REDACTED_LSJ_ANRS_9Sept25.pdf

Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A)

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I. Contracting Activity.

21st Contracting Squadron at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

Contracting Officer: Ryan J. Olson

PR: F3LNHA5160AC01

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

The Government intends to solicit and award a firm-fixed-price delivery order on a brand-name basis (other than full and open competition) through GSA for an Automated Notification Recall System (ANRS) to support NORAD. This action is necessary because the current ANRS system, including its licenses, software, and support services, are being discontinued. The replacement ANRS solution is critical for maintaining NORAD & USNORTHCOM's (N&NC) Command and Control (C2) effectiveness. The existing system directly supports mission sets requiring interoperability with current and planned operational C2 systems, SECDEF-directed Mass Notification System (MNS) road maps, and hybrid cloud-based capabilities. The ANRS ensures that N&NC directorates, components, separate entities, and Inter- Agency Partners maintain near real-time situational awareness for Homeland Defense (HD), Defense Support to Civilian Authorities (DSCA), and internal dual-command alerting and recall mission requirements.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

Funding: FY 2025 O&M (3400)

Base Year - 29 Sep 25 - 28 Sep 26 -

Option Year 1 - 29 Sep 26 - 28 Sep 27 -

Option Year 2 - 29 Sep 27-28 Sep 28 -

Escalation Rate Applied: 3.5%

Product numbers included in the base plus two are:

EBSPB000000054 - Everbridge 360 - Public Safety Comnms (Contracts) (base plus two)

EBSPB000000058 - Everbridge 360 - ProServ (base year only for initial installation/training)

101-00-11-8702-000 - Technical Account Management - 20 Hours/Yr (base plus two)

The Government intends to award a firm-fixed-price delivery order on a Brand Name basis to Everbridge. This procurement directly supports the critical mission of NORAD and USNORTHCOM (N&NC) by providing the Automated Notification and Recall System (ANRS), a vital capability for delivering time-sensitive emergency mass notifications. EverBridge 360 enables N&NC to rapidly disseminate alerts and initiate personnel recall procedures across its component organizations and to individual personnel during a wide range of crisis scenarios, ensuring operational readiness and minimizing potential impacts. The EverBridge system has the same capabilities of the two previous systems deployed into one system. EverBridge 360 leverages diverse communication channels, including desktop alerts, automated telephone calls, email, and SMS text messaging, to achieve rapid

April 2024 Page 3 of 6April 2024 Page 3 of 6 and comprehensive notification coverage.

Currently, N&NC's notification capabilities rely on a combination of sunset systems, each with its own limitations. These systems include a mass notification hosted service providing licenses for 3500 users, essential technical advisory support for implementing new or enhanced features, and unlimited calling, emailing, and messaging capabilities. This hosted service adheres to rigorous Information Assurance standards, fully aligned with Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) requirements, and incorporates robust risk mitigation services to safeguard sensitive information. Additionally, Desktop Alert Inc.'s Desktop Alert System, delivers immediate emergency notifications directly to desktop computers, providing a critical visual alert mechanism to supplement other communication methods.

The proposed EverBridge 360 solution will combine these two independent systems into a single, unified platform, offering significant and demonstrable advantages that directly enhance N&NC's emergency response capabilities. This transition streamlines administrative workflows by centralizing system management and requiring proficiency in only one intuitive interface, minimizing training requirements, reducing the potential for human error during critical situations, and alleviating the overall workload burden on IT and emergency management personnel.

Moreover, EverBridge 360 fosters enhanced integration and communication across teams and departments, enabling seamless information sharing and ensuring a coordinated and consistent emergency response. By combining these functions into a single platform, EverBrige facilitates improved situational awareness and allows for more effective resource allocation during crisis events.

The combination of these systems also offers substantial cost efficiencies. Eliminating redundant licensing fees, ongoing maintenance expenses, and dedicated support costs associated with maintaining two separate systems will result in significant savings over the life of the contract.

Furthermore, combining to a cloud-based system potentially reduces the overall infrastructure footprint required to support these notification services, minimizing hardware requirements and associated energy consumption. The benefits of combining to one are primarily focused on efficiency, cost savings, and improved communication effectiveness. A single system allows for better integration and communication between different teams or departments, ensuring a consistent and coordinated response. Elimination of licensing fees, maintenance costs, and support expenses associated with multiple systems will be done.

EverBridge 360 offers the mission-critical nature of the notification and recall function, a Brand Name award to Everbridge is the only means of ensuring N&NC maintains its operational readiness and the ability to respond effectively to emergencies. The decision to pursue a Brand Name acquisition is paramount to ensuring uninterrupted service and avoid delays.

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

IAW DAFMAN 17-1203: 2.5.1.12.1. The CCS-3 and DPI purchase sources are mandatory and take precedence over GSA 2GIT and other procurement sources, unless waived by the MAJCOM/Field Commands/A6s or equivalent. (T-1).

Required hardware is not available through CCS-3 or DPI.

A Sources Sought Notice was published on 30 July 2025, closing on 6 August 2025, to assess market

April 2024 Page 4 of 6April 2024 Page 4 of 6 capabilities for this requirement. Twelve responses were received, including one from the incumbent contractor, indicating interest and capability in submitting quotations for a potential solicitation. Of these twelve responses, seven vendors named potential solutions the remaining five expressed an interest in participating as an integrator of the new system but did not give a clear solution for a transition of systems.

Of the seven vendors with potential solutions, four originated from small businesses and three from a large business, all registered under the currently selected NAICS code. A thorough evaluation determined that four of the small businesses, including the incumbent contractor, demonstrated the qualifications necessary to fulfill the requirement.

Following the publication of the Sources Sought notice, the Contracting Officer and Contracting Specialist conducted outreach to the twelve vendors who responded to confirm their ability to fulfill the requirement and associated implementation timeline. The current contract ends 28 September 2025 and the new system needs to be in place by that time. Of those vendors, only two (BlackBerry and Everbridge) indicated the capacity to meet the required schedule. However, only Everbridge demonstrated the ability to satisfy all three components of the requirement. BlackBerry was able to meet the recall system and desktop alert components but could not fulfill the program manager portion of the requirement.

In accordance with Department of the Air Force Manual (DAFMAN) 17-1203, which outlines mandatory sources for software procurement, a thorough investigation was conducted to determine if any existing mandatory sources could fulfill the requirement. Upon reviewing the proposed software solutions against the DAFMAN 17-1203 list and other relevant mandatory source databases, it was discovered that EverBridge offers their 360 software through GSA.

Given that EverBridge 360 was found on a mandatory source, GSA, the Contracting Officer (CO) initiated communication with EverBridge to definitively verify their ability to fully satisfy all requirements detailed in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), including ability to support 3,500 concurrent users, compliance with security standards. Following written confirmation from EverBridge assuring full compliance with the PWS requirements, the CO determined that procuring the 360 software through GSA represents the best value for the government, considering factors such as cost, compliance, and streamlined acquisition processes inherent in utilizing a pre-established mandatory source.

V. Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the order represents the best value consistent with

FAR 8.404(d).

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

IAW FAR 8.405-6(b)(1), the item is essential to the Government's requirements, market research has indicated that other companies do not fully meet the agencies needs.

This software is available on a GSA and open to ordering from all DoD components. IAW DAFMAN 17-1203, GSA is fourth in precedence when it comes to purchasing software, preceded by DAF/ELA and DoD/JELA and DOD ESI. Neither ELA, JELA or ESI had this software available. When establishing the BPA on GSA, the founding Contracting Officer determined the price list to be fair and reasonable.

Additionally, IAW DFARS PGI 208.404 and DoD Class Deviation 201-O0011 - Determination of Fair and Reasonable Prices when Using Federal Supply Schedule Contracts, dated March 13, 2014, Effective immediately, contracting officers shall comply with the following policy, in lieu of FAR 8.404(d), Pricing, when using Federal Supply Schedules. This class deviation remains in effect until incorporated in the

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DFARS or otherwise rescinded. The deviation states, "Supplies offered on the schedule are listed at fixed prices. Services offered on the schedule are priced either at hourly rates, or at a fixed price for performance of a specific task (e.g., installation, maintenance, and repair). GSA has determined the prices of supplies and fixed-price services, and rates for services offered at hourly rates, to be fair and reasonable for the purpose of establishing the schedule contract. GSA's determination does not relieve the ordering activity contracting officer from the responsibility of making a determination of fair and reasonable pricing for individual orders, BPAs, and orders under BPAs, using the proposal analysis techniques at 15.404-1. The complexity and circumstances of each acquisition should determine the level of detail of the analysis required." Although this software is not being purchased on GSA, price will be determined reasonable IAW FAR 15.404-1

VI. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or explain why market research was not conducted.

IAW DAFMAN 17-1203 para 3.6.3, the mandatory sources for procuring software, in order of precedence, are: DAF ELA, DOD/JELA, DOD ESI, GSA 2GIT, and Other Vendor-Authorized sources. DAF ELA, DOD/JELA and DOD ESI were searched first, and this software brand is not available from those sources for the Air Force.

Our review of mandatory sources, including the GSA Schedule, reveals that the Everbridge product, a potential solution for the NORAD ANRS requirement, is available through two distinct vendors:

Everbridge, Inc. (a large business), and GovSmart (a small business). While the presence of the Everbridge product on the GSA Schedule through a small business (GovSmart) is noted, a more in-depth analysis of the market, the specific technical requirements of the ANRS, and the competitive landscape is necessary to determine the most advantageous acquisition strategy for the Government.

The availability of the Everbridge product through GovSmart alone does not automatically mandate a set-aside for small businesses. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19 dictates that a procurement should be set aside for small businesses when there is a reasonable expectation that offers will be obtained from at least two responsible small businesses that are competitive in terms of fair market prices, quality, and delivery.

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.

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.

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.

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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.