I.A.8. JA _AMPL Renewal (Limited-SAT) _FINAL_signed_REDACTED.pdf

KNOX-SAT-2021-0012

Memorandum for Record – Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified Acquisition

Threshold

1. Contracting Activity: Agency/Contracting Activity: Mission Installation Contracting Command- Ft. Knox, KY (MICC-Fort Knox)

2. Description of Action: Renew Maintenance for A Mathematical Programming Language (AMPL) & CPLEX Software License Keys

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement

Contract Vehicle: Purchase Order Number Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Number _ Order/BPA# against FSS Contract # Order # against Multiple Award IDIQ Contract Name or

Order # against a single award IDC Contract

Modification # to existing PO/TO/DO/Call Order #

Pricing/Contract Type: Fixed Price Time & Materials/Labor Hours Cost Reimbursable Hybrid (insert percentage of each contract type)

Funds: Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA) Other Funds:

FY: 2021

Name of Proposed Contractor(s) and Address:

AMPL Optimization Inc.

211 Hope Street #339 Mountain View, CA 94041, U.S.A.

Brand Name Buy: Yes No

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

A Mathematical Programming Language (AMPL) is a comprehensive and powerful algebraic modeling language for linear and nonlinear optimization problems, in discrete or continuous variables.

Developed at Bell Laboratories, AMPL lets you use common notation and familiar concepts to formulate optimization models and examine solutions, while the computer manages communication with an appropriate solver. AMPL's flexibility and convenience render it ideal for rapid prototyping and model development, while its speed and control options make it an especially efficient choice for repeated production runs.

The CPLEX Optimizer was originally developed by Robert E. Bixby and sold commercially from 1988 by CPLEX Optimization Inc. which was acquired by ILOG in 1997 and ILOG was subsequently acquired by IBM in January 2009. CPLEX continues to be actively developed by IBM. The IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer solves integer programming problems, very large linear programming problems using either primal or dual variants of the simplex method or the barrier interior point method, convex and non-convex quadratic programming problems, and convex quadratically constrained problems solved via Second-Order Cone Programming (SOCP). The CPLEX Optimizer has a modeling layer called Concert that provides interfaces to the C++, C#, and Java languages. There is a Python language interface based on the C interface. Additionally, connectors to Microsoft Excel and MATLAB are provided. Finally, a stand-alone Interactive Optimizer executable is provided for debugging and other purposes.

A. Procure the following software:

a. Base Year - Renew maintenance AMPL single socket server license keys (QTY 2) and CPLE for AMPL 2 core server license keys (QTY 2) for 12 months

b. Option Year 1 - Renew maintenance AMPL single socket server license keys (QTY 2) and CPLE for AMPL 2 core server license keys (QTY 2) for 12 months

c. Option Year 2 - Renew maintenance AMPL single socket server license keys (QTY 2) and CPLE for AMPL 2 core server license keys (QTY 2) for 12 months

Period of Performance: 12/15/2020 to 12/14/2023 Total Value: $32,400

4. Authority: Select the appropriate authority below:

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization.

Or FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) and 8.405-6(b)(1)Brand Name FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A) Urgency FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) Only One Source is Capable FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C) Logical Follow-on

Or FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) Only One Awardee is Capable FAR 16.505(a)(4) Brand Name FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A) Urgency FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C) Logical Follow-on FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(D) Minimum Guarantee

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

Workforce Analysis Support System (WASS+) and the Civilian Forecasting System (CIVFORS) systems are currently the only tools that enable the Army to fully meet the emerging Army Human Capital Planning and Reporting requirements as outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2010 and Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1400.25, Civilian Strategic Human Capital Plan. AMPL/CPLEX software is used as the backbone of the WASS+ and CIVFORS system, which is used by Headquarters Department of Army as well as multiple major Army Commands to develop personnel requirements projections. It is critical that these systems are updated due to current system software and hardware end-of-life causing security vulnerabilities within the Non-classified Internet Protocol. The AMPL translator is proprietary software maintained by and available for purchase from AMPL Optimization Inc. (http://ampl.com/products/ampl/) which provides no independent external vendors for procurement. If we were to switch to another programming language such as General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) or Advanced Interactive Multidimensional Modeling System (AIMMS), there will be an added cost of approximately $3,000 - $5,000 per person to adequately train our Developers to learn the new program. The government would also incur a cost of $15,600 to have two FTEs dedicated to rewriting, migrating and testing WASS+ to utilize GAMS or AIMMS. The $15,600 is based off 120 hours of work, at the hourly rate of a Software Engineer and Applications System Analyst. New license for a fully functional business system using GAMS and AIMMS is approximately $12,800 and $13,500, respectively, which exceeds the current renewal for AMPL at $10,800. It is more time and cost effective to continue to renew the existing maintenance for the AMPL and CPLEX software license keys. Therefore, exclusive maintenance renewal of licensing keys with AMPL Optimization Inc. is the best solution for the government. The total cost estimate for the WASS+/CIVFORS lifecycle tech refresh project is approximately $154K.

6. Publicizing Contract Actions:

For FAR Part 13 actions, the public display and synopsis requirements of FAR 5.101 and FAR 5.203 do not apply due to the $ threshold, apply and will be followed, or do not apply due to an exception at 5.202 . (Fill in exception).

Requirement to post justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3), FAR 13.105(c), or FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)

Action is NOT a brand name restriction and is under $150K, no posting required Action is a brand name restriction, under $25K, no posting required Action is a brand name restriction, over $25K. It will be redacted and posted with the solicitation.

Action is a brand name restriction over $25K but will not be posted due to exception:

FAR 6.305(f) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(iii)(A)

FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(iii)(B) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(iii)(C) FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(C)

7. Market Research:

The requiring activity conducted market research in October of 2020 which indicated this requirement cannot be fulfilled through CHESS. The AMPL translator is proprietary software maintained by and available for purchase from AMPL Optimization Inc.

(http://ampl.com/products/ampl/) which provides no independent external vendors for procurement. The CPLEX Optimizer is accessible through independent modeling systems such as AIMMS, AMPL, GAMS, OptimJ and TOMLAB. IBM only directly sells CPLEX as part of the ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio but through procurement with AMPL Optimization Inc., an interface to the CPLEX CP Optimizer would be included.

http://ampl.com/products/ampl/ http://ampl.com/products/ampl/

8. Other Facts:

Previous award was sole source action under contract number: W9124D20P0019 and

PR# 0011418966

9. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Kenneth Chen Title: Information Technology Specialist/COR Signature:

Digitally signed by

CHEN.KENNETH.C.1267471645

.C.1267471645 Date: 2020.12.02 14:26:59 -05'00'

10. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: This certification should be made by the Contracting Officer who will sign the contract resulting from this justification memorandum.

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon competition, pricing data from the offeror or contractor and historical data.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that completing this purchase as a sole source is in the best interest of the Government.

Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

BARNETT.MARSH

A.SUE.110461008

Digitally signed by

BARNETT.MARSHA.SUE.11046

10087 Date: 2020.12.03 08:49:08 -05'00'

Typed Name: Marsha S. Barnett Title: Contracting Officer Signature: