CUI-SP-PROCURE_FSS SSJ Above SAT RFO Part 8 Form_ITA_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.

Procurement Overview: The Department of Education is procuring Integrated Technical Architecture (ITA) services through a sole-source BPA with an estimated value of $778,180.80 under Action ID 4938. The ITA is an enterprise platform providing common technical architecture, shared services, and enabling technologies required to develop, deploy, host, secure, and sustain Federal Student Aid (FSA) applications. The services are being acquired from the Federal Supply Schedule (GSA contract) through an order exceeding the SAT.

Justification and Authority: The sole-source justification is based on GSAM/R 538.7104-3(b)(ii), which permits sole-source procurement when only one source is capable. The department determined that PPS InfoTech, LLC is the only contractor currently operating within the ITA environment with the immediate operational access, critical institutional knowledge, and established integrated support processes necessary to maintain uninterrupted FSA system operations. The justification emphasizes that service disruption would cause immediate operational disruption across FSA systems. This bridge task order is temporary, scheduled for completion in March 2027, after which ITA services will be decommissioned and absorbed into Partner Connect and the FSA Cloud Vision initiative. The contracting officer determined the pricing represents fair and reasonable value, and that continued performance by the incumbent contractor represents the lowest-risk and lowest-total-cost alternative during the transition period.