JEFO - IdeaScale_Redacted.pdf

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

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JEFO No.: FY24-00142

Date: April 29, 2024, PR Number: PCCA-24-00144

1. Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and anticipated cost:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Chief of Contracting Office (COCO) and the Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO) prepared this justification for brand name exception to fair opportunity as follows:

a) Description: Renew the subscription for IdeaScale (FedRAMP-certified idea management application).

b) Type of action: This will be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) delivery order.

c) Type of Funding: Operations and Maintenance (O&M).

d) Year of funding: FY24.

e) Period of Performance: May 19, 2024, through May 18, 2025.

The anticipated cost is .

2. Statutory Exception and rationale for brand name: Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies required at the level of quality required because the supplies are unique or highly specialized pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) and are items peculiar to one manufacturer:

CISA COCO intends to procure a brand name specification for an IdeaScale Platform Subscription (a FedRAMP-certified idea management application), in accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(i). The exception is based on FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), only one source is capable of providing IdeaScale because the required product is unique or highly specialized. IdeaScale is the only product that meets all of the minimum requirements and has FedRAMP approval. FedRAMP approval is mandatory for cloud service models. The current subscription ends on May 18, 2024. An active subscription is required to maintain all features of the product.

IdeaScale is conducive to the current footprint installed at DHS Headquarters (HQ); the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T); the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); the U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). IdeaScale is used by the Office of Workforce Engagement (OWE) to support their effort to revamp the CISA Culture Council and relaunch the Solutions Box which utilizes IdeaScale to host CISAlutions. OWE’s top mission is to expand CISA’s

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

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The CISAlutions site, which IdeaScale makes possible, is a suggestion box hosted by OWE. CISA staff members are provided the opportunity to submit ideas to improve mission effectiveness, create new capabilities, raise staff morale, etc. When an idea is submitted and approved for review, staff can vote to move the idea forward, provide comments to improve the idea, and give kudos to the idea submitter. The moderator coordinates with the applicable Division/ Mission Enabling Office to review and consider the idea for possible implementation. The ideas that end up being implemented can improve CISA’s mission effectiveness and increase morale, etc. CISAlutions gives CISA members a voice, whereby they can help CISA improve its effectiveness in a myriad of ways.

IdeaScale is essential to meeting the needs of CISA. OWE conducted market research on various products. The results of the market research indicate that other companies’ similar products lack the feature of FedRAMP approval which is required, and therefore, do not meet the minimum requirements (results are in the table below). Procuring an alternate product other than IdeaScale will require complete infrastructure replacement and FedRAMP certification, with a significant increase in cost and staff hours. This involves purchasing and configuring the new equipment and software, changing the control boards, implementation, coordinating FedRAMP certification, changing the control boards for removal of the old hardware, and retraining of personnel and users.

The IdeaScale subscription is required at this time. CISA OCIO will continue to monitor the marketplace for future requirements and will evaluate opportunities for alternate products and services.

Below is the summary of OWE’s product comparison:

Company Software Capabilities/Description FedRAMP

Authorized (Y/N)

IdeaScale IdeaScale Cloud idea/brainstorm management Y

Agorize Agorize Cloud innovation management N

Aumentoo Aumentoo Cloud idea/brainstorm m management N

Braineet Workflow Cloud idea management N

Brightidea Innovation Cloud Cloud idea brainstorm management N

Edison365 Edison365 Cloud innovation management N

Exago Exago Cloud idea/brainstorm management N

EY CogniStreamer Cloud innovation management N