A04_-_J+A.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

ACQUISITION

DIRECTORATE

7 February 2017

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SOLICITATION HQ0034-17-T-XXXX

REFERENCE(S):

a. FAR 6.302-1

b. FAR 6.303

c. 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)

d. 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1)

1. AGENCY IDENTIFICATION

Contracting Activity: Washington Headquarters Services (WHS)

Acquisition Directorate (AD)

Requiring Activity: Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (OUSD) Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L) / Deputy Assistant Secretary of

Defense (DASD) Command, Control, and Communication (C3), Cyber, and Business Systems (C3CB)

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION

AT&L DASD C3CB requires the purchase of AIMMS software in support of Cyber efforts.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES AND/OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET AGENCY NEEDS

DESCRIPTION QTY UNIT COST EXTENDED COST

AIMMS Desktop Licenses 2 $19,260.00 $38,520.00

Robust Optimization

Solver 2 $4,420.00 $8,840.00

Pro-Rated 2016 Standard

Maintenance 1 $1,184.00 $1,184.00

ESTIMATED TOTAL $48,544.00

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One (1) 12-month base period with four (4) 12-month option periods.

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

FAR 6.302-1: Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy

Agency Requirements

5. J&A RATIONALE AND/OR DEMONSTRATION OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SUPPLIES AND/OR SERVICES

AT&L C3CB requests the procurement of Advanced Integrated Multidimensional Modeling

Software (AIMMS). The software will provide an innovative mathematical modeling environment in which to perform more sophisticated analysis, in particular solving large-scale optimization problems. C3CB will be able to fully utilize AIMMS immediately by implementing a prototype optimization that is already developed. Additionally, since

AIMMS provides modeling flexibility and valuable modeling features to handle a wide range of problem types, C3CB will be able to employ the software as a long-term modeling solution. The Contractor team has four years of experience developing mathematical models using AIMMS and has displayed expertise in fully utilizing the software.

We chose AIMMS because it has capability/functionality that other options do not have which are necessary or extraordinarily helpful for development.

The models we are to develop are very complex and require a high-end solver; else running times can be days, weeks, or longer. AIMMS comes with the CPLEX Solver, which is necessary, and thus removes options such as SAS/OR and Mathematica from consideration.

AIMMS supports optimization when there is uncertainty in the input data which makes

Stochastic and Robust optimization necessary for our modeling efforts. Few software options support Stochastic Optimization (AIMMS, MPL) without severely increasing development time. Only AIMMS directly adds a Robust Optimization capability (MPL does not).

AIMMS supports simulation and other options would need that analysis to be done in another program. AIMMS also provides useful development tools, such as debuggers and program analyzers, which are entirely unique to AIMMS and speed up development time. Other

AIMMS capabilities include: Reads Microsoft Excel and Access files, easily manipulating data without reimporting, creating user interfaces and visualizations instantly to interpret results from the analysis. Other options (MATLAB, R) lack some or many of the unique capabilities AIMMS offers, and also require a significant amount of written code, which significantly increases development time (days to weeks, or weeks to months). Careful analysis was done to ensure we are choosing the right software to meet the needs at the lowest cost and time to the government.

6. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO SOLICIT FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS

PRACTICABLE

See Item 8.

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION

The price of the acquisition being justified in this document will be determined to be fair and reasonable by comparing the proposed price to the Independent Government Cost Estimate, as market research performed by the contract specialist did not reveal any commercial price lists or GSA Schedule 70 prices (see Item 8).

8. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH AND ITS RESULTS

Upon receipt of the requirement, the contract specialist began researching AIMMS for the purpose of determining if the requirement could be satisfied via competition on the GSA

Schedule 70 Federal Supply Schedule contracts. A search of GSA eLibrary and GSA

Advantage did not reveal any sources of AIMMS software on the Federal Supply Schedules.

The contract specialist then reached out to AIMMS directly, in order to determine if AIMMS works with third-party resellers. If AIMMS had third-party resellers, then the requirement could be competed among several vendors. However, in a letter dated 23 January 2017, AIMMS confirmed that they are the sole manufacturer of the AIMMS software, and that they do not have any authorized third-party resellers.

While the contract specialist waited for AIMMS’ response to their inquiry, the contract specialist sent a draft J&A to the requiring activity, requesting a detailed rationale for going with a brand-name, sole-source solution. The detailed rationale is contained above in Item 5.

9. ANY OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS

None.

10. LIST OF OTHER INTERESTED SOURCES (IF ANY)

None.

11. STATEMENT OF ACTIONS (IF ANY) THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE/OVERCOME

BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITIONS

Unless and until DASD/C3CB replaces or otherwise no longer requires the specified software, there are no other actions to be taken.

CERTIFICATION

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Prepared by:

JONATHAN BERTSCH

Contract Specialist

WHS/AD

Approved by:

STAS BLAUSHILD

Contracting Officer

WHS/AD