Bloomberg_-_Sole_Source_Justification_FAR_13_501_REDACTED_1.pdf

United States Department 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

CONTRACT #140D0421C0012

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 (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), Division 2, Branch 1, for Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

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

This is a renewal of HHS-OIG’s subscription to Bloomberg Law and ancillary electronic docket and courier services; although this is the initial acquisition of these services by

AQD/IBC/DOI.

The FFP order will be awarded to:

Bloomberg Industry Group 1801 S. Bell Street Arlington, VA 22202 703-341-3000

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

This contract will renew the subscriptions to Bloomberg Law and its associated services, to include Bloomberg Law Health Law and Business News, Bloomberg Law Health Law Practice Center services, and the ancillary electronic docket and courier services.

The total estimated value of this acquisition (12-month Base, plus four option years) is $419,825.25.

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).

PR/SOL/CONTRACT # 140D0421C0012

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

The Bloomberg services currently being provided Bloomberg are unique with regard to databases, search functions and presentation. Moreover, publications that are exclusive to Bloomberg (Bloomberg Law Health Law and Business News, Bloomberg Law Health Law Practice Center Services) are also a part of this package and heavily used by the OIG. The HHS-OIG staff is proficient and trained using these services. After researching how federal organizations acquire legal research services, it is evident that organizations usually maintain the same services due to staff proficiency and lessons learned. There are a multitude of intents to sole source for various legal research service packages at any given time on the government contracting opportunities portal.

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.

A notice of intent to sole source the requirement was posted to the Contract Opportunities section on the sam.gov portal on August 13, 2021 with instructions to contact the contracting officer via email on or before August 20, 2021 with any interest or questions regarding any other provider’s qualifications to fulfill this requirement. As of the posted deadline of August 20, 2021 (also, as of August 23, 2021), no responses, inquiries or submissions were sent to the contracting officer regarding this acquisition.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

This price will be fair and reasonable based upon market research and knowledge of previous contracts for similar work. Information regarding the cost of these services is readily available on the internet. The yearly escalation in price is anticipated to be acceptable comparative to other similar contracts and previous contracts for similar work that this contractor has held.

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.

Market research was conducted and resulting evaluation was completed. No reseller or other entity is capable of providing the services (Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Law Health Law and Business News, Bloomberg Law Health Law Practice Center Services) sought via this acquisition. Bloomberg Law services are provided exclusively through Bloomberg Industry Group. Similar services (Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, etc) are available with their own unique attributes, but their publications are not relied upon by the HHS-OIG in everyday business. A survey of the prices for these legal research services showed a similarity in pricing.

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

As discussed in #7 above, since there are no other known sources at this time which can perform this specific work, a professional services contract is recommended.

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

No other sources have expressed an interest, in writing, in the proposed acquisition. See, Section 6 above.

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.

Market research will be conducted for subsequent acquisitions to determine if there are any other vendors in the marketplace that can provide this requirement.

Additionally, if market research provides no additional vendors, a notice of intent to sole source will be posted to the government point of entry in order to allow industry to respond.

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.

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.

COR Date

14. Reviews and Approvals

Concur

Branch Chief Date

Approve

Division Chief Date