GArtner_JA.Fully_ex_Redacted.FBO.pdf

Control Number: HQC007-18-34

The extensive research and analysis that has been accumulated over the last 8 years and that is specific to DeCA is vital to the organization. Gartner’s advisory and research services, to include strategies, processes, technologies, best practices, and analyst support, through their professionally skilled staff, have provided tailored and specific expert information in support of the Agency’s strategic and tactical plans. DeCA requires the capability to access credible, fact-based retail management strategies, processes, technologies, best practices and analyst support from a single, organized resource. Time and effort to research quality retail management topics maintains government efficiency and effectiveness. Currently, relevant Gartner research is made available to DeCA through an exclusive Web portal, covering a broad range of supply chain topics and best practices; providing a base of knowledge for supply chain and operations leaders to drive business results; focusing on competitive companies, products, markets, decision frameworks.

By continuing with Gartner, DeCA will benefit from the previous 8 years and $1.4M already invested into this project. If DeCA were to award a contract for these advisory services to any other vendor, at this point in the transformation, it would not be in the best interest of the Government. It’s anticipated that a new vendor would need 3- 9 months to get up to speed to become well-versed in the dynamics of our government retail grocery business and provide the respective third party objective advisory services necessary for our current strategic plan and continued momentum forward. Additionally, Gartner is a single source that offers IT and supply chain services in retail grocery technologies and which advises throughout the lifecycle; otherwise, the agency would incur, both, cost and time factors to obtain new individual contracts to provide individual fields of expert advisory support. These duplicated costs are not expected to be recouped through competition.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition – The PM and COR reviewed two additional advisory and research companies, however no other organization could provide the support needed without substantial duplication of cost.

7. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination – The price will be determined fair and reasonable prior to award.

8. Market Research and Interested Sources - Market research was previously conducted by the DoD and the Navy at the award of a DoD ESI BPA for advisory services. The DoD ESI Agreement was competed and a BPA was awarded to Gartner, Inc. on December 5, 2006 and expired April 30, 2018. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) conducted market research but was unable to find another BPA to utilize for this requirement. Market research conducted by the COR included a review of acquisition history and a review of possible competitors. Gartner has a GSA contract and is an interested source.

The results of the market research found that all previous acquisitions for this service, since FY 2010, have been awarded to Gartner, Inc. Other competitors researched did not meet the key parameters and attributes necessary for the research and advisory services, as required by the IT and the Supply Chain stakeholders. The necessary key parameters and attributes that only Gartner provides include the depth and breadth of traditional IT/CIO related research and analyst support, and also retail supply chain and retail grocery specific research and analyst support.

June 29, 2019

KIRKLAND.FLOYD.

L.JR.1067833224

Digitally signed by

KIRKLAND.FLOYD.L.JR.1067833224

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=DECA, cn=KIRKLAND.FLOYD.L.JR.1067833224 Date: 2018.06.29 15:28:44 -04'00'