JA DoDL Universal Class.pdf

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION March 2023 Page 1 of 5

Is this a new or amended J&A Document? New Amended ( Prior to Award Only! )

Is this a Bridge Action as defined in the AF Bridge Action Reduction Plan? Yes No

Funding level for this acquisition: >SAT and < $750K > $750K and < $15M

Contracting Activity: 773 ESS/PKA

Purchase Request / Local ID Number: HE15014191090

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): DoDL Universal Class

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): Other Contracting

Authority: AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 3572, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901)

AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 3403, Special Emergency Procurement Authority (41 U.S.C. 1903)

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): $589,539.60 Justification Type: Class Individual

COORDINATION ( AFFARS 5306 . 304 ( a)) ** The text in the signature blocks below is editable, including the title.

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X

APPROVAL (AFFARS 5306 . 304 ( a))

Date

26 Sep 2024

Flight Chief/PKA (Delegation authorized by 773 ESS/CC Clinton T. Minor III

773 ESS/PKA

Signature MINOR.CLINTON.11329 Digitally signed by

76941

MINOR.CLINTON.1132976941

Date: 2024.09.26 16:36:49 -05'00'

NOTE: If a Justification was approved for the preceding acquisition, a copy of the approved Justification for the predecessor action must be included in the staff package for approval of the instant Justification. This applies to Justification staff packages that are submitted for review and approval at a level above the contracting officer. The predecessor Justification will be used as a reference document by the approving official.

Sign and Save Procedure

Date

18 Sep 2024

Acquisitions Librarian, DAF Libraries Division Amie Stone

AFSVC/VCL, 210-395-7179

Signature STONE.AMIE.V.1282275 Digitally signed by

STONE.AMIE.V.1282275771

Date: 2024.09.18 15:49:17 -05'00'

18 Sep 2024

Contracting Officer Ernest J. Medina

773 ESS/PKA

Signature MEDINA.ERNEST.J.1133 Digitally signed by

258589

MEDINA.ERNEST.J.1133258589

Date: 2024.09.18 12:30:23 -05'00'

24 Sep 2024

Local Legal Reviewer Kent Grubb

DAF/JACQ - KLFSC, 210-240-2169

Signature GRUBB.KENT.H.107182 Digitally signed by

GRUBB.KENT.H.1071828090

Date: 2024.09.24 16:32:20 -05'00'

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION March 2023 Page 2 of 5

I. Contracting Activity.

773 Enterprise Sourcing Squadron 1517 Billy Mitchell Blvd, Bldg 954 San Antonio, TX 78236-1865

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

Due to circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to purchase additional content on the already established Universal Class subscription using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by FAR 13.106-1(b)(soliciting from a single source), and 13.501(a)(Sole source acquisitions). This individual action will result in the award of a new Firm Fixed Price Contract. This sole source requirement will be acquired from the following organization: Transparent Language.

The mission of DoD Libraries is outlined in DoDI 1015.10 stating DoD Libraries will provide information resources and services required to accomplish the mission. The DAF/DoD libraries support military personnel assigned to contingency operations, remote sites, and military missions IAW DoDI 1015.10, Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs. The program provides professional military and voluntary education programs materials and services. Libraries also provide facilities, resources, and services to enhance the quality of life, regeneration, and resiliency for authorized customers. These resources relate to various overarching goals of the DoD such as recreation, physical wellness, emotional resiliency, and educational pursuits.

To meet these needs, the DoD libraries must procure resources that can be accessed globally, including in areas with low or no internet access, and provide the below stated requirements. These resources need to include access to quality of life resources. The Universal Class is a vital leisure tool for DoD personnel. It supplies lifelong learning courses in over 30 subject areas and some with continuing education units (CEUs) that allows the DoD Libraries to complete their program mission. Access to Universal Class through computers, laptops, electronic devices, and mobile app offers more than 500 courses that are designed and led by professional instructors to build deeper understanding and mastery of subject matter. Universal Class includes videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and options for social media interaction with other learners. Users are not limited to the number of classes they can take but they can only enroll up to five courses at one time with six months to complete each course and all classes are self-paced. Continuing Educational Unit (CEU) Courses are offered and the typical time to complete a course is approximately 10 hours per CEU credit. Video-Audit Mode allows students access to 300 courses for learners wanting to review courses without assignments, tests, or certification. Learners starting a video-audit course may switch over to the CEU course at any time. Universal Class topics range from technical courses on computer software to digital photography to babysitting 101. It also has multifaceted learning styles with video-based and written lessons that are monitored by live instructors so students interact with a real person. Universal Class provides information that supports professional, education and enhances quality of life for DoD personnel.

Universal Class is important to service personnel and library staff for having the ability to provide instantly accessible digital information in multiple platforms that can be streamed or downloaded with no waiting. This subscription must be firm-fixed pricing so there is no increase when new classes are accessed. Transparent Language is the exclusive provider of Universal Class so this database content cannot be obtained anywhere else. This is a "must order direct" company. Transparent Language is the only known source capable of providing the item described above for the Department of Defense to accomplish the libraries' mission.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The proposed effort covered by this individual J&A is for a 60-month subscription (1 Base Year + 4 Option Years) to Universal class with Transparent Language for DoD Libraries. The requirement is for a subscription database that provides continueing education classes that support professional, education and enhances quality of life for DoD personnel to meet mission needs. This system must be able to interface with the DODL database

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION March 2023 Page 3 of 5 platform, Universal Class provides information that supports professional, education and enhances quality of life for DoD personnel. Platform. Security between the Website and server must be Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3.

Must be able to supply or allow retrieval of database usage statistics by Branch of Service (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Military OneSource/Other, and Navy). Must have HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) with long duration deployed on the servers to mitigate/prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Website certificates should be RSA 2048-bits (SHA256withRSA). Must be able to provide a login system for customers that meets the needs of active duty users and their dependents as well as retirees.

The current contract ends on 29 Sept 2024. The new contract is for a one (1)-year base effort with four (4) one-year options from 30 Sept 2024 - 29 Sept 2029 in the amount of $589,539.60.

Base Year: $117,907.92; 30 Sept 2024 - 29 Sept 2025

Option Year 1: $117,907.92; 30 Sept 2025 - 29 Sept 2026

Option Year 2: $117,907.92; 30 Sept 2026 - 29 Sept 2027

Option Year 3: $117,907.92; 30 Sept 2027 - 29 Sept 2028

Option Year 4: $117,907.92; 30 Sept 2028 - 29 Sept 2029

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 13.106-1(b), Soliciting from a Single Source

FAR 13.501(a), Sole Source acquisitions

This acquisition uses Simplified Acquisition Procedures because it falls within the authority of Commercial Items.

Since this acquisition is less than $7.5M, Simplified Acquisition Procedures may be used in accordance with FAR 12.203.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

The Universal Class subscription offers an all-encompassing collection and services that provide high quality resources that can be accessible in all locations via the Transparent Language platform. The depth and breadth of Universal Classes make it the only feasible supplier that can meet the DOD libraries' needs and provide customers with an all-inclusive database. There are no other comparable services that would cover all of these aspects in one place with the same functionality and access. Without this acquisition, the DOD Libraries' mission to provide timely and instantly accessible digital information that can be streamed or downloaded would be seriously harmed or delayed without the latest, up-to-the minute information and full service capabilities available from this subscription.

Transparent Language, Inc. has exclusive legal copyright to its content collection and is a "must order direct" company. Transparent Language platform cannot be accessed through a third party. Transparent is the only known source capable of providing the item described above for the Department of Defense to accomplish the libraries' mission. The collection provides over 500 plus unlimited simultaneous usage of continueing education classes.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION March 2023 Page 4 of 5

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

Market research confirms that Transparent Language, Inc is the only known source that can satisfy the Government's requirements and is intended to support the DoD Libraries Program.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

A combination of price analysis techniques found in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-3 will be used to determine the price to be fair and reasonable. Additionally, the contracting officer has the right to conduct discussions regarding the proposed prices to ensure a determination of a fair and reasonable price prior to award.In accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a), the Contracting Officer shall determine that the proposed price is fair and reasonable. The basis of this determination is anticipated to be based on FAR 13.106-3(ii) and FAR 13.106-3(iii). Price shall be verified against OverDrive, Inc. current price lists, catalogs, http:// www.overdrive.com or advertisements and by comparison to prices paid from previous and current subscription/contracts with other customers that are similar.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

The 773 ESS has relied upon the Air Force Libraries' surveillance of the market for contractors to determine if competition is available for this requirement. The library used publishers' advertisements, professional conferences, vendor demonstrations, customer suggestions, and new publication reviews to conduct market research. Market research indicates no other capable vendor sources have been identified.

Each year librarians/product owners attend numerous conferences hosted by entities such as the Texas Library Association, Public Library Association and American Library Association. These conferences host hundreds of vendors that serve the library community. Over the course of several days, the librarians conduct market research by conversing with the vendors and experiencing products first-hand.

Continuous market research is also completed by staying up to date on current and new product offerings and updates via various mailing lists as well as Internet searches completed by the product owners.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

All respective facts were mentioned in Section V and Section VIII

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

None

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

AFSVC/VCL will attempt to obtain competition whenever possible by use of professional journals and trade exhibits. AFSVC/VCL will continue to keep up-to-date and review new research databases to determine if another source will meet the needs of the students, faculty, and staff, in addition to keeping an open dialog http://www.overdrive.com/

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION March 2023 Page 5 of 5 with our patrons and usage statistics to determine the necessity for future purposes. The 773 ESS will continually canvass the market by posting sources sought notices to determine if their are viable sources to obtain competition.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

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