IA02_Knox JEFO 2024_71 W9124D24R0094-APPROVED Redacted.pdf

Control Number: MICC 2024-71

Justification Review Document for an Exception to Fair Opportunity � FAR 16

Program/Equipment: Salesforce proprietary licenses to support Human Resources Command�s (HRC) Command Assessment Program (CAP) and provide access to the Army Command Assessment Tool (ACAT).

Authority: FAR 16.505(a)(4) � Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer.

Prepared by:

Contracting Officer: JoDeen M. Cuffe Contracting Officer Email: jodeen.m.cuffe.civ@army.mil

Technical:

Requirements:

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. The US Army Command Assessment Program (CAP) vision is to create the premier human development organization that will maximize the unique contributions of every individual in the Army to accomplish any mission. CAP is a process designed to create a holistic picture of a candidate�s leadership readiness potential. The CAP uses a multitude of objective assessments to measure cognitive and non-cognitive abilities. To achieve this mission, CAP utilizes the Salesforce platform to facilitate the Army Command Assessment Tool (ACAT). Salesforce utilizes proprietary software to capture and collate assessment results. These results are at the core of the CAP. Without them, there is no purpose in undertaking the other CAP initiatives.

b. ACAT has been developed using Salesforce�s proprietary platform; therefore, only Salesforce licenses will support continued access to ACAT.

for CAP. If these licenses are not procured and ready to use, the entire program will come to a halt. The Salesforce platform licenses are integral to the overall CAP mission. This software is responsible for the management, redaction, communication, scoring, and reporting of CAP assessment scores in an accessible, secure, easy to use platform.

Furthermore, ACAT data on Salesforce provides crucial capabilities for historical analysis of the CAP program. Senior Leaders across the Army use the data provided by this assessment to identify those soldiers who are either unfit or unprepared for command and provides them with access to resources and training that will equip them for long, successful Army careers.

c. It is imperative that the licenses to the Salesforce platform, on which ACAT has been developed, are renewed. Last year the licenses were procured as part of an overall platform development contract for Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM). If CAP does not have access to these licenses, their entire program is at risk of mission failure and Army soldiers will have their command assignments indefinitely delayed. Also, military cadre and civilians with pre-arranged travel will be forced to cancel and reschedule their travel causing multiple issues with availability and possible increased associated costs to the Government.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: HRC utilizes multiple platforms to do market research and promote competition such as Simplified Acquisition Threshold Supply Procurement Program (S2P2), Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP), General Services Administration (GSA), and other Enterprise Service Agreements (ESA�s) in procuring IT requirements. HRC consistently reviews these platforms to stay informed regarding all availability of suitable licenses and replacement platforms from industry. The existing Salesforce licenses were acquired as part of the ACAT development contract. This procurement is the first to acquire licenses separately.

7. Market Research: Market research was limited to searching mandatory sources for availability of Salesforce licenses. Per AFARS 5139, all commercial information technology hardware and software, and information technology services, must be procured through the Army CHESS contract vehicle unless a statement of non-availability (SONA) and Information Technology Approval System (ITAS) waiver exists for the products or services. The software licenses are available from the IT mandatory source CHESS through the CHESS ITES-SW2 suite of contracts with 28 potential vendors. For the purpose of market research, HRC posted a request for quote (RFQ) # 475442 in CHESS ITES-SW2 on 1 January 2024 with responses due 5 January 2024.

The RFQ received three responses from vendors of varying business sizes indicating the product is available on CHESS ITES-SW2. No further search or publicizing of the action was taken.

8. Other Facts:

Procurement History:

Contract: 47QFSA19F0051 Description: Human Dimension Support Services (HDSS) Contractor: Booze Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Award Date: 1 September 2019