Attachment 2 - Brand Name Justification Meltwater_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

April 2021 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 2 of 7

I. Contracting Activity.

21st Contracting Squadron at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Contracting Officer: Justin W. Bowers, 719-556-3049 Brand Name Justification

PR:

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

The government intends to award a brand name, fixed-price, delivery order for Meltwater software for USSPACECOM.

Meltwater is a global SaaS company, providing traditional / social media monitoring and communications solutions.

With 350,000 global media sources and 30,000+ clients across over 121 countries, Meltwater is the global leader in the media monitoring industry. Meltwater’s technologies have a presence in every Federal Executive Department and have supported numerous government organizations and Cabinet-Level Agencies, including the Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, and others.

Period of Performance: 7 July 2022 - 6 July 2023

This action will be funded with FY2022 Operations and Maintenance (3400) funds.

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

Meltwater Enterprise Solution

Meltwater Media Intelligence Platform/Explore Media Database & Press Release Distribution Content Upgrades Options Audience Insights, Unlimited Meltwater Engage Social Management, 20 Analyst Driven Reports (12 monthly reports, 1 annual, 8 ad-hoc) Dedicated Account Manager, Unlimited Training, Unlimited Support Joint interoperability as a comprehensive platform that can be used across the DoD

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or service will satisfy agency requirements.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

Meltwater is the only organization able to provide a comprehensive platform as a single provider which supports new and social media monitoring, media analysis, retroactive analysis, media research, internal communications, website integration of news content, media outreach, social media influencers, and unlimited training and customer support.

Within the Department of Defense, Meltwater’s technologies have been used by all Service Branches, along with Joint Forces and Combatant Commands, such as Secretary of the Air Force, Public Affairs (SAF/PA), US Army Office of the Chief of Public Affairs (OCPA), US European Command (USEUCOM), US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), and many others.

USSPACECOM is making an effort to keep this platform standardized across all organizations within the Department of Defense. While other companies are capable of offering some of the services provided by Meltwater, none of these companies provide a solution with the breadth and depth required. Additionally, awarding to another company would

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

April 2021 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 7 require additional training and burden when folks transfer between organizations. Meltwater offers unlimited training and support included in their base cost, reducing the need for any additional cost and ensuring all employees can get up to speed quickly no matter which organization they are with. Therefore, it is a requirement of USSPACECOM to use Meltwater as it is the only product that can provide the joint interoperability required.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

Meltwater has three authorized resellers along with themselves, providing us with four potential sources for competition. The parent company, Meltwater, is a large business therefore a direct award will not be made. Their three authorized resellers are all small businesses. One has a GSA Schedule, one has a NASA SEWP schedule, and one is an 8(a) certified contractor. To obtain the maximum amount of competition, this requirement will be solicited on SAM.gov so that all three resellers have the opportunity to compete.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Based upon various Market Research results, the Contracting Officer anticipates offerors independently submitting quotes for the required items and the price will be determined fair and reasonable IAW FAR 15.404-1(b)(2) based upon competition, historical prices paid, or any method reasonable for the action.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Over the past six months Lt Col Webb conducted in depth market research to validate Meltwater's capabilities for USSPACECOM J020 Public Affairs team, and received further approval by USSPACECOM's Data Council on the integrity of the company and its product.

The Contracting Officer also conducted market research to determine the availability of competitors in the industry. It was determined that while competitors with similar products exist, no other products will offer the interconnected application that Meltwater provides. Other products would not meet the customer's needs in full, and would also require additional training and maintenance.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

With so many other Department of Defense organizations already utilizing this platform, it is in the best interest of the government to award to a Meltwater authorized reseller. Joint interoperability is a requirement, so if USSPACECOM utilizes a different provider than the rest of the organizations in the DoD, it will require a lot of additional effort and money to get any employees who transfer organizations up to speed and will not fulfill the requirement. Implementing a solution that is already standard across the DoD reduces a lot of administrative burden in both the short and long term.

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Meltwater has three authorized resellers that would be able to provide a quote in response to a solicitation. Meltwater has expressed that any or all of these resellers would provide a quote.

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

Meltwater is a unique product that provides a much more robust solution to DoD organizations than any other competitor in the market. Additionally, over 20 federal organizations are currently using Meltwater for the social media monitoring and analysis. With Meltwater's solution being so standardized across the DoD and other federal organizations, there are currently no actions that would eliminate the need for restricted competition.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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XII. 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.

XIII. 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.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Contracting without providing for full and open competition shall not be justified on the basis of lack of advance planning by the requiring activity or concerns related to the amount of funds available (e.g., funds will expire) (10 U.S.C. 2304(f)(4)).

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

(FAR 6.303-2(b)(6))

Describe all efforts taken (or to be to be taken) to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable under the circumstances. Although Market Research is covered in Section VIII, the information in Section VI should correlate with the Market Research described in Section VI. The following issues should be addressed in this paragraph:

Sources Sought Synopsis (used as part of market research). If a sources sought synopsis was issued, state the date the synopsis was issued and a brief description of its content. If any responses were received, describe in detail the results of the screening process and the rationale for determining the unacceptability of any synopsis respondents. Reference FAR 13.105, Synopsis and Posting Requirements.

Other Actions. In this paragraph, discuss any other actions taken or planned to facilitate competition for this acquisition. The discussion should include actions tried or considered even if the actions were unsuccessful. If the efforts were unsuccessful, so state and describe why.

Qualifying Country Sources. If qualifying country sources have expressed interest, but are to be excluded, provide supporting rationale.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(7))

Include a statement by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable and provide the basis for this determination. The steps that will be taken to ensure the final contract price will be fair and reasonable are also described here. Describe the extent of cost or price analysis anticipated including the requirements for certified cost or pricing data, technical evaluations, and audits.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or explain why market research was not conducted. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(8))

Generally, some form of market research should be conducted. Discuss any market research conducted pursuant to FAR Part 10 and describe results of that research. Market research is any effort undertaken to determine if sources capable of satisfying the agency's requirements exist and to determine if commercial items or non-developmental items are either available or can be modified so that they will satisfy the agency's needs. Market research should be focused not only on identifying alternate sources, but also on alternate equipment or substitutes that might fulfill the Government needs with only minor modification.

Regardless of the approach used, the results should provide a high level of confidence that no other qualified sources exist.

When other exceptions from the requirement to obtain full and open competition are relied upon, the market research might be limited to an examination of the acquisition history and experience with the marketplace under previous acquisitions for the same or similar items.

If no market research was conducted, so state and provide the rationale.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(9)(i))

Provide any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, including an explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, statements of objectives, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed, are not being developed, are not being used, or are not available.

X. List of sources, if any, that expressed interest in the acquisition. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(10))

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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If a sources sought synopsis was done and all interested sources are included in Section VI, it is acceptable to state, “See Section VI above.”

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(11))

Describe any actions taken or to be taken to foster competition for future acquisitions of the supplies or services being acquired.

Describe potential actions that could be taken to remove the barriers to competition that have been identified in the justification and include a milestone schedule, where available, for accomplishing these actions. For example, if a follow-on competitive acquisition is planned, so state and provide the planned award date, or state that the Government will attempt to acquire rights in technical data and computer software sufficient to compete follow-on acquisitions as a priced option in the contract action that is the subject of this Justification, or (if applicable) state how the Government intends to challenge nonconforming markings on technical data and computer software delivered to it under previous contracts so those markings can be removed in order that the technical data and computer software may be used in support of a follow-on competitive acquisition, or describe plans to qualify additional sources.

Address efforts to ensure competition for future spare parts and maintenance in support of systems or equipment covered by the justification, even when these acquisitions will be accomplished by other organizations. Include a discussion on available breakout data.

If no actions are planned, so state and provide reasons. If approval is sought for more than one year, explain why a sole source effort is required for the planned time duration.

For a non-competitive follow-on acquisition to a previous award for the same supply or service supported by a Justification citing the same authority, include a discussion of the actions planned to overcome barriers to competition established in the previous justification, the status of those actions, and the results of those actions. The approval authority shall determine whether the planned actions were completed. If the planned actions were not completed, the justification for the follow-on acquisition shall be approved by the approval authority one-level above the approval authority for the previous justification (see FAR 13.501(a)(2)). If the previous justification was approved by the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE), the approval remains at the SPE level.

[DFARS 213.501(a) and DFARS PGI 206.304(a)(S-70)(ii)]

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12))

As evidenced by his/her signature, the contracting officer has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel. (FAR 6.303-2(c))

As evidenced by their signatures, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.