Approved_J_and_A_(RD).pdf

United States Depart1nent of the Interior

INTERIOR BUSINESS CENTER

Washington, DC 20240

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C.1901

PR 0040459296

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a "Sole Source Justification."

This document is a sole source justification for the Department of the Interior (DOI}, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate, Division 5, Team 1.The requiring agency is the DOI, Office of Property and Acquisition Management (PAM).

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

Approval is sought for a Sole Source Justification to purchase FedDataCheck, a software tool that analyzes procurement data. The vendor for this award is PotomacWave Consulting, LLC.

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

FedDataCheck is a data blending tool which verifies data entries into the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG), and compares PAM's reporting to government-wide data and various benchmark standards. FedDataCheck assists with analysis of procurement data for category management, oversight of Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) acquisition implementation, and to improve data quality prior to the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA) application.

This acquisition will be for the period of performance and prices listed below:

Base Year:

Option Year 1:

Option Year 2:

Total:

09/30/2019-09/29/2 020, $redacted

09/30/2020-09/29/2021, $redacted

09/30/2021-09/29/2022, $redacted

$redacted

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting sole source acquisition.

This is an acquisition conducted under the authority of the Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority permitting sole source acquisition is 41U.S.C 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii).

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor,s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

PotomacWave Consulting's FedDataCheck software tool is the only source capable of providing the services to DOI at the level of quality required because the software tool is unique and highly specialized. Unlike manual sampling, FedDataCheck conducts an automatic analysis of FPDS-NG data after it has been submitted on 105 data points to identify potential errors and discrepancies in a finalized FPDS-NG record. Following contract award and after the FedDataCheck analysis, DOI contracting personnel are notified in a timely manner about any discrepancies identified by the tool in the data.

This notification allows the personnel ample time to correct their actions. Contracting personnel apply the lessons learned from FedDataCheck's analysis to future actions.

FedDataCheck is the only known vendor who can provide this data analysis and not require access to the agency's contract writing system. Each year DOI must submit to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), a FPDS-addition to identifying reporting errors, FedDataCheck's services automates the annual validation process required by OFPP which drastically reduces workload department-wide.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that 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 FAR Subpart 5.2 a synopsis of this proposed contracting action was posted on Federal Business Opportunities on August 19, 2019 in order to determine if there are additional sources for automated FOPS-NG data verification. No vendors responded to the notice showing they were was capable of demonstrating similar services for PAM.

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

The anticipated price for FedDataCheck is $redacted per year. The price for previously awarded purchase order D16PX00303 for FedDataCheck is $redacted per year. Since 2016, when D16PX00303 was awarded, FedDataCheck has had an increase in personnel, hardware, and software costs. FedDataCheck's functionality has also increased since 2016 to include: Category Management Analysis, a DATA Act dashboard, approximately 32 new data checks, identification of miscoded 8(a) awards, and a competition dashboard. PotomaWave charges a flat fee for FedDataCheck's federal customers based on the size of agency; their pricing is as follows:

Large Departments:

Medium Departments:

Small Departments:

redacted

Based on the information provided and increased functionality, the anticipated price of FedDataCheck will be fair and reasonable.

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

FedDataCheck is a data-preparatory blending tool. A basic internet search for FPDS NG data blending was conducted. The only vendor offering software similar to FedDataCheck, offered services using FPDS-NG data as a market research tool, which does not meet the specifications of this requirement. A search on GSA Advantage for FPDS-NG revealed the following three (3) vendors: CGI Federal Inc., AT&T Corp., and Unison Software, Inc. CGI Federal processes FOPS-NG reports, and does not provide any mention of data verification. AT&T does not provide FPDS-NG data verification. Unison Software provides a FPDS-NG module as part of their DoD PRISM package.

A search on FPDS-NG revealed that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) acquired FedDataCheck software on a sole source basis on August 27, 2017.

PotomacWave Consulting is the only known company that has a program subscription service that can be used by the agency and does not need to interface with DOl's contracting writing system.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as:

N/A

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

PotomacWave Consulting, Inc.

44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 41 O Alexandria, VA 22314

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

redacted redacted

12. Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer's knowledge and belief.

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

8/27/19

Contracting Officer Date

13. Requirements personnel certification.

I certify that the technical data which forms a basis for this justification is complete and accurate and meets the Government's minimum needs.

14. Reviews and Approvals

Concur

Concu/Approve

, Division Chief

' r Date

Approved, redacted

Approved, Redacted

Concur, Redacted

Approved, Redacted