IB02 Knox JA 2020_90 (SIGNED)_Redacted.pdf

Control No: MICC-2020-90 Contractor: TextRecruit, Inc.

Program/Equipment: Military TextRecruit Renewal

Version – March 2017 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY overall engagement, and create efficiencies for recruiters when it comes to attracting and communicating with candidates at scale. TextRecruit is already in use within the command. TextRecruit is the only program that can meet USAREC’s need for two-way messaging, message personalization, contact management, mass texting, reporting/ analytics, cloud-based suite, iOS platform supported, 24/7/365 live representative support, and available in-person training.

b. The TextRecruit product protects USAREC and the Government by meeting FedRAMP level 4 requirements. FedRAMP levels are DoD mandated requirements placed on cloud service offerings. The higher the level, the more secure data is within cloud services. Levels are based on the potential impact that certain events would have on an organization’s ability to accomplish its assigned mission, protects its assets, fulfill its legal responsibilities, maintain its day-to-day functions, and protect its individuals.

Recruiters cannot control what or how a potential candidate will respond to a text message. If a candidate sends PII information in a response, USAREC and the Government will be protected because the TextRecruit cloud servers meet FedRAMP level 4 data retention requirements as prescribed in Army Regulation (AR) 25-1 - Army Information Technology, and AR 25-2 - Army Cybersecurity. ARs 25-1 and 25-2 provide policies and procedures for protecting government information and equipment.

The more sensitive in nature the information is, the more security is needed as required in regulations. The regulation identifies reporting requirements if information is lost or stolen. No other mass texting products identified meets that requirement.

c. Alternatives. No alternatives exist due to the FedRAMP and Army Regulation security requirements for subscription based cloud programs to be used by DoD.

d. Impact if this justification is not approved. Without a sole source procurement of TextRecruit, degradation to the mission would occur due to a break in service, as a competition would extend the timeline of the acquisition beyond the period of performance of the current contract. Given that Market Research has identified TextRecruit as the only product capable of meeting the government’s needs, competition would result in the same outcome and would only serve to unreasonably delay the acquisition and increase the administrative burden on the government. Any gap in service would result in USAREC not having the capability to perform functions required for mass texting to engage possible recruits and meet the USAREC mission of recruiting tomorrow’s Army today. The intent of mass communication is to provide recruiters a tool to efficiently contact large quantities of potential applicants.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 5.101 and FAR 5.203 this brand name requirement will be synopsized with the redacted Justification and Approval (J&A).

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Market research was conducted as provided in paragraph 8 below. USAREC will continue to monitor the industry market for additional firms that have the capabilities to provide USAREC with an adequate candidate and