AEDS_25C0016_AEDSDecommSoleSourceDoc_032425v1_Redacted2.pdf

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

Sensitive in accordance with 32 CFR 2002

Controlled by: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

PR# (EDOFSA-25-000579 and EDOFSA-25-000580)

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid (FSA), Office of Acquisitions Program Management, and Office of Student Aid Program Management

2. Nature and/or description of the action.

The Application Eligibility Determination System (AEDS) contract has limited scope as the contract prepares for contract closeout. The contractor is operating and maintaining Participation Management, an enrollment system for schools and other partners to access FSA’s systems and exchange information with FSA through the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) until the replacement Partner Role Management (PartnerConnect 3.0) is released. In support, the contractor is also operating the Central Processing System (CPS)/Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) Help Desk (Participation Management calls only). In addition, the contract is maintaining the CPS Mainframe so General Dynamics One Source (GDOS) can access data for the 2023- 2024 End of Year reporting and the 2023-2024 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Statistical Study.

The other AEDS services and products are currently being decommissioned as part of contract closeout.

3. Description of supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

FSA is proposing to enter into a new six-month sole source contract to the incumbent of the AEDS contract 91003119C0007. This action will be a contract that covers the period of performance from March 30, 2025 – September 29, 2025 to 1) continue operations and maintenance of Eligibility Determination (CPS), Participation Management, and the CPS/SAIG Help Desk (Participation Management calls only) for four months until the replacement Partner Role Management (PartnerConnect 3.0) is launched in July 2025 , and 2) to finish decommissioning all of the AEDS systems, services, and products in the remaining two months in preparation for contract close-out by September 29, 2025.

This action actions period of performance will be March 30, 2025 – September 29, 2025:

Description Period of Performance O&M Eligibility Determination Work includes:

1) Maintenance for any security patches

2) Availability for 2023-2024 Early End of Year/End of Year reporting and the 2023-2024 IRS Statistical Study

3) Availability of Death Master File monthly extracts to the servicers

March 30, 2025 – July 29, 2025 (4 months)

O&M PIV Operations Work includes:

Management of contractor PIV cards to ensure secured access to AEDS systems.

March 30, 2025 – September 29, 2025 (6 months)

O&M Participation Management Work includes:

Processing paper enrollment forms so schools have access to FSA’s services/systems and to exchange information with FSA’s systems through the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG).

O&M CPS/SAIG Help Desk (Participation Management portion only). Work includes handling enrollment calls for the Participation Management System.

The following AEDS systems, services, and products will be decommissioned during the sole source contract.

Description Decomm Start/End Dates Decommission Eligibility Determination 08/01/2025 – 09/29/2025 Decommission Print/Mailing Operations and Image Data Capture Center

09/30/2024 – 09/29/2025

Decommission FAA Access 09/30/2024 – 09/29/2025 Decommission CPS/SAIG Help Desk/FSA Listserv 08/01/2025 – 09/29/2025

Decommission Demo Site (includes the Front Landing Page, FAA Access to CPS Online Demo Site, and CPS Services Demo)

09/30/2024 – 09/29/2025

Decommission CPS Services 08/01/2025 – 09/29/2025 Decommission CPS Business Services 09/30/2024 – 09/29/2025 Decommission Participation Management 08/01/2025 – 09/29/2025

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source acquisition.

This procurement action will be awarded in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) – Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The Contracting Officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a sole source as supported below:

The use of this authority is supported by GDOS’ unique qualifications that the contractor should be the one to decommission the systems which they have maintained throughout the AEDS contract as part of contract closeout. In addition, it is impractical to have another vendor provide operations and maintenance of the CPS mainframe and Participation Management and also provide CPS/SAIG Help Desk as this work is only a four-month bridge until the replacement Partner Role Management is launched in July 2025. Changing vendors would be disruptive to supporting schools with needed enrollment services and helping with call support.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

As required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 5.203, FSA plans to issue a Notice of Intent on Sam.gov for three (3) days, prior to issuing the Request for a Proposal to allow for vendor responses. Comments or capability statements may be submitted to the Contracting Officer during this period. In accordance with FAR Subpart, 6.305, the approved Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition will be posted for thirty (30) days on Sam.gov within fourteen (14) days after contract award.

7. Determination by the Contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The sole source pricing will be the similar pricing that the contractor provided for the current six-month extension which has already been determined to be fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.