J-A_20-10.pdf

Justification for Other than full and Open Competition New Core Interface Solutions (NCIS)

1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity and specific identification of the document as a “Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition.”

Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street SW Washington, DC 20410

Contracting Activity: Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Headquarters

2) Nature and/or description of action being approved.

Approval is being sought to enter into a six-month extension with 2ndWave LLC to provide uninterrupted and continuing support for the New Core Interface Solutions (NCIS) system. A sole source six-month extension via contract modification to contract DU100I-l7-C-02 will ensure continuity of services while a follow-on competitive acquisition is being conducted. Type of contract will be Firm Fixed Price. Extension will be funded with OCIO funds.

3) A description of supplies or services required to meet Agency’s need (including the estimated value).

Continuous service of the New Core Interface Solutions (NCIS) system is required to provide ongoing support to ensure there is a continuous reconciliation between the Administrative Resource Center’s Oracle Federal financials and HUD’s legacy systems (HUDCAPS). Contractor support is required to ensure the nightly transaction of HUD’s financial data requirements entered into HUD’s legacy systems correctly interacts with ARC’s Oracle system, and vice versa.

Period of Performance: 03/15/2020 through 09/15/2020 Total Estimated Amount:

4) Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 6.302-2, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2)Unusual and compelling urgency

J&A Control No. 20-10

5) Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

a. 2ndWave LLC located at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC; 202- 74 1-0232. As the contractor responsible for maintaining the system for the last three years, this contractor is essential to remain in place in order to keep the NCIS system operational. Continuous service of the NCIS system is required to provide ongoing support to ensure that funds are available in HUD’s systems to perform HUD’s mission. If funds are not available to grantees, such as Public Housing Authorities or Homeless Shelters, then this can result in evictions and the closure of homeless shelters. NCIS ensures that funds between the Administrative Resource Center’s Oracle Federal Financials and HUD’s legacy systems (HUDCAPS) are passed timely and securely. Contractor support is required to ensure the nightly transaction of HUD’s financial data requirements entered into HUD’s legacy systems correctly interacts with ARC’s Oracle system, and vice versa. Without contractor support, a disruption of service would be highly impactful on HUD’s mission. HUD’s financial information will not interface correctly, thereby causing disruption of service to all HUD’s program offices that rely on it. To expect a new contractor with no knowledge of the system to come in and maintain the current level of execution that is ongoing would be highly risky.

Awarding a six-month extension to 2ndWave LLC will ensure continuity of services an efficient transition to the successor contractor.

6) A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies

A competitive acquisition is currently underway to procure services under a new NCIS contract. This acquisition will solicit offers from as many sources as practicable. A notice will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2.

7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable0

The Contracting officer will determine that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonableness by conducting the appropriate price analysis based on the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) founded on historical pricing for the same or similar services, and on the negotiated direct labor rates under the current contract.

8) A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market Research was conducted for the competitive procurement effort currently underway for the recompete of NCIS services. (RCS-Q-2020-00022). Research was conducted by the COR and backup COR, initially on April 8, 2019, later modified on October 29, 2019, in support of the requirement for recompeting this need. The market research techniques used was a Request for information — received capabilities statements from prospective contractors as well as thorough internet searches of prospective companies. As a result, the capability statements reflect a sufficient pooi of vendors that would be able to provide the services.

9) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition?

A competitive follow-on contract is underway. This six-month extension will allow for continuity of services and allow for transition activities, credentialing of personnel, and provision of system access if a new vendor is selected. A minimum transition period of ninety days between vendors is required in order to avoid a break in critical services.

10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

No other sources have expressed an interest in this sole source action.

11) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

This is a one-time action and is being sought to allow sufficient time for a competitive acquisition to be awarded which will provide a long-term solution for NCIS services.

12) Contracting Officer Certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of Contracting Officer’s knowledge and belief.

See HUD Form 24012, Part 2.