Top_Braid_Sole_Source_Redacted.pdf

COORDINATION AND APPROVAL DOCUMENT

(also known as Justification Review Document)

CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: Air Force Research Laboratory/RIK, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514

PURCHASE REQUEST/LOCAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: F4HBL15261A001

PROGRAM NAME (and Program Element, if applicable): STAMPEDE Ontology Development Acquisition (SODA)

ESTIMATED CONTRACT COST (including options):

TYPE PROGRAM: Other Contracting

AUTHORITY: 10 USC 2304(c)

TYPE J&A: Individual

COORDINATION

Program Manager: _______________________________________ _____________ Date Signed

Local Small Business Office: See DD Form 2579 for local Small Business Office approval.

APPROVED:

Date Signed

CONTRACTING OFFICER

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

I. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

AFRL/RIKO, 26 Electronic Pkwy, Rome NY 13441.

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING PROCESSED

The proposed contract award will be a new start, firm-fixed-price effort with TopQuadrant, Inc. to provide ontology development software and services in support of the “Semantic Templates for Assured Missions in a Proxy-Enabled Dissemination Environment” (STAMPEDE) effort

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS

Under the proposed contract, TopQuadrant shall provide the following supplies and services in support of the STAMPEDE program:

(1) Licenses of its TopBraid Enterprise Vocabulary Net (EVN) and TopBraid Live (TBL) products:

(A) EVN is a flexible, web-based solution for managing vocabularies. EVN is key to improving search, achieving clarity on enterprise terminology, aligning the meaning of data across data sources and ensuring optimal re-use, delivery and navigation of information.

(B) TBL is an intelligent business applications server for rapid implementation of solutions that integrate data, content, application services and user interactions.

(2) Technical Support & Maintenance, along with a Jumpstart package for installation, configuration and guidance use of its software.

(3) Structural analysis of ontologies developed under the STAMPEDE program.

The support period of this effort will expire one year from date of award.

IV. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

10 USC 2304(c), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement.

V. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR NATURE OF THE

ACQUISITION REQUIRES THE USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE (APPLICABILITY OF

AUTHORITY)

TopQuadrant previously submitted a proposal for the STAMPEDE BAA effort in which they planned to utilize their TopBraid Enterprise Vocabulary Net (EVN) and TopBraid Live (TBL) products to address that program’s objective.

Although the TopQuadrant proposal was not awarded, the reviewers noted these products provide unique enterprise capabilities that would be extremely useful for STAMPEDE development. Subsequently, the company was asked to submit another proposal to provide licensing for the above products, technical support & maintenance, a quick start package for installation and configuration, guidance use of the software and structural review by their staff of ontologies modeled under the STAMPEDE effort.

The TopBraid product suite combines world-class leading semantic web modeling capabilities with the most comprehensive data conversion options and a powerful Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for building semantic web and Linked Data applications.

For developer convenience, the TopBraid suite is implemented as an Eclipse plugin. Eclipse is an open source development platform consisting of the frameworks, tools and run-times needed for "building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle" ("Eclipse Forms Independent Organization". Press Release. Retrieved 2004-

02-04.) The main advantage of Eclipse is easier software development for interfacing with and accessing/utilizing the TopBraid tool suite.

The TopBraid Live component is an intelligent business applications enterprise platform providing rapid implementation of solutions that integrate data, content, application services and user interactions. The ability to provide semantic solutions on an enterprise-wide basis is unique to TopBraid after a review of current competing ontology development tools. Furthermore, this capability is crucial to the ultimate success of the STAMPEDE effort.

The contractor was asked to include in its proposal technical support above and beyond normal installation, configuration and troubleshooting by having their senior staff provide a structural analysis of all ontologies developed by the STAMPEDE contractor. The rationale for this addition is to ensure the STAMPEDE ontologies developed are all properly formed and optimized for efficiency within TopBraid. TopBraid’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder would be providing the technical expertise; he has extensive experience in ontology development and intimate technical knowledge of his company’s products. This extensive database of knowledge cannot be matched by any other provider.

The products and services described above are not otherwise available to the Government and do not resemble the substance of any pending competitive acquisition.

VI. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS

MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS DEEMED PRACTICABLE

Solicitation of the original STAMPEDE BAA program resulted in only TopQuadrant submitting a proposal from the semantic ontology development tool community. The subsequent review of TopBraid product suite enterprise capabilities compared to its competitors revealed TopQuadrant’s capabilities in this area are unmatched by the rest of the industry.

A Pre-solicitation Notice outlining the Government’s intent to make a sole-source award to TopQuadrant was posted to FedBizOpps between 22-25 September 2015. No responses to this notice were received to give an indication that a company other than TopQuadrant could fulfill the requirement.

VII. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE

GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer anticipates the cost to Government will be fair and reasonable based on a complete analysis of the contractor’s prices in accordance with applicable FAR provisions. Commercial price lists, procurement history and other available pricing information will be reviewed. A determination of fair and reasonable pricing as required by statute and regulation will be made by the Contracting Officer.

VIII. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS, OR A

STATEMENT OF THE REASONS MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED

Market research of current ontology development tool suites revealed TopQuadrant’s TopBraid product suite is one of the premier semantic development environments as judged by the respective user community. TopBraid enterprise capabilities – essential to the successful completion of the STAMPEDE effort - are unmatched by its competitors.

IX. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

The TopBraid product suite has been utilized within AFRL/RIS for a number of years and is fairly well understood.

The STAMPEDE contractor also has significant expertise using this tool suite and will be utilizing it for development.

Using any other semantic tools will involve a significant learning curve, along with the time and expense related to building an enterprise capability from scratch.

X. LIST OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION

TopQuadrant Inc.

XI. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR

OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE MAKING SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITIONS

FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED

No further actions are planned at this time with respect to future acquisitions as this procurement is a one-time software purchase and the effort it will support is not expected to be awarded a follow-on contract.

XII. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION

The contracting officer’s signature on the Coordination and Approval Document evidences that he/she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

XIII. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL’S CERTIFICATION

As evidenced by their signatures on the Coordination and Approval Document, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.