BetaSam JA Posting.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Acquisition Title: Appian Accelerator - Unified Dynamic Case Management (UDCM)

Agency: PSC

PSC Divisions: ASA - Assistant Secretary for Administration

Acquisition Year (FY): 2020

Author and Title: Dennis Park, COR

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement

Modification to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number:

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time & Materials Cost

Other:

Funds: OMA Other Funds:

Name of Proposed Contractor(s): Groundswell Consulting Group

Street Address: 8281 Greensboro Drive

City, State, Zip: McLean, VA 20190

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

Basis for Approval (FAR 6.303-1(d)): Individual Basis Class Basis

The total estimated value of the proposed action, including all options is $ 625,000.00

Purchase of the Unified Dynamic Case Management (UDCM) Solution, the Position Description Management Solution and associated configuration. There is one potential optional task, should configuration be necessary.

4. Authority and Rationale: Identify the statutory authority, FAR title and FAR citation permitting other than full and open competition. It may be one of the following most commonly used citations by the operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), but other exceptions may apply per FAR Subpart 6.3.

Actions other than simplified acquisition procedures (select only one and provide an explanation):

FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, 41 U.S.C.

3304(a)(1)

The Unified Dynamic Case Management (UDCM) Solution [Unlimited Applications] and the Position Description Management Solutions are uniquely provided by Groundswell. Groundswell is the only known source of the UDCM and the Position Description Management solutions. These solutions are built on Appian, a product that PSC has already implemented in 2018 and are the only case management products available on the Appian AppMarket. It is essential that the software is already pre-developed for the Appian platform (aka Appian Accelerator).

FAR 6.302-2: Unusual and compelling urgency, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2)

FAR 6.302-5: Authorized or Required by Statute, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5)

Other (See FAR Subpart 6.3 for additional authority)

Provide a full explanation to justify use of the exception.

5. Agency Actions to Take or Remove Barriers That Led to Other Than Full and Open Competition (If applicable):

Describe the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration prior to any subsequent acquisition for the supplies of services is made. If no such actions have been taken, explain why.

The Government has and will continue to conduct thorough market research to gauge the marketplace capabilities for future requirements of Appian accelerators to determine whether or not similar product available.

6. Bridge Contracts:

n/a

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

A notice was publicized, at https://beta.sam.gov/, as required by FAR subpart 5.2. The only written response to the synopsis was a question pertaining to whether or not there was an incumbent contractor. No other sources expressed, in writing, as interest in the acquisition. It is not known at this time if subsequent acquisitions of the supplies is required, but if a similar requirement arises, every effort will be made to compete it to the maximum extent possible.

8. Market Research:

The Government requires a cloud-based software tool to assist with defined and ad hoc workflow tracking to be utilized on an existing Appian platform (rebranded as PSC WorkSmarter). In May of 2020, the Agency attended AppianWorld which showcased one of many pre-built products on the Appian platform that companies have built including Groundswell’s UDCM. The Agency performed additional research on the Appian AppMarket place (Appian’s storefront for pre-built application) to see what similar pre-built tools were available and found only Groundswell’s product could meet the Agency’s HR tracking needs. Additionally, the Agency was informed that the U.S. Treasury, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) was using this same product for their HR Tracking and reached out OCC for additional information. Finally, the Agency considered developing something similar from the ground up, but determined this was not a feasible solution. Since this product provides a pre-built solution to automate defined and ad hoc workflow flows and is being used elsewhere in the Federal Government to solve the same HR issues, the government has determined it to be most advantageous to proceed with a sole source acquisition.

9. Procurement History:

Purchase order or contract number: n/a

Was action competed? Yes No

If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale, and describe the actions that were supposed to be taken to increase competition and the results thereof:

10. Additional Information to support the justification:

11. Technical / Requirements Certification: By my signature below, I certify that the supporting data included in this J&A is accurate and complete.

Program Manager

Name: Martin Engel

Position Title: (acting) Chief Technology Officer

Email address: martin.engel@psc.hhs.gov

Phone: 2014924744

Program Manager Supervisor (or one level above Program Manager)

Name: Michon Kretschmaier

Position Title: Senior Advisor

Email address: michon.kretschmaier@hhs.gov

Signature:

Date:

12. Fair and Reasonable Price/Cost Determination: As Contracting Officer, by my signature below, I hereby determine that the anticipated price/cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

Before award, the contracting officer will ensure that the pricing is fair and reasonable. The contracting officer will perform a price analysis, reviewing items such as the prices paid by other federal agencies, price lists or requesting supporting documentation to support the price.

Name: Jason Smurthwaite Phone: (385) 285-7384

Signature: Date: 08/26/2020

13. Contracting Officer's Approval (Required for proposed contract not to exceed $700,000 (value calculated including all options)): I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I approve this justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herin describe have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Name: Jason Smurthwaite Phone: (385) 285-7384

Signature: Date: 08/26/2020

14. Legal Review:

Ann M. Kretschmaier -S Digitally signed by Ann M. Kretschmaier -S Date: 2020.08.04 12:21:01 -04'00'

Jason D.

Smurthwaite -S

Digitally signed by Jason D. Smurthwaite -S DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=HHS, ou=PSC, ou=People, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=2002230015, cn=Jason D. Smurthwaite -S Date: 2020.08.26 10:27:58 -06'00'

Jason D.

Smurthwaite -S

Digitally signed by Jason D. Smurthwaite -S DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=HHS, ou=PSC, ou=People, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=2002230015, cn=Jason D. Smurthwaite -S Date: 2020.08.26 10:29:31 -06'00'

15. OPDIV Competition Advocate Approval (Required for proposed contract over $700,000 but not exceeding $13.5 million value calculated including all options)):

I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

16. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization:

I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

17. OPDIV HCA Approval (Required for proposed contract over $13.5 million but not exceeding $68 million value calculated including all options)):

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

18. Department Competition Advocate:

Concur: Non-Concur:

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

(The below approval paragraph is required if the cumulative contract value, including all options, exceeds $68 million.)

19. HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) Approval:

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve other than full and open competition for the above stated procurement, subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

State supplies/services being procured:

Purchase of the Unified Dynamic Case Management (UDCM) Solution, the Position Description Management Solution and associated configuration. There is one potential optional task, should configuration be necessary.

State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304:

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date: