JEFO_BRAND NAME_UNDER SAT.docx

Brand-Name Justification Exceeding the micro-purchase threshold and up to the SAT pursuant to FAR 16.505(a)(4)(ii)

JEFO Number: J&A FY25-130 PR Number: PR-25-USSS-4224 Brand-Name Justification

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Procurement Division, proposes to award a delivery/task order or modify an existing delivery/task order on behalf of Office of Chief Information Office (OCIO), resulting from a solicitation containing a brand-name specification.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The proposed action is for a firm-fixed-price delivery order issued under the DHS NASA SEWP V (Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement), for IBM Cognos Software Subscription and Support Renewal.

USSS intends to post the justification and supporting documentation in accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A).

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The requirement is to provide upgrades and support for IBM Cognos Software Subscription and Support Renewal. IBM Cognos is a business intelligence platform that supports the entire analytics cycle, from discovery to operationalization. This platform provides the ability to visualize, analyze, and share actionable insights about USSS data and is utilized across USSS as a Business Intelligence Tool. This support will allow OCIO to continue to consolidate and combine data throughout the agency for all the information automatically. ePerson, ALIS, EPS, and reporting-and-dashboard capabilities are few examples of applications which rely on Cognos.

Additional attributes as listed below:

(a) Estimated total value (including options). Provide breakdown as shown below:

Description

Unit Price Quantity

Total Contract Value

IBM Cognos Software License (Renewal)

(b) Period of Performance: 12-months from the date of award with no option years: 4/1/25 to 3/31/26.

4. Statutory exception and supporting rationale.

The applicable statutory FAR citation and basis for using an exception to fair opportunity process is:

☒ FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B). 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. (Explain why the Government believes only the specified awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. Address why other awardees are not capable. Provide details on mission impact if the requirement is not solicited from the source identified in Section 2.)

Rationale:

The specific authority for providing for brand name awards under multiple award contracts is Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 16.505(a)(4) listing requirements applicable when procuring an item peculiar to one manufacturer that can be a particular brand name, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer. A brand-name item, even if available on more than one contract, is an item peculiar to one manufacturer.

The USSS Procurement Division intends to procure a brand name specification to renew IBM Cognos software subscriptions and support. The required IBM Cognos subscription software and support is unique or highly specialized and/or are items peculiar to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). IBM Cognos software subscriptions and support are currently utilized on the USSS enterprise environment and has been integrated with multiple mission critical applications. USSS/OCIO conducted market research and the results indicate that other companies’ similar products lack the feature(s) required and do not meet the needs of USSS. The use of other products would result in interoperability, compatibility, and interface issues that would preclude the system’s support team from providing efficient and effective customer support. Changing to a different software would require updating and changing all applications at USSS that use this software. This would be cost prohibitive to the agency, as well as affect continuity of service. The agency would be severely impacted as this tool aids in hiring, budgeting, mission critical tasks, and overall daily operational technological needs.

5. Contracting Officer Certification and Approval.

I hereby certify that the Brand-Name Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

JEFO No: J&A FY25-130 Page 1 of 1