JA Sole Source FAR Part 13.5_18SEP24 Redacted.pdf

CUI

Control Number:

3 SEP 2021

Sole Source Justification and Approval

Under FAR 13.501

1. Contracting Activity: 410th Contracting Support Brigade

Regional Contracting Center - Americas

2. Description of Action: In this contract SRI shall provide the company’s purpose-built hardware and proprietary software to support the JIATFS Open Language Interface for Voice Exploitation Robust Automatic Transcription of

Speech OLIVE/RATS system. Additionally, SRI shall provide maintenance, software installation, hardware installation and integration services for OLIVE/RATS system for a base year, and up to 4 option years. These services include providing technical expertise with the system management and maintenance of JIATFS SRI

OLIVE/RATS solution.

Nature: □New Requirement X Follow-on Requirement

Contract Vehicle:

Solicitation Number: W912CL24Q0099

Pricing/Contract Type: Fixed Price

Funds: Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA) FY: 2024 Funded PR # 0012165765

Name of Proposed Contractor(s) and Address:

SRI INTERNATIONAL

COLEEN CONWAY

333 RAVENSWOOD AVE

MENLO PARK, CA 94025-3453

Brand Name Buy: Yes X No

3. Description of Supplies/Services: This requirement is to procure SRI International software, subscription, and support with maintenance for the SRI OLIVE/RATS system for the JIATFS standalone tipping and cuing system in the Tactical Support Group.

4 SEP 2021

4. Authority Cited: 41 U.S.C. 1901

X FAR 13.501(a)(ii): sole source (including brand name) justifications using the format at 6.303-2, modified to reflect that the procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with 41 U.S.C.1901 or the authority of

41 U.S.C.1903;

5. Reason for Authority Cited: SRI is the sole proprietor of software required to operate the OLIVE/RATS system. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards were not being met. The SRI

OLIVE/RATS was developed by DARPA and SRI to meet the precise OSHA standard number 1910.95 and mission requirements of the Tactical Support Group. Per the Code of Federal Regulations Title 29 CH XVII employers have a responsibility to implement prescribed Environmental Controls in the workplace to reduce occupational noise exposure. SRI OLIVE/RATS ensures Tactical Support Group operators are exposed to no more than 90 decibels per 8-hour shift. SRI OLIVE/RATS reduces the environmental noise level in TSG from continuous to intermittent. Additionally, the implementation of SRI OLIVE/RATS purpose-built hardware and proprietary software has reduced the amount of time it takes to complete one of the critical tasks for the TSG’s functioning capability. SRI OLIVE/RATS enables TSG to facilitate a continuous, effective hearing conservation program, resulting in greater overall mission results.

Mission support automation and implementation of prescribed data review procedures facilitates Detection and

Monitoring functions within the TSG. The collection, monitoring, and retention of data is necessary to alert personnel of desired and reportable activity. Maintaining the SRI OLIVE/RATS Nightengale, and Focusrite licenses is a critical component of the JIATF South TSG tipping and cuing architecture, which aligns with and supports the JIATF South operations mission support.

JIATF South has established the following criteria for operational systems: ease of use, scalability, support, OLIVE/RATS collection and voice analysis, integrated logging of all connected systems, OSHA compliance, and data analytics Based on market research and corporate knowledge, SRI OLIVE/RATS best satisfies our established criteria. Maintaining our OLIVE/RATS licenses is critical in achieving our desired mission capability posture for our mission enclaves. The purpose-built hardware created for SRI’s proprietary software is the only solution for continued operations.

Loss of the SRI OLIVE/RATS enclave capability and support has resulted in a decrease of the mission tipping and cuing capability by 25%. The 25% decrease in capability has increased workload and noise level in the operational space. There is no equally capable alternative system on the market.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: For FAR Part 13 actions, the public display and synopsis requirements of FAR 5.101 and FAR 5.203 X apply and will be followed.

Requirement to post justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3), FAR 13.105(c), or FAR

16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)

Action is a brand name restriction over $25K. It will be redacted and posted with the solicitation.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: A request for information was posted to the System for Award Management from 11-25 January 2024 resulting in one response. Texas Instruments provided a capabilities statement and current software. It was determined that the software is twenty years old and will not satisfy the Governments requirement.

At this time there is no technical solution to meet this requirement other than SRI International.

Prior contract: W912PX-18-C-0003 has the approved Sole Source justification in PCF under Justification 110-1.

(Attached)

5 SEP 2021

8. Market Research: Market research was initially conducted by contacting professional colleagues at the National

Security Agency (NSA), and USSOUTHCOM. While performing internet research a Texas Instrument VAD was identified, but was not as robust an application, and was dated with technology from 2003, vice the updated

OLIVE/RATS Version 5.6 dated 2024. Market research indicated SRI OLIVE/RATS is widely used throughout

Government agencies and the DoD. A demonstration of our OLIVE/RATS prompted USSOUTHCOM to procure a system for their AOR requirements. SRI OLIVE/RATS is the recommended solution by numerous agencies and

Government professionals.

9. Interested Sources: Integrated Systems responded to the sources sought effort but was health industry based and would not meet the need of the Government. To date, no other sources have written to express interest.

10. Other Facts: SRI OLIVE/RATS has performed successfully in product reliability, quality of support, costs, product features, product performance, integration, and interoperability. The solution is interoperable with

USSOUTHCOM and integrates with existing platform systems and data sources utilized at JIATF South.

a . Procurement history

(1) W912PX-18-C-0003 from 28 Sep 2018 to 27 Sep 2023 with a 6-month extension to March 2024.

(2) Sole Source

(3) Authority previously cited: 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR part 13.5.

(4) As with the previous contract, no action can be taken to increase competition because performance of the services require access to proprietary SRI International Intellectual Property and only SRI International employees have this necessary access. JIATFS TSG will continue to survey the market if and when future requirements are developed to determine if technical solutions exist that will provide fair opportunity to other interests.

(5) If any prior contract for this requirement was accomplished using full and open competition, include a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances causing this action to now limit the sources. The previous contract was a sole source, and the J&A is attached. (Control # 110-1)

(6) An explanation of any unusual patterns that may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive, urgent buys. There are no unusual patterns identified after looking at the history of the requirement. This is a very unique system that requires certain thresholds be met to comply with OSHA standards and there have been no other companies identified to meet all requirements.

(7) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the procurement and whether there have been any significant changes. This technology was introduced in 2017 through government / industry collaboration and SRI international is the sole proprietor of the software.

b. Other facts. There are no other facts to justify limiting competition that have not already been stated.