750,000, but not exceeding $15 million). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as advocate for competition for the procuring activity/MASCO, I hereby approve this justification. If required, my approval constitutes clearance for submission to the Head of the Procuring Activity.

Richard Jiron Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition