Data_Warehouse_and_Business_Intelligence_Extension.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

1. Agency, Contracting Activity and Document

The National Science Foundation, Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support proposes a Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity for IT Data Warehouse Business Intelligence.

2. Action Being Approved

The action to be approved is a 3-month extension to the existing Task Order NSFDACS14T1029 with Synectics for Management Decisions, Inc., (Synectics), in the amount of $2,250,000.00. This extension takes the end date from September 30, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

3. Description of Services

The vendor will continue to provide services for IT Data Warehouse Business Intelligence for an extension period of 3 months, from September 30, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The contractor shall provide NSF with ongoing support for mission essential and enterprise-wide data and analytics support, maintain proper information technology functionality, capabilities and interoperability necessary to successfully monitor, operate and maintain the existing data and analytics delivery systems. The contractor services are required to support key initiatives such as:

• NSF's Strategic Plan Objective 3.2 which states that NSF employs data-driven decision-making The contractor provides support to the Enterprise Data Warehouse which is NSF's central repository for all of NSF's administrative data.

• NSF's Director's Renewing NSF and Make IT Work for All priorities, through data delivery and innovative analytics. The contractor provides support to NSF's Chief Infoimation Officer (CIO) in developing innovative solutions which improve business efficiencies and reduce administrative burden. The contractor is currently developing a data and analytics driven solution to streamline the review analysis function.

• The President's Management Agenda, via Cross Agency Priority (CAP) Goal #2, Data Accountability and Transparency. The contractor is developing solutions that enable NSF to meet the PMA requirements of leveraging data as a strategic asset.

• The draft Federal Data Strategy Action Plan, which has identified 5 agency specific actions. The contractor will be integral in ensuring NSF meets the agency actions.

• The Foundations for Evidence Based Policy Making Act of 2018 which calls for evidence building plans and open data. The contractor will support NSF's objectives of meeting FEBP's requirements of establishing and maintaining the NSF Open Data Plan and a comprehensive data inventory.

The value of this extension is $2,250,000.00.

4. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B). Synectics is the only responsible source that can provide these services.

5. Contractor's Unique Qualifications

Synectics is currently performing these services under Task Order NSFDACS14T1029. Synectics is the only source capable of providing these services during this extension period because the services ordered are highly specialized. A new competition is currently being conducted, and disruption of services at this juncture would be detrimental to the Agency. Any attempt to solicit from other sources would result in failure of these services, and significant duplications of costs from what is currently being performed.

NSF relies heavily on knowledgeable, professional information technical support from Synectics, Inc. to achieve and sustain federal and agency mandates and mission critical priorities; and ensure our Enterprise Data Warehouse and Analytics infrastructure and services are maintained properly and remains secure and compliant with the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) and the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).

Synectics, Inc can seamlessly and efficiently maintain NSF's information technology infrastructure throughout the Task Order extension period due to their familiarity with NSF's current enterprise data and analytics environment and security protocols. An extension of the Task Order period of performance will ensure NSF receives consistent contractor support and subject matter expertise as we complete a competitive procurement for issuance of a new award.

Expiration of the Task Order at this time would be detrimental to NSF's Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence Support Services and information technology security operations. Not extending the Task Order would significantly hinder NSF's ability to support federal requirements and agency priorities. It would also significantly hinder NSF's ability to process an usually large backlog of work, caused by the Government shutdown in FY19. A full or partial degradation in NSF's Enterprise data and analytics operations would also limit the agency's ability to safeguard and exchange financial data, sensitive detailed agency reports to higher authorities, and personal identity information (PII) of NSF government and contractor staff.

The unintended access or disclosure of agency controlled financial, proprietary, unclassified, routine to highly sensitive and personal identify information (PIT) resulting from improper support and maintenance of NSF's information technology data and analytics infrastructure would seriously damage the public's trust in NSF's current and future ability to provide safe, reliable, secure, and trustworthy information technology infrastructure operations. NSF would also expect to incur additional cost to restore third-party vendor certifications, accreditations, and the public's trust resulting from a lapse in professional information technology implementation services including unacceptable exposure to operational vulnerabilities and security risk.

Based on the above information, an extension of the current Task Order for an additional three months is critical for ensuring maintenance of NSF's Enterprise data and analytics operations and infrastructure.

6. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Price

The Contracting Officer has deteiin ined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on the use of existing contract pricing for the extension period which has already been found to be fair and reasonable.

7. Additional Information

This requirement is currently being re-competed under the Government-Wide Acquisition Contract NIH-CIO-SP3 Small Business. Quotes have been received are currently almost finished being evaluated. We anticipate having the source selection completed by the end of October. There is a possibility that we go out for exchanges with the quoters, which is why the extra time has been built into this extension period.

8. Removing Barriers to Competition

This requirement is currently being re-competed under the Government-Wide Acquisition Contract NIH-CIO-SP3 Small Business. The RFQ was posted following the fair opportunity procedures outlined at FAR 16.505(b).

9. Certifications/Coordinations/Approval