FAR_16_JA_Blackberry_Mobility_Suite-Final-Signed-2-13-2018_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION

FOR EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY FAR 16.505(b)(2).

1. Contracting Agency: Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). DoD OIG is the requiring activity.

2. Description of Supplies or Services required to meet agency’s need: The DOD OIG requires continued software and security support of wireless devices for 1,100 users. The software and security must meet the current DoD OIG and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) security requirements for wireless devices.

This procurement is for the purchase of the BlackBerry Enterprise Mobility Suite - Collaboration Edition licenses (1,100 users). The services will include BlackBerry Enterprise Mobility Suite - Collaboration Edition, Premium Service Manager, and BlackBerry Consulting. The support services of BlackBerry Mobility will cover the conversion from BlackBerry devices to the iPhone devices.

3. Description of Action: A firm-fixed-price Delivery Order (DO) will be issued against a National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement (NASA SEWP) contract. The contract action has a total estimated value of $503,776.38 for the base period and all option years. The period of performance will include a 12-month base period and two 12-month option periods. FY18 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available for the base period in the estimated amount of $163,793.16.

4. Authority: FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized. (Item is peculiar to one manufacturer).

5. Reason for Exception: The only software license support that currently support the conversion of the iPhone devices to the BlackBerry mobile iOS platform is provided by BlackBerry. The Department of Defense Office Of Inspector General (DOD OIG) is undergoing an agency-wide wireless phone modernization effort. The modernization is due to the phasing out of the old BlackBerry devices by the BlackBerry manufacturer. BlackBerry will however, continue to provide support of the software and security programs. The DOD OIG will upgrade all existing BlackBerry devices to iPhones. This change requires the licenses to be upgraded to allow the iPhone hardware to work on the existing secure BlackBerry mobile operating system (iOS) infrastructure.

The DoD OIG requires the BlackBerry Mobility Suite to support the agency’s existing mobile iOS platform that is configured and solely supported by the BlackBerry manufacturer at this time. The Dodi’s mobile devices have been operating on the BlackBerry iOS platform for the past several years. This platform enables the DOD OIG to maintain the mobility software and services with proper updates of software. In addition, this mobility suite provides BlackBerry engineering support, proactive diagnostic and operations system updates to keep the BlackBerry infrastructure optimized and facilitating the DOD OIG mission within and outside of the Continental United States. The migration to a new license/software system would require a lengthy testing and approval period that would jeopardized the security, wellbeing and will result in possible mission cessation and failure.

6. Efforts to remove barriers to/increase competition: At this juncture, changing to another manufacturer would not be practical. However, the DOD OIG will continue to review other products and pursue testing and deployment efforts, upon the availability of funds.

7. Market Research: The DOD OIG Chief Information Office (CIO) conducted market research to assess similar software licenses/systems to determine whether or not similar licenses/systems could meet the DOD OIG requirement. At this time there are no license/systems identified that are compatible with the BlackBerry environment or meets the needs of the DOD OIG.

The DOD OIG also performed a search of General Services Administration (GSA) Advantage, Department of Defense – Electronic Mall (DOD EMALL) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement (NASA SEWP). The results yielded three BlackBerry resellers capable of providing similar/identical services.

8. Other Facts: The previous requirement for the BlackBerry Mobility suite was restricted to the BlackBerry manufacture, however since BlackBerry has multiple resellers, the procurement was competed amongst BlackBerry dealers. The current support agreement expires on February 28, 2018.

APPROVAL

Approval is granted subject to the availability of funds and provided that the products/services described herein have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

9. Contracting Officer (required): I certify that the facts and representations included in this Justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. If limiting sources, be sure that the rationale above identifies one of the five circumstances shown in FAR 16.505(b)(2)(1)..

Signature: _ Date:

Print Name: ______________________________ Office: _____________________ Contracting Officer

Jerome Carter DoDEA

Jerome.Carter Typewritten Text 2/13/2018