CUI-SP-PROCURE_FSS SSJ Above SAT RFO Part 8 Form_ESB_08052026_FINAL_Redacted.pdf

This is a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Sole-Source Justification (SSJ) for a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

The procurement concerns the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), a technology platform delivering enterprise API and integration architecture as common, shared services used across FSA systems and applications to meet the agency's evolving business and technology requirements. The action ID number is 4893 with an estimated value of $661,015.00, and the Principal Operating Component is Federal Student Aid (FSA). The contracting activity is the FSA Contracts Operations Division (COD). The sole-source justification is based on GSAM/R 538.7104-3(b)(ii)—Only one source is capable—identifying PPS InfoTech, LLC as the only contractor currently operating within the ESB environment with immediate operational access, in-depth critical institutional knowledge, and established integrated support processes necessary to sustain the ESB ecosystem. A lapse in services would cause immediate disruption to mandatory FSA business operations across systems. The Contracting Officer has determined the order represents fair and reasonable pricing and best value to the Government. Market research conducted in May 2026 concluded that continuation with the incumbent contractor is the only approach capable of maintaining uninterrupted mission support during the transition period preceding award of a competitive follow-on contract. The ESB services are scheduled to be decommissioned upon completion of the bridge task order, with remaining services to be absorbed into the PAS/AIMS system, with final decommissioning expected by March 2027.