A16_JOFOC_Redacted_1.pdf

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

Over $150,000 (FAR 8.405-6(c))

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity

Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington Contracting Office

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

A sole – single source award to Global Solutions Group, Inc to continue annual support and maintenance for software licenses for Laserfiche at a GSA-Schedule cost of $

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

This acquisition is for annual support and maintenance of the various Laserfiche – Global Solutions Group products listed in the table below which will allow the NPS to continue using the software from 8/15/2025 to 2/15/2026, obtain any software updates that occur during that year, and receive technical support and training. The GSA Schedule cost is

The Water Resources Division – Water Rights Branch (WRB) needed to upgrade the Access database management software of the Docket Records System to meet National Park Service (DOI) and National Archive standards. In 2018, WRB was looking to replace and retire the antiquated Docket Processing Application. WRB submitted a solicitation for implementation, workflow, forms, and records management, along with project management, training services, technical support and custom development and migration of existing records. WRB was looking for a tailored solution service along with dedicated specialists for the services provided.

A solicitation was released in 2018 with initially only one response from Global Solutions Group, Inc.

(GSG). The solicitation was released again and received a proposal from a technical group that would design a custom software/database around the project. This estimate was more than 60% greater than the GSG estimate of development of an NPS system using the off-the-shelf Laserfische template. GSG was selected as the provider due to a lower estimate and stock software that could be customized to meet the NPS needs.

GSG has performed the following:

Designed an integrated solution that provides:

o Integration tools to automate transfer of data on new and updated files.

o Ability to import new and updated data from an external source.

o Ability to export search results.

The Base Period involved:

o Migrating Data into designated fields, creation of forms for entering data by sections, testing, setup of Software onto SQL server and any special reporting required.

o The Migrated Data is retained by Park, sections, and fields in the repository(database).

o An independent program was developed to handle the creation of pdfs and the handling of bookmarks for viewing of records and posting of records.

5. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

The time and development that GSG and the NPS have invested in the migration and integration to new software for the docket project is significant. There would be a great loss of time, efficiency and knowledge if a new developer of Laserfiche were to be selected. GSG has in-depth knowledge of the workflow for bringing previous Access data and paper files into Laserfiche and structure and confidential material of the docket records as well as allowing for updates as they occur. We have a requirement to have portions that remain confidential and a deliverable that portions must be made publicly available in NPS DataStore for each park. There would be a steep learning curve bringing in another developer. GSG is a small, women owned business that can be found on GSA schedule GS-35F-171AA.

The current acquisition is for 6 months of annual support, development of read-only Alien Water Rights Repository $6,640, development of a dedicated Laserfische sandbox environment $7,792 and maintenance priced at $14,104/yr based on Global Solutions Group, Inc GSA schedule published in 2022 and their November 2024 price quote.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification.

Laserfiche is a Content Management solution that allows organizations to store and manage various types of information such as word document, excel spread sheet, video or voice files, PDF’s and any image file in one, secure, centralized system. Laserfiche has been implemented in State, Local and Federal Governments, Finance, Manufacturing, Education and Utilities markets to manage mission critical applications.

The water rights division has a requirement to maintain and organize large amounts of dockets and its corresponding information for various Parks across the Country that needs to be processed. This system is unique as WRD maintains the dockets for all parks. To meet this requirement of handling specific individual dockets, Laserfiche software has been heavily customized over the past years.

There are other Laserfiche Value Added Resellers (VAR) that sell Laserfiche software, but Global Solutions Group (GSG) has worked with the Water Rights Division for the past 7 years to customize the software to meet the needs for managing Dockets as listed below:

1. Collecting documents in various digital formats (like TIFF, PDF, etc.)

2. Gathering 50+ unique field values (metadata template values)

3. Upload various supporting documents for dockets

4. Insert images into existing dockets by maintaining dynamic sorting orders

5. Being able to update/manage Park related information

6. Delete docket related images that are no longer required to be kept/preserved

7. Generate final published PDF with Bookmarks generated from custom dockets which are then published to the NPS public facing site for further retrieval

Other Laserfiche VARs may support the Laserfiche application, but due to the customization or the existing product it would take a significant amount of time, effort and cost for them to become familiar with the Water Rights Division’s Docket Processing environment and understand all the customization GSG has worked on to develop with NPSstaff.

Laserfiche requires that their VAR’s are certified on the Laserfiche product, but there is no mandate regarding non-Laserfiche technical expertise. It cannot be assumed all Laserfiche VARs possess the same technical skill levels as GSG (like Integration with 3rd Line of Business Applications, custom JavaScript coding, Database Lookups, working with APIs to generate bookmarks in PDF, Web Services, etc.)

Since GSG was awarded the contract over seven years ago, there has never been an issue with system uptime, response to service or trouble calls. Over the years GSG has worked closely with the Water Rights Division to maintain and improve service levels.

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

8. Certification by Technical or Requirements Personnel:

I certify that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g verifying the Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for an exception to fair opportunity) which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate:

(Signature)____________________ (Date) _4/19/2025____________

(Type or Print Name):___Katie Buchan _____________________________________

(Title): Hydrologist

I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) _____________________

(Type or Print Name): __________________________________________________ contracting officer

ATTACHMENT 4

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

Over $150,000 (FAR 8.405-6(c))

Reviewed for Legal Sufficiency by Solicitor’s Office (over $500,000 or as requested):

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) ___________________

(Type or Print Name): _________________________________________________ Attorney-Advisor

Reviewed/Concur/Approved by:

(Signature) _____________________________________ (Date) ___________________

Regional or Center Chief of Contracting

For orders exceeding $150,000, but not exceeding $700,000, this certification serves as the Approval of the justification.

Approved by:

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) __________________

Bureau Competition Advocate For orders exceeding $700,000, but not exceeding $13,500,000, this certification serves as the Approval of the justification.

*NOTE: For Justifications under 8.405-6(a)(1) the approving official shall include a written determination identifying which one of the circumstances applies.