A15_BN_-_Human_Resources_Workflow_FE_(1)_Redacted_1.pdf

SOLICITATION #140D0425Q0806

operational since 2018 for BSEE and 2019 for FWS which are both entirely dependent on the ServiceNow platform. The government has invested an estimated on both ServiceNow platforms. The use of an alternate solution(s) would require system redesign, reauthorization under FedRAMP, loss of functionality, extensive testing, and additional training, resulting in significant cost, schedule delays, technical performance, and risk to continuity of operations. Furthermore, the system configuration, metadata, and workflows are built around ServiceNow-specific implementations which have been federally approved and customized to meet BSEE and FWS operational and security requirements. Maintaining system compatibility and FedRAMP Moderate compliance requires continued use of these specific brand name solutions.

In addition, the HR Service Delivery platform includes numerous customizations, configurations, and workflow automations that are specifically designed to align with BSEE and FWS management processes. These customizations are tightly integrated into the ServiceNow implementations and were developed over several years to meet unique federal operational, reporting, and compliance needs. Transitioning to another platform would not only result in loss of these tailored capabilities but would also require BSEE and FWS to re-enter the full discovery, design, testing, and implementation lifecycle. This would represent significant resource expenditure, increase the risk of implementation failure, and lead to prolonged service disruption.

ServiceNow brand name licensing and support are items peculiar to these vendors. These products are essential to the Government's requirements and market research indicates other companies' similar products do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's needs without significant interruption, delay and additional cost. It is expected that this action will be solicited under NASA SEWP Groups B, C, and as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. The justification for an exception to fair opportunity being considered is to limit the software subscriptions and maintenance on a brand name basis.

5. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Although this requirement is brand name specific to ServiceNow, market research found that there are numerous vendors that are ServiceNow authorized resellers, capable of providing the required subscriptions. This requirement will be competed amongst vendors within Group B, C, & D of NASA SEWP V GWAC authorized resellers of ServiceNow and the award will be made against the successful quoter’s NASA SEWP V contract with firm-fixed prices. NASA SEWP has already determined that the prices of all items under SEWP are fair and reasonable at the contract level. Price reasonableness was determined in accordance with FAR 15.403- 1(c)(1)(i)(B), which provides that a price is based on adequate price competition if two or more responsible offerors, competing independently submit priced offers that satisfy the Government’s expressed requirement and there is not any finding that the price of an otherwise successful offer is unreasonable. NASA SEWP obtained discounted item pricing for each offeror’s verifiable and/or published commercial list price.

SOLICITATION #140D0425Q0806

The AQD Contracting Officer (CO) will seek further price discounts from vendors and make a separate determination as to the reasonableness of the awarded price. Adequate price competition is expected and, if achieved, the Contracting Officer will determine pricing to be fair and reasonable based on adequate price competition.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification.

This procurement specifically requests a six-month base period with a six-month option for continuation of existing ServiceNow licenses to ensure uninterrupted operation of the HR Workflow platform. The previous licensing agreement was under expired Federal Cloud Hosting Services (FCHS 1) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract which established the initial framework for our ServiceNow utilization.

7. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is actively undertaking a comprehensive review of government-wide platforms, technologies, and existing contracts. This initiative aims to identify and implement the most cost-effective solutions for the entire federal government. This ongoing research and potential consolidation of contracts and technologies could significantly impact how the current systems are supported in the future. Specifically, these efforts are designed to address and potentially overcome the barriers that currently necessitate an exception to fair opportunity for our ServiceNow licenses.

There are no further practical considerations that can be taken at this time to eliminate the Brand Name only restriction on these required software products due to the proprietary nature of software subscriptions and the need for compatible components. The Government will continue to conduct market research to identify changes in the marketplace that would allow unrestricted competition.