AFNWC 2023-1130-Limited Sources J A for FA9422-24-F-0004.pdf

Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A)

April 2021 Page 3 of 5April 2021 Page 3 of 5 models, and in the evaluation of outsourced services contracts. The nature of this work will require the contractor to access classified information.

The government intends to award a TO with a base period plus four (4) option periods (12 months each; 60 months total).

IV. Identification of the justification/rationale for limiting sources and demonstration of the contractor's unique qualifications to provide the required supply/service.

FAR 8.405-6 requires an ordering activity to justify its actions when restricting consideration of schedule contractors to fewer than required in FAR 8.405-1 or 8.405-2.

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), "Only one source can provide services required at the level of quality required because the the services are unique or highly specialized (Limited Sources Justification)". As noted in DFARS 208.74, requiring officials shall review the DoD ESI website for availability of an existing DoD ESI agreement before pursuing another acquisition method. Further, DFARS 208.7402, states the Government "shall fulfill requirements for commercial software and commercial software services...in accordance with the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative... ESI does not dictate the products or services to be acquired." AFNWC/EN reviewed the DoD ESI website on 20 October 2023 and determined the required commercial services are available from the DOD Inventory and has concluded the DOD ESI shall be used to fulfill the requirements associated with this effort in accordance with DFARS PGI 208.7403.

Accordingly, nine (9) DOD-ESI Enterprise Service Agreements (ESA) contractors were reviewed for ability to meet the Government's requirements. The Government further narrowed this number down to four (4) contractors able to provide 'IT Research and Informative Services.' After reviewing the DoD ESI ESAs, the AFNWC concluded that only three (3) contractors: Gartner Inc. are able to provide research and informative services for executive consulting and access to special events such as conferences, webinars, workshops, and peer networking. However, based on additional information obtained directly from these sources in related fields of IT Systems Analysis, IT Network Management Services, IT Systems Development Services, two out of the three sources did not have or were not able to offer the Top Secret Clearance, needed to satisfy EN's requirements.

Gartner was the only source able to provide such services. Thus, Gartner will remain the only source capable of providing the IT research related services required at the level of quality needed to satisfy AFNWC/EN's needs.

Further it is the preferred source of supply for DoD Agencies to acquire their IT Research and Informative Services from Gartner Inc. They have been the source solution at the Air Force for over 15 years and are the only vendor able to offer a Top Secret Facility Clearance. Additionally, Gartner Inc is the only source cleared for national security focused IT analysts, which are needed in order to support the type of research and analysis required by AFNWC/EN.

Digital Engineering. Gartner provides access to Vendor Ratings through their ratings database enabling AFNWC to conduct technical research across 6 key categories of IT capabilities helping AFNWC maintain awareness of major technology providers' products and services and keep track of how these providers are positioned for the future.

This capability helps AFNWC with the comprehensive guidance needed during the critical process of vendor selection.

Cloud Computing. With Gartner's unique Cloud Decisions tool, AFNWC has access to an easy-to-use dashboard that makes it simple to compare features, pricing, performance and availability of cloud solutions. Gartner Cloud Match, a proprietary component of Cloud Decisions, also generates recommendations for cloud selection by finding the best possible instance size for the workload while optimizing for performance, cost or availability within or across providers. Cloud Decisions is an interactive web tool that allows AFNWC to compare pricing, performance and availability of 5+ cloud service providers as well as visually build cloud application architecture and generate recommendations based on prioritization (i.e., based on performance, cost or availability across providers). The decision support platform should allow users to verify performance of cloud services from industry standard benchmark tests for: CPU, Memory, Storage, Internal Network, Object Storage and Provisioning. No competing provider of Research and Informative Services under the DoD ESI BPA provides an equivalent tool. Gartner research is different from any other service offerings because it offers “how-to” guidance on how to implement rather than the strategically focused “what-to” services offered through other service offerings. Only Gartner Inc. offers this “how-to” research, offering resources for highly technical insight into cloud execution, customer experience, data management, security, and risk management.

Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A)

April 2021 Page 5 of 5April 2021 Page 5 of 5

VII. Other facts supporting the justification.

N/A

VIII. Actions 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.

AFNWC is procuring established subscriptions as listed on Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) BPA. There are many research and advisory companies listed on GSA IT Schedule 70 and the ESI BPA, each offering well defined products and services with pre-negotiated prices. Other companies on the ESI are beginning the process for certifying their facilities to handle classified information. The AFNWC will continue to monitor the progress these companies are making for facilities certification in future acquisitions. Furthermore, the AFNWC will continue to look at the possibility for entering into contracts not requiring access to classified information.

IX. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

X. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.