JA_Sounding_Board.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

UNDER FAR 13.501 TEST PROGRAM FOR COMMERICIAL ITEMS

1. The Office of Acquisition Management (A/LM/AQM) is conducting this acquisition for the annual license maintenance renewal of Brightldea Software on behalf of the

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Executive Secretariat (S/ES).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved: This is a sole source justification for the use of Brightldea's licensing and maintenance support. The use of a brand name description is essential to meet system security requirements; no other brand name meets the specifications.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the Department's needs:

S/ES has identified the collaboration software proprietary to Brightldea as a key component of S/ES' operational and security capability. The required specifications are as follows:

License Subscription for 90,000-100,000 users

Annual Gold Technical Support & Maintenance - to include technical support, 24x7 Portal Access, Knowledge Articles, Bug Ticketing & Resolution, IdeaSpace Commnity & Best Practices Webinars.

S/ES purchased Brightldea's software in 2010 and currently has the software deployed throughout our infrastructure to manage the Sounding Board. This organization has invested considerable time and effort to configure this product to work seamlessly within our infrastructure. The requirement to renew the use of these licenses will ensure uninterrupted services to our customers.

According to 5 FAM 610 and the Federal Cloud First Policy, all new Department IT projects must implement cloud services whenever they are most cost effective and provide the required level of security and performance. S/ES cannot fully recompete the software requirement or identify alternative tools to support the Sounding Board until IRM provides clear guidance and regulations for meeting cloud-related security standards. This procurement is for one year of continued support of the existing software while S/ES awaits clear guidance from IRM on how to proceed with cloud-based solutions.

We anticipate IRM providing such guidance within the 2016 calendar year. At that time, S/ES will perform market research for other, cost efficient and technologically advanced solutions for enhancing our existing Sounding Board application in a cloud environment.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition: 41 USC 253(g) and FAR 13.501, Only One Responsible Source

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited: As this is a name brand only justification, no one contractor's unique qualifications are cited as the basis for this justification. Rather, the products identified by brand name herein have been determined to be the only items that meet S/ES' operational and security standard requirement. Brightidea is the proprietary owner and seller of the software and maintenance.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable: This sole source justification will be publicized in accordance with FAR 5.2.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable: The Contracting Officer will make a fair and reasonable price determination in accordance with FAR 13.106-3, and will be based on Market research, comparison of previous purchase prices found reasonable, or a comparison with similar items in related industry.

8. A description of the market survey conducted and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted. No market research was completed at this time. While S/ES-IRM is awaiting clear guidance from IRM and regulations for meeting cloud-related security standards this one year purchase order is being placed.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

Brightidea is the proprietary owner and seller of the software and maintenance.

10. A listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/A

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required. Include a statement that this X&A for other than full and open competition will be published on FedBizOpps in accordance with FAR Section 6.305 within 14 days of award (or within 30 days if the J&A is for unusual and compelling urgency.) This Justification will be publicized on in accordance with FAR 5.2.