BMC Control-M VA-26-00053592

BMC products. BEP Infrastructure currently processes payments for Veteran’s Benefits in excess of $9 million per month to approximately 7 million Veterans. BEP utilizes BMC Control-M for the scheduling and processing of batch jobs to include the main processing of all Veteran Compensation, Pension, and other Veteran Benefits in excess of 9 million per month. A change to the existing brand name BMC Control-M software would require a migration of the current on-premises system, a change in the scheduling software would require a change Interconnection Security Agreement/Memorandum of Understand (ISA/MOU) between the VA and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on previous history, it would take approximately two years just to complete these agreements since the IRS must complete an audit before any changes are made to this agreement. VA requires a seamless and integrated software solution that is compatible with and runs on existing Linux, Solaris, UNIX, and IBM Operating Systems. BMC Control-M software is the only batch scheduling software solution that runs on these operating systems, a critical VA requirement.

Selecting an alternate product would require the current architecture to be migrated requiring a duplication of time and cost that would include significant planning, code changes, testing which is estimated to take approximately 3 years. Additionally, no other manufacturer’s software licenses are compatible, or interoperable with the existing VA infrastructure such as Veterans Service Network (VETSNET), Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) and others which currently utilize BMC Control-M. The use of any alternative vendor software would require the redevelopment of interfaces for these systems and would require the current architecture to be migrated requiring significant planning, code changes, testing.

This would also necessitate that VA run two batch scheduling software in parallel while the interfaces were being developed and all migration and testing being performed. Based on previous acquisition history, VA technical experts estimate that this would produce duplicative costs estimated duplicative costs would not be recovered through competition.

Lastly, only BMC or an authorized reseller has access to the BMC Control-M SW subscription proprietary code and therefore can provide the subscription and support services to develop and implement software upgrades and updates to that code.

This access is required for the provisioning of the software as well as maintenance support inclusive of troubleshooting, updates, fixes, patches, and upgrades. This software and maintenance are vital to VA for continued sustainment of the VA’s ability to perform file transfers between agencies.

Failure to acquire the brand name BMC Control-M software and associated support services would prevent VA from scheduling and payment processing to 7 million Veterans in excess of $9 million dollars a month.

BMC Control-M VA-26-00053592

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in Section 8 of this justification. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government's requirements. However, it was determined that limited competition is available among SDVOSB authorized resellers for brand name IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation licenses, as well as software maintenance and support. In accordance with RFO VA Deviation 16.507-7(c)(1), this justification will be provided with the solicitation to all appropriate NASA SEWP V GWAC holders. Furthermore, in accordance with RFO VA Deviation 16.507-6(f)(1), this justification will be made publicly available on the Contracting Opportunities website within 14 days of award.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: In order to remove or overcome barriers to competition in future acquisitions for the requirements described herein, the Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: The Government’s technical experts conducted market research in March 2026 through internet-based reviews of similar batch scheduling software products, including IBM Workload Automation and Jenkins. Based on this analysis, the Government determined that neither product provides a seamless integrated solution that is fully compatible with Linux, Solaris, UNIX, and IBM operating systems. Although both products offer general capabilities for batch scheduling, selecting an alternative solution would require substantial duplication of time and costs as described above. No other manufacturer’s software licenses are compatible or interoperable with the existing VA infrastructure. Due to the proprietary data and code no other vendor has access to or can provide software maintenance and technical support for BMC Control-M OnPremise edition software subscription licenses and support.

Additional market research was conducted in April 2026 by the Contract Specialist utilizing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) provider lookup to identify prospective GWAC resellers of brand name BMC products. It was determined that there are multiple authorized resellers, including multiple SDVOSB resellers, of brand name IBM software products and offerings that hold current GWACs. Therefore, limited competition is expected among SDVOSBs for this proposed action.

9. Other Facts: None

Technical/Requirements Certification

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.