J A_Brand_Name_MOS.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A)

Exception to Fair Opportunity – Brand Name

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

Exam Vouchers for DoDEA

1. Contracting Activity: DoDEA, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA, 22350.

2. Description of Action: Approval for award of a Firm-Fixed Price, Requirements Contract for approximately 200 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam vouchers in the base year and approximately 1,000 each option year. The proposed procurement will be conducted under the authority of FAR Parts 12 and 13. Fiscal year 2014 Operations and Maintenance funds will be used for this procurement. The period of performance will be for a base period of 12–months with four 12-month option periods. Performance will begin upon award of a delivery order. The estimated total dollar value for the base and option periods of this requirement is 000000.

3. Description of Services: This requirement is a contract to provide MOS exam vouchers for use by students in DoDEA schools systemwide.

4. Authority Cited: FAR 13.501(a), a sole source acquisition (brand name) under the authority of the test program for commercial items (section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996).

5. Rationale for Limiting Sources: DoDEA offers high school students MOS classes. At the end of the course, students who meet rigorous pretest requirements are able to seek qualification as a certified Microsoft Office Specialist. The MOS test is the only accepted industry standard test that leads to that certification and therefore is essential to the Government’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of other tests.

6. Effort To Obtain Competition: Significant market research was performed over the last six

(6) months that showed there is no other product that meets the educational needs of

DoDEA’s students in providing the MOS certification. Without new and comprehensive offerings on the market, the MOS exam is the only option available to fulfill this requirement. However, DoDEA will continue to pursue all potential solutions for future requirements.

Although there are no other tests that meet this requirement, there are multiple resellers able to offer this test. As such, DoDEA expects competition.

7. Market Research: Thorough market research was completed, and no other test was found which met DoDEA’s requirement. Market research will continue relative to this requirement throughout the life of the contract. Should new vendor(s) emerge, all interested parties will be given an opportunity to compete for future requirements.

8. Interested Sources: To date no other interested sources have expressed an interest in this requirement which will be synopsized in the Federal Business Opportunities website.

9. Actions to Increase Competition: DoDEA will continue to stay abreast of current market conditions by conducting market research in an effort to allow full and open competition on future requirements. The results of the market research will be evaluated to determine the most advantageous path forward for DoDEA and the US Government, including whether to compete the requirement rather than exercising the option years.