IB08 LSJ W9124D-21-Q-0066 iPERMS Redacted.pdf

Control No: KNOX-SAT-2021-0016 IPERMS HW Maintenance

Version – February 2017

Memorandum for Record – Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified

Acquisition Threshold

1. Contracting Activity: Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Center – Fort Knox, 199 6th Avenue, Suite 250, Fort Knox, Kentucky 40121-7520

2. Description of Action: The US Army Human Resources Command (HRC), requests a Limited Source Justification for the procurement of Networking Equipment for their Data Center.

Procurement History: Renewal

Contract Vehicle: CHESS-3H

Pricing/Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price

(FFP) Funds: Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA) FY: 2021

Brand Name Buy: Yes

3. Description of Services or Supplies: Three each IBM DataPower Gateway with HSM Card Appliance hardware maintenance and subscription renewal; IBM part number E0KFTLL, Provides 24x7 software support, patches, and upgrades. Three each IBM Integration Module for IBM DataPower Gateway Appliance software subscription and support renewal; IBM part number E0KGVLL, Provides 24x7 software support, patches, and upgrades. HRC requests a Limited Source Justification for procurement of the following items:

a. Three each IBM DataPower Gateway with HSM Card Appliance hardware maintenance and subscription renewal. IBM part number E0KFTLL. Provides 24x7 software support, patches, and upgrades.

b. Three each IBM Integration Module for IBM DataPower Gateway Appliance software subscription and support renewal. IBM part number E0KGVLL. Provides 24x7 software support, patches, and upgrades.

Total Value

4. Authority: FAR 16.505(a)(4) Brand Name

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

a. The interactive Personal Electronic Records Management System (iPERMS) provides Army Soldiers with 24x7 electronic records management, retrieval and archival for all Soldier records. The iPERMS team provides this service using a robust

Version – February 2017 and extensive information technology infrastructure. Central to the success of this infrastructure are the IBM WebSphere hardware appliances and software, which provide the operating systems and repositories for Soldier records. The iPERMS staff requires support and subscription services to facilitate continuous operations that only IBM or its authorized resellers provide. This procurement provides those services and consists of the items listed above in paragraph 3.

b. iPERMS is an internet centric web based records management system. It provides Soldiers with global access to their military personnel records. Currently there are over 200 million documents in the system. The IBM DataPower equipment and software provide iPERMS with an ability to connect networks and systems within its network.

These systems provide the platform for security and integration gateways enabling Soldiers to securely view their records while enabling iPERMS to ensure its security. In the event that the existing maintenance and support contract is not renewed, iPERMS’ ability to maintain its systems would be at risk of catastrophic failure. This could involve a potential breach of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from over 200 million records.

c. The Human Resources Command (HRC) iPERMS Directorate has an investment of approximately the IBM Integration Module for IBM DataPower Gateway hardware and software applications. In order to ensure efficient operations of this equipment, HRC requires a maintenance contract that provides specific support for the IBM equipment listed in paragraph 3 b.

d. HRC’s only alternative is to invest in an alternative hardware and software suite and to obtain the services of the alternative vendor. This is prohibitive from a cost, labor, and time perspective. Authorizing an investment in excess of to replace equipment that is not at the end of its lifecycle is nonsensical. Replacement of the existing equipment and software suites would require retraining of the current workforce to ensure effective operations. The time required to install, program, train the workforce, and implement new equipment and software has not been planned for because the current equipment is operational.

6. Publicizing Contract Actions: For FAR Part 16 actions, the public display and synopsis requirements of FAR 5.101 does apply due to the dollar threshold, however due to exception at 5.202(a)(6), The proposed contract action is an order placed under subpart 16.5. When the order contains brand-name specifications, see especially 16.505(a)(4).

Requirement to post justification in accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A), action is a brand name restriction, over and will be redacted and posted with the solicitation.

7. Market Research: A review of CHESS ITES-3H indicated that more than one authorized CHESS vendor should be capable of satisfying this requirement. HRC conducted a CHESS request for information (RFI) and determined that there were thirty

Version – February 2017 one vendors listed as IBM vendors. At the conclusion of the RFI, HRC received information that three vendors were able to support this requirement.

8. Other Facts:

Procurement History:

Contract: W52P1J-14-A-0003 W9124D18F0065 Contractor: FOUR LLC Award Date: 01 April 2018 Competitive Status: This requirement was solicited unrestricted to the DOD ESI BPA holders.

Contract: W52P1J-15-D-0006 W9124D20F0252 Contractor: FOUR LLC Award Date: 01 April 2020 Competitive Status: This requirement was solicited via the CHESS contract.

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.

10. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon price analysis.

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.

Michelle L. Bell Date: See electronic signature.

Contracting Officer