J and A Redacted_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

INTERIOR BUSINESS CENTER

Washington, DC 20240

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

AUTHORITY: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6 and 40 United States Code (U.S.C.) 501

Request for Quotation #140D0421Q0076

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program.

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Limited-Sources Justification.”

This document serves as a Limited-Sources Justification for the Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), Acquisition Management Division 1, Branch 4.

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

This is a justification for a logical follow-on in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C).

AQD requires a follow-on effort with Converge Networks Corporation, the vendor currently working under task order (TO) 140D0418F0160, General Services Administration (GSA) contract GS-10F-0292V.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs

(including the estimated value).

This requirement is for severable, non-personal, contractor support services in the acquisition of information technology (IT), Cloud services, and cyber-technology for DOI IBC AQD. AQD has a need for contractor support with significant experience in these competencies, in order to effectively meet our clients’ IT acquisition needs. The Government estimates the requirement’s value at over a period of performance (PoP) of 36 months.

4. The authority and supporting rationale (see FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i) and (b)(1)) and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)C – In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable FSS ordering procedures.

The original order or blanket purchase agreement (BPA) must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.

The requirement for IT acquisition services is currently being fulfilled on TO 140D0418F0160 on GSA contract GS-10F-0292V. TO 140D0418F0160 was competed on GSA as a small-business set-aside.

The contractor on the current TO has been actively involved in several requirements, including the two listed below:

order GS00Q17NSD3009 140D0420F0459 for EIS telecommunications services for the US Commission of Fine Arts, awarded on 8/17/2020; and, order GS00Q17NSD3003 140D0420F0501 for telecommunications services for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), awarded on 8/28/2020.

Transitioning the requirement to another vendor would create financial problems and inefficiency for AQD and its customers in numerous ways. It would disrupt contract administration of the aforementioned orders. The additional ramp-up time required for a new vendor would strain AQD’s current resources and take time away from other customers’ requirements. The risk knowledge loss during the transition would also likely cause delays in support. In summation, the current vendor associated with these orders is essential to the economy, efficiency, and continuity of services AQD provides to its customers.

5. A determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer (CO) that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

The CO has determined the order represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered, based on the following:

Review of rates in the vendor’s GSA contract GS-10F-0292V Review of labor rates for similar labor categories on GSACalc and professional services schedules Historical pricing for this requirement Requesting discounts beyond what is offered in the vendor’s GSA contract

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted to determine price reasonableness. See Market Research Report for further information on this. Market research was not conducted among schedule holders to determine competition, as this requirement will be a sole source action.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

N/A

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for supplies and services is made.

The authority at FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)C) may only be used if the order was not previously issued under sole-source procedures. As this order will be sole sourced, any subsequent requirement will not qualify for the aforementioned sole source authority and will be competed.