JA FINAL - SIGNED - IBM Cognos Subscription and Support_Redacted.pdf

IBM Cognos Subscription and Support VA-24-00011241

U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), entitled “Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized”.

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Based on market research as described in Section 8 of this justification, it was determined that limited competition is available among authorized resellers and the OEM of the required brand name IBM Cognos software subscription (maintenance) and technical support on the NASA SEWP V GWAC. The existing IBM Cognos software solution is a highly configurable software suite that is integrated into an environment that supports VA information security capabilities. VA previously acquired these perpetual licenses and deployed the proprietary business analytics software solutions from IBM in 2010. Only software maintenance and premium technical support services provided by IBM directly or through an authorized reseller can meet the requirements as the existing software is proprietary to IBM. Specifically, without access to IBM proprietary source code, no other source is able to provide software upgrades, patches, fixes, updates, or security resolutions. Without the required software maintenance and premium technical support, the existing Cognos software performance would eventually degrade and would not be usable by VA as its highly integrated business analytics software solutions. In addition, VA would not receive security updates and other critical content, which could compromise the Cognos Executive Dashboard Application Platform. Lastly, since the software is proprietary, no third-party source exists that provides analysis, troubleshooting, and resolution of any software product-related problems other than IBM. Any source to provide these services must have access to IBM proprietary code in order to ensure the services provided are properly configured.

If the software maintenance for IBM Cognos is not renewed, then the OIS Executive Enterprise Visibility Dashboard Modelers, Dashboard administrators, SharePoint Administrators and Cognos Report Writers will need to replace the Cognos product suite adding additional complexity, replicate missing features using custom developed tools if possible, or cease the use of the dashboard altogether. The current Executive Dashboard not only leverages the many components listed elsewhere in this document it also makes extensive use of the Cognos ad-hoc BigFix reporting and dashboard interfaces to support VA user needs for ad-hoc needs. The Cognos deployment includes the integration into multiple VA systems ((e.g., Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) and VA Splunk, ServiceNow (SNOW), Information Central Analytics and Metrics Platform (ICAMP), etc.) and processes including visibility to consolidated views of BigFix data including trending, custom built Security Checklist (e.g., Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Information Guides (STIGs)) that present a consolidated view of compliance data from multiple BigFix cores, mimicking the BigFix Compliance Graphical User Interface) for Compliance reporting for VA Information System Authority To Operate (ATOs), system integrations for VA wide computer maintenance, CISA KEV reporting, etc.

Assuming using a replacement product(s) is feasible, the estimated level of effort for currently existing platform that has been developed in the VA. .

It would take an approximate total of 41,296 resource hours or a team of 5 people for approximately 4 years for migration to a new platform. This would be in addition to the ongoing maintenance/support for the chosen product moving forward which would be expected to be at least the same level of effort as the Cognos product.

Systems would need to run in parallel during migration. The current services support contract for this would need to be modified as it specifically references IBM Cognos.

The modification would need to address the above work to be done in parallel with continued operations and would include significant duplicative cost.

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. It was determined however, that limited competition is viable among authorized resellers and the OEM for this brand name software subscription (maintenance) and technical support. In accordance with FAR 5.301 and 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D), notice of award of this action will be synopsized and this justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award on the Federal Business Opportunities Page. In accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A), this justification will be posted with the request for quotation on the NASA SEWP V GWAC website to notify all interested parties.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be completed.

8. Market Research: The Government’s technical experts conducted market research from September 2023 through December 2023 by reviewing similar Business Intelligence and Analytics products listed in the April 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms (Leaders, Challengers and Visionaries Quadrants, excluding cloud-based offerings due to non-FedRamp and On-Prem Data Volume Requirements) to ascertain if these items could meet VA requirements. Specifically, the Government’s technical experts reviewed products from Domo BI, Microsoft Power BI, Qlik Sense, SalesForce (Tableau CRM Analytics (On-Prem)), SAS Business Analytics, SiSense Fusion Analytics, Tellius, TIBCO Software, ThoughtSpot, and Pyramid Analytics BI to determine whether any other sources could provide all of requirements currently provided and in use through the existing Cognos software.

The other products reviewed did not meet all of the unique requirements and will not comprehensively integrate with VA current VA infrastructure as stated in Section 5 of this justification.

Based on this review of similar brand name products it was determined that none of these sources could provide software subscription (maintenance) and technical support for the Cognos software as every other source, other than IBM’s Cognos resellers, lacked access to the proprietary source code necessary to provide the required support. Only IBM’s Cognos or its authorized resellers can provide the required software maintenance for the existing licenses as only those sources have the ability to access the proprietary code.

The Contract Specialist conducted additional market research, in February 20, 2024, by identifying 98 contract holders that are resellers of brand name IBM Cognos software subscription (maintenance) and support by utilizing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC)) Market Research Tool. Of these 98 resellers, 32 are verified SDVOSBs, 2 are VOSBs, 20 are Woman-Owned Small Businesses, 6 are HUBzone Small Businesses, 18 are Small Businesses, and 20 are Large Businesses.

9. Other Facts: None.

10. Technical and 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.

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on anticipation of competition and discounts among NASA SEWP V GWAC resellers and OEM of the required brand name IBM Cognos software subscription (maintenance) and technical support. Additionally, catalog pricing for SEWP V GWAC holders has already been determined by NASA to be fair and reasonable. Finally, price analysis shall be conducted by comparing the successful quotation with the independent government cost estimate as well as against established NASA SEWP V catalogue CLIN pricing.

12. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.