JA redacted N0018925PZ004.pdf

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Document Number: FY24-223

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity.

The requiring activity is Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) Millington, Tennessee; the contracting activity is Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk, Pentagon Directorate.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This is a sole source action for the provision of software licenses from Stryder Corp doing business as (DBA) Handshake. Handshake is the developer of the required software.

The purpose of this action is for a new requirement with a one-year base period of performance beginning on 20 October 2024. The proposed action will also include three one-year option periods: 20 October 2025 through 19 October 2026; 20 October 2026 through 19 October 2027; and 20 October 2027 through 19 October 2028.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

This requirement is for software subscriptions from Handshake. Handshake is an online job marketplace that allows employers to advertise jobs and connect with candidates. Handshake specifically focuses on college and university students. The major items NRC intends to acquire from Handshake are fifty (50) Sourcer (Premium) seatholders, as well as the Expert Assist and Insights enhanced functionality modules. The Sourcer (Premium) seatholders will have access to Handshake’s online tool and enhanced functionality modules. The seatholders are appointed or assigned by NRC East and West Regional leadership for recruiters to use. Use of the subscriptions is managed mainly at the seatholder level, with involvement of Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) E-talent, Officer Programs Office (OPO), and Enlisted Programs Office (EPO) at the local level, and headquarters personnel. The recruiting focus is at the NTAG level, including primarily a combination of general officer, nuclear propulsion officer candidate (NUPOC) program, and medical specialties, as well as a diverse pool of candidates.

NRC Premium seatholders and Handshake will provide training to NRC-assigned personnel. Training will include instruction on use of the platform. It will also include training encouraging recruiters to send out campaigns on behalf of their NTAG and Core (Free) seatholders that is currently mandated at the NTAG E-talent, OPO, or EPO level for oversight on monthly campaign strategy or reporting process.

The estimated value of this procurement is $xxxxxxxxxx for the base period and a total of $xxxxxxxxxxxx, inclusive of the base period and all options. The resultant contract will be funded with FY25 Operations & Maintenance, Navy (O&MN) appropriations. These funds are not currently available. Options will be funded utilizing O&MN appropriations of the fiscal year in which the option period is exercised. The estimate for this requirement is as follows.

Base Period Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Total 20 October 2024 – 19 October 2025

20 October 2025 – 19 October 2026

20 October 2026 – 19 October 2027

20 October 2027 – 19 October 2028

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Sole Source.

The statutory authority permitting this sole source action is 41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified acquisition procedures - a sole source acquisition using simplified acquisition procedures for the acquisition of commercial items, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Navy’s ability to recruit face-to-face. During the time of social distancing, NRC executed a tactical plan which included career recruiting services for generating leads during the time when recruiters were using 100% digital prospecting. Handshake was one of the platforms the NRC explored due to state-wide “stay at home” orders and social distancing requirements throughout the nation.

While exploring Handshake during the pandemic, Handshake enabled the Navy to access more than 1,080 schools, resulting in more than 6,300 applications, generating 473 qualified and interested NUPOC leads. In five months, this resulted in six NUPOC contracts. No other online tools yielded these results.

While other online job marketplace sites exist, Handshake is the only platform that provides the Navy access to the unique skill sets required to meet recruiting goals, particularly for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) candidates. Handshake allows recruiters direct access to the candidates with the technical skills to fulfill NUPOC and other accession program requirements. It contains a functionality that allows recruiters to filter candidates for the skills the Navy needs. Xxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

NRC needs a leading recruiting tool to search and engage with millions of students and millions more alumni, including women and underrepresented minorities in STEM and other fields. Handshake provides this capability through extensive access to candidates throughout the United States. Handshake facilitates access to a diverse pool of candidates. It has approximately 15 million students and over 1,500 colleges and universities using the site. Handshake’s users primarily consist of college students and new graduates entering the workforce in entry-level positions, which aligns with the NRC’s need to recruit entry-level, new service members.

The Talent Engagement Suite simplifies recruiting by providing direct access to candidates and has a filtering capability. It allows recruiters to message potential candidates, create recruiting events, and host virtual and in-person events. The Expert Assist module provides enhanced access to technical help, tool setup, configuration, and training. It provides a repository of documents that include information on lessons learned, proven methods of executing events, segmenting candidates, and developing materials.

The Insights module provides data generated by events and activities that can be utilized for analysis and return on investments, which is necessary for NRC to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of its recruiting efforts. Other tools do not have this enhanced functionality that provides NRC the needed data analysis.

Any alternative vendor product either does not have the functionality required by the NRC or does not have the market penetration to reach the greatest number of college and university candidates. The Navy’s ability to reach a broader and more diverse pool of student candidates with verified academic standing and demographics would be impaired using other vendors’ products compared to Handshake’s current products.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable, including a Description of Market Research, if applicable, and a List of Interested Sources, if any.

A pre-solicitation notice and request for information was posted to the System for Award Management (SAM) website on 05 September 2024. The notice informed vendors of the potential requirement and of the Navy’s intent to solicit from a single source. The notice also asked any interested sources to contact the contract specialist to identify their interest and provide information about their capability to respond to the requirement. The posting stated that all responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the Navy. The contract specialist received xxxxxxxxxxxxx to the posting. The xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxx x xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xpxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xx xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x xx xxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx y xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x

The requiring and contracting activities have conducted market research among other vendors that provide online job marketing platforms. There are vendors that provide similar platforms; however, STEM-focused vendors are limited. NRC has identified other potential vendors, but determined that these vendors do not have the volume and outreach to the STEM students the Navy requires. NRC needs a leading recruiting tool to search and engage with millions of students and millions more alumni, such as women and underrepresented minorities in STEM and other fields. Handshake provides this capability.

Other online platforms reviewed included xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxx. However, none of these platforms provide the capability needed by the NRC.

No additional market research was conducted because it is not practicable, for the reasons discussed in paragraph 5 above, for any company other than Handshake to provide the required software subscription.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government of the services covered by this Justification will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

To facilitate future competition, the Navy will continue to conduct market research to determine if new platforms from additional vendors become available in the commercial marketplace.

9. Contracting Point of Contact. The point of contact at NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Pentagon Directorate is Danielle Lafferty, Code 221.2, who may be contacted at (703) 585-9382 or by e-mail at danielle.v.lafferty.civ@us.navy.mil.

Document Number: FY24-223

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical Cognizance:

Signature Name (Printed) Date Phone No.

Requirements Cognizance:

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined this Justification is legally sufficient.

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. To the extent that the Justification value is >$250K and <$750K, the Contracting Officer’s signature below also represents approval of the document.

CONTRACTING ACTIVITY COMPETITION ADVOCATE REVIEW

To the extent that the Justification value is greater than $750K and <$15M, the Competition Advocate’s signature below also represents approval of the document.