B06 Sole Source Memo_Redacted.pdf

Control No. 2020-WHS-0035

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES

FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

UNDER FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) 13.5

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

Agency Defense Acquisition University (DAU) 9820 Belvoir Road Fort Belvoir, VA 22060

Contracting Activity Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Acquisition Directorate (AD) 4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 09F09 Alexandria, VA 22350-2900

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: This action will be a new, Firm Fixed price FAR 13.5 purchase order, using FY 20 O&M funds.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: The government is purchasing access license to Coursera online training courses to meet FY 19 NDAA Section 891 requirements. Students will have access to extensive training in modern software development methods. This access will be available to students for one year upon initiation. Beyond the initial fee, there are no additional lifecycle costs. There are not options associated with this transaction.

Performance Periods

Performance Period Dates Amount

Base Period 22 Jan 2020 – 31 Dec 2020

4. AUTHORITY CITED: This action is under the procedures of under the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.5 under the authority of:

41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified Acquisition Procedures 41 U.S.C. 1903, Special Emergency Procurement Authority

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED: FY 19 NDAA section 891 requires the Defense Acquisition University to develop a course on agile software development for the training of certified acquisition professionals working on programs or projects using agile or iterative development techniques. The law goes on to specify that non-governmental instructors and content are to be used where applicable. Further, the law requires that this capability be available within 180 days of the law’s enactment. After conducting market research, it was found that only Coursera meets all of the necessary attributes to provide the statutorily required agile software development training.

DAU’s Engineering and Technology Center conducted a market survey of 5 agile training providers, listed below:

MIT Open Courseware Software Engineering Institute Mitre Corporation Coursera edX

A list of desired attributes was developed and are listed below:

(a) Depth of content coverage

(b) Instructional effectiveness

(c) Cost

(d) Online availability

(e) Capturing of the latest industry best practices

(f) Availability to meet 180 day delivery requirement

(g) Course administration

(h) Risk

As part of the market survey Mitre and SEI were contacted and preliminary proposals and cost estimates were obtained and evaluated. A review of MIT, Coursera and edX catalogs was conducted, specific course offerings were reviewed and actual courses were taken.

Skillsoft provided a capability statement in response to a pre-solicitation synopsis which was analyzed. The results of the market survey is summarized below:

Depth of coverage Effectiveness Cost Online Best Practices Availability Administration Risk

MIT

SEI

Mitre

Coursera edX

Skillsoft

Based upon the market survey results, Coursera was selected to provide the training for the online portion of the course. It offers fifteen different agile courses which can be tailored to meet the training needs of workforce members. These courses capture the latest industry practices and are taught by instructors from the University of Virginia and Canada’s University of Alberta in an effective online format.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: DAU’s Engineering and Technology Center conducted a market survey of 5 Agile training providers, listed below:

MIT Open Courseware

Software Engineering Institute Mitre Corporation Coursera edX

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION: The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated prices will be fair and reasonable by using the techniques identified at FAR 13.106-3 to ensure award will be at fair and reasonable prices.

Certified Cost and Pricing Data will not be obtained.

8. MARKET RESEARCH: DAU’s Engineering and Technology Center conducted a market survey of 5 Agile training providers, listed below:

MIT Open Courseware Software Engineering Institute Mite Corporation Coursera edX

A list of desired attributes was developed and are listed below:

depth of context coverage instructional effectiveness cost online availability capturing of the latest industry best practices availability to meet 180 day delivery requirement course administration risk

As part of the market survey Mitre and SEI were contacted and preliminary proposals and cost estimates were obtained and evaluated. A review of MIT, Coursera and edX catalogs was conducted, specific course offerings were reviewed and actual courses were taken.

Based upon the market research results, Coursera was selected to provide the training for the online portion of the course.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES: Angelo Group sent a capabilities statement in response to the 2019 pre-solicitation synopsis. However their capabilities statement was for development of new software and training courses. This requirement is for COTS online training. As such, this capabilities statement was rejected by the Contracting Officer.

10. Is this acquisition for a non-competitive follow-on acquisition previously awarded on a non-competitive basis?

Yes. A copy of the previous justification is attached1.

The Actions to remove any barriers to competition cited on the previous justification were completed:

Yes.

No2

No. This acquisition is NOT a follow-on requirement.

CERTIFICATION

I, hereby, certify that the supporting data under my cognizance included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Representative/Program Office Date

Contracting Officer Date

1 IAW PGI 206.303-2(b)(i)(B).

2 If no, then the approval of the J&A shall be IAW PGI 206.304(a)(ii).