ID03180062_US_LIA_Gartner_Limited_Sources_Justification_(redacted).pdf

ITSS Order ID: ID03180062 09/07/2018 GSA, FAS Mid-Atlantic Region

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

MODIFIED TO SHOW A BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

FOR

US Army Logistics Innovation Agency

Gartner Subscriptions

1. Identification of Requiring Activity and Contracting Activity:

The requiring activity is the US Army Logistics Innovation Agency (LIA) located at 54 “M” Avenue, Suite 4, New Cumberland, PA 17070

The contracting activity is the GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Mid-Atlantic Region located at 100 South Independence Mall West, Third Floor, Philadelphia, Pa, 19107.

2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved:

The action being approved is the use of Brand Name, Gartner, for the US Army Logistics Innovation Agency (USA LIA) requirement for research and advisory services. While this is a Brand Name action, the services required are commercially available under Gartner’s GSA Schedule 70 47QTCA18D008L which this requirement will be procured.

This Limited Sources Justification requests approval to purchase Team Leaders, Advisor Members and Essentials Members Gartner subscription services.

This requirement will result in a Firm-Fixed Price task order for the use of the Gartner subscription services for a period of one (1) year from date of award.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required To Meet the Agency's Needs:

To keep pace with the ever changing field of technology, the Requiring Activity needs expert-level, unbiased research, advisory, and analytical services that span a broad range of information technology topics and supply chain management issues. Such services are essential to help the agency’s Information Technology (IT) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) professionals develop strategic plans and make informed business decisions about the IT infrastructure and SCM processes that enable execution of their mission. The brand name services to be provided under the resulting task order include access to the extensive analysis, research documentation and tools available to subscribers through Gartner’s IT and SCM Leadership offerings, including role-based content, tool kits, best practices, IT and SCM key metrics, and peer community access.

Additionally, the contractor’s service offerings include providing independent advice to command IT and SCM professionals on current/emerging technologies and practices and associated issues. This service includes providing analyst support that will facilitate access to research, source materials, and provide the Government with a direct connection to Gartner subject matter experts.

An Independent Government Cost Estimate in the amount of $178,150.00 was provided by USA LIA via market research on the Gartner, Inc. GSA Schedule 70 contract, 47QTCA18D008L.

4. The Authority and Supporting Rationale for Limiting Sources Demonstrating the Contractor's Unique Qualifications to Provide the Required Supply or Service:

This is a sole source requirement to Gartner, Inc. and is a brand name requirement. FAR 8.405-6 requires an ordering activity to justify its actions when restricting consideration of schedule contractors to fewer than required in FAR 8.405-1 or 8.405-2. In accordance with FAR 8.405- 6(a)(1)(i)(B), " Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specia lized."

Gartner has partnerships with numerous government institutions, Fortune 1000 companies, and the Global 500, including major IT and SCM vendors and service providers. With operations in 90 countries, their analysts and consultants are constantly engaged in communications with a diverse base of clients and end users. Gartner supports more than 10,000 distinct organizations worldwide. This reach enables Gartner to make connections, understand patterns and discover trends that no other research firm can envision on an equivalent scale. Their massive reach fuels their knowledge base. As a result, Gartner is uniquely qualified as an independent consultancy possessing the requisite institutional knowledge on relevant IT programs and solutions located at large. Such corporate knowledge facilitates Gartner’s ability to deliver relevant technology-related insight in assisting IT and SCM professionals with key decisions.

Gartner is the only brand name, which meets its needs and is uniquely qualified to provide these services to the Government. This determination is based on the following description of Gartner’s unique qualifications:

Gartner has a specific business vertical dedicated to the federal government marketplace with a dedicated team of government analysts who create Civilian and DoD-focused research on the most critical government topics. It is the only objective IT research, advisory and consulting firm with a dedicated business-line supporting the Federal Government. In addition, Gartner can provide connection to 15,000 distinct organizations in all industries to help infuse commercial best practices into government initiatives.

Other IT and SCM research, advisory and consulting firms cannot provide the breadth and depth of resources and experience to provide the LIA with the needed guidance in emerging technologies, best practices, or best of breed solutions. Gartner’s employs 15,000 associates in 100 + offices around the world. Gartner supports approximately 300,000 professionals, 15,000 distinct organizations worldwide, including 73% of the Global 500. Comparatively, Gartner’s closest competitor in the market employed 1,345 associates in five research centers and only 27 locations worldwide (as of December 2018).

Gartner’s depth and breadth is further unmatched with the following research and analytical services that meet the needs of the US Army Logistics Innovation Agency (LIA) and cannot be obtained from any other source :

o The Magic Quadrant (MQ) is a series of reports that rely on proprietary qualitative data analysis methods to demonstrate market trends, such as direction, maturity and participants. Their analyses are conducted for several specific technology industries and are updated every 1–2 years.

o Gartner for Enterprise IT Leaders is for senior IT leaders in large, complex enterprises who are managing IT functions for a business unit or the entire enterprise. The Service is managed by a Gartner Leadership Partner and Client Manager who will tailor program deliverables to the unique needs of each Member.

o Gartner for Enterprise Supply Chain Leaders (the “Service”) is for senior supply chain leaders (“Members”) in large, complex enterprises who are managing supply chain functions for a business unit or the entire enterprise. The Service is managed by a Gartner Leadership Partner and Client Manager who tailor program deliverables to the unique needs of each Member.

Gartner subscriptions do not provide any type of direct support or managed services. Gartner performs analysis and develops recommendations objectively. Unlike other potential sources, there are no preconceived notions toward a specific hardware or software solution and Gartner has no downstream business impact based on their recommendation. This eliminates potential conflict of interests in providing un-biased research and advisory services.

5. Determination by the Ordering Activity Contracting Officer that the Order Represents the Best Value Consistent with FAR 8.404(d):

Pursuant to FAR 8.405 this action represents the best value to the Government.

Gartner services will be contracted through Gartner’s GSA Schedule 70 Contract, 47QTCA18D008L terms, conditions and prices.

It is in the government's best interest to procure the Gartner subscription services under GSA Schedule 70 Contract, as the Requiring Activity benefits from saving time and money, gaining a global perspective, and from leveraging the knowledge and advice that only a company with the size and experience that Gartner can provide. Gartner can help the government succeed by providing solutions and un-biased advice to a wide-range of technical challenges.

The required services offered on the schedule are listed at fixed prices. Further, in accordance with contract paragraph 14 ("Use of Group 70 Schedule Contracts"), the GSA Contracting Officer has already determined the prices under these contracts to be fair and reasonable. Discounts from the published pricing will be sought for any requirement that exceeds the maximum order threshold.

This order represents the best value, as defined in FAR 2.101 and results in the lowest overall cost alternative, considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc. to meet the Government’s needs.

6. Description of Market Research:

Market research via GSA Schedules and the World Wide Web confirmed that Gartner is the world's leading IT advisory service organization. Through in-depth analysis of the IT sector, Gartner provides a variety of advisory and decision-support resources that enable clients to implement strategic and tactical computing initiatives more effectively. Gartner conducts ongoing research which provides a detailed understanding of the significant topics, key developments and dominant trends in the IT marketplace that affect government organizations.

It is determined that given current market capabilities no other source can equal the breadth and scope of IT and SCM consultative and analytical services or provide access to the volume of research documentation, on-line webinars, peer insights, and global conferences available through Gartner.

7. Other Facts Supporting the Justification:

The use of the Gartner’s GSA IT Schedule will decrease costs, reduce paperwork, and save time by using a streamlined purchasing mechanism for the Government that works better and costs less.

8. Actions the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers that Led to the Restricted Consideration prior to Subsequent Acquisition For the Supplies or Services:

Prior to any subsequent actions, the contracting activity will conduct market research to determine if any other firm can provide services of comparable degree in the future.

Contracting Officer's Certification:

I certify that the foregoing justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

, Contracting Officer Date GSA/FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region

CERTIFICATION:

As evidenced by signatures below, the technical and contracting personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein is both accurate and complete.

Technical Representative Certification:

I certify that the foregoing justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

,Logistics Management Specialist/G-4 Studies Coordinator, HQDA, G-4US Army Logistics Innovation Agency

, PCS Contract Specialist for GSA Date GSA/FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region