JNA - Vulcan.pdf

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United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

Justification and Approval (l&A) For Vulcan Ecosystem Software as a Service (SAAS)

Subscription Services

22 April 2024

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Controlled by: HQ USSOCOM/SOFAT&L CUI Categories: General Procurement and Acquisition Distrib i n/Dissemination Control : N ne

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Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (J&A)

Authority: (10 US.C. 3204{a)(1), as Implemented by FAR 6.302-1)

Project/Program Name: Vulcan Ecosystem Software as a Service

Component/PED/Other: SOF AT&L AR

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): $35,000,000.00

J&A No.

24-3766

T e &A: Ind ividual IZI or Class D ·----= ......... --------------,---=.,,.,,.,....= ■""I

1. Agency and Contracting Activity: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(1))

Program Office: SOF AT&L Acquisition Resources (AR) United Sta tes Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

7701 Tampa Point Blvd MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Contracting Office:

HQ USSOCOM/SOF AT&L-KR

7701 Tampa Point Blvd MacDill AFB, FL 33621 echnology and Logistics (SOF AT&L)

2. Description of Action: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(2)) Bridge Action Yes Dor No 181 Th is J&A is for the award of an Indefinite Delivery. Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract using O&M d olla rs for the Vulcan Software on a sole source basis to Cylitix LLC of 1751 Pinnacle Drive, Suite 600 McLean, VA 22102.

3. Description of Supplles/Servlces: (FAR 6.303-Z(b)(3))

The intent of this contract is to con tinue the current Vulcan subscription which provides a comprehensive and validated Technology Domain Aware ness Platform for USSOCOM Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (SOF AT&L) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) to enhance their technology scouting efforts. It provides a streamlined approach and custom process from initial technology discovery to collaboration and experimentation, evaluation, assessments, and the genera tion of detailed Government reports. The system provides a comprehensive and dynamic data ecosystem of technology scout cards, subject matter experts, and developme nt orga nizations. It enables secure advanced search and sharing of ne t-centric information, preserving data integrity for users on a role-specific basis through a robust and compliant security architecture. Moreover, it efficien tly handles data from diverse sectors such as industr , academia, and Government, accommodatin • multi le formats th at adhere to

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J&A No. 24-3766 carlos.cotto Cross-Out specific Defense and commercial protocols including Export Co ntrols. The Vulcan platform currently provides continuous 24-hour support to over 950 diverse Government entities to engage a peer-vetted and active ecosystem of registered, academic, non-profit, and commercial users securely and effectively.

Vulcan wil l now incorporate and Engage SOF (eSOF) functionali ty, streamlining the existing mechanism for SOCOM's review of ca abilities a nd demonstrations. Input from other entities. including _,as been essential to USSCOM's marke researc an s ra egy iven the intero crabili re uircments offuture roducts and services,

4. Authority Cited: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(4))

[8J 10 U.S.C 3204(a)(l), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Req uirements, as implemented by FAR 6.302-1

S. Reason for Authority Cited: (FAR 6.303-1

Only Cylitix has an existing product, i.e., Vulcan, that can meet the Government's minimum needs.

(i.e., the workflows, algorith ms, table structure, code, queries, forms, reports, user interfaces, etc.) that enables end user interaction with that data is proprietary to Cylitix.

Furthermore, each scout card is proprietary to the company that submitted the information in Vulcan. Any potential competitor would have to enter into an agreement with the ompanies to have the data transferred to another solution.

The following is a requirements compliance - comparing Cylitix's Vulcan product with other solutions considered. As is evident, only Cylitix's Vu lcan meets the Government's minimum needs.

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6. Efforts/Actions to Increase Competition: (FAR6.303-2(b)(6) & (11))

a. In accordance with DFARS PGI 206.302-l(d), a Request for Information (RF!) was posted on 14 Nov 2023 to SAM.gov. One company responded. The PM reviewed - capability statement and determined that it did not meet the Government's minimum requirements. Specifically, capability statement consisted of consulting services and did not demonstrate or outline functionality to meet the existing requirements. The contracting officer followed up with the - and provided general guidance and resources to find further USSOCOM contracting opportunities.

b. In addition to the RFI and per FAR 5.2, a pre-solicitation notice was publicized on 1 Dec 2023. One company, responded to the contracting officer on 4 Dec 2023, requesting information on the RFL■ vvas provided the information .the same day. On 5 Dec 2023, - provided a written demonstration of its capabilities. The SOF AT&L PM reviewed - apability statement and determined that it was not a ready to use capability and it did not meet the existing requirements.

c. The acquisition history of this effort goes back several years. That is, in 2016, USSOCOM started an effort to resolve its unique requirement for a Technology Domain Awareness Platform (TDAP). Cylitix produced Vulcan1, which is a non-developmental item in use across USSOCOM and multiple other agencies within the Department of Defense. Over this time-period, three contracts were issued to Cylitix either as a prime contractor (H92222-17-C-0020 and H92222-17-P-0001) or as a subcontractor { current effort).

d. From an industry perspective, USSOCOM's use of Vulcan is extremely well-known. Over

- ompanies have submitted scout cards into it. In addition, the USSOCOM Acquisition Executive has publicized the use of Vulcan at SOF Week (formerly the SOF Industry Conference). Over 10,000 companies attend this event. SOF Week is one of the key avenues for vendors to obtain both USSOCOM and Government awareness for their products and services. Vulcan is a key part of enhancing the awareness of industries' products. Furthermore, Vulcan serves as the platform for managing- SOF experimentations. Industry participants are required to submit their Vulcan scout card for consideration, thereby deepening the industry's understanding of the Vulcan platform.

1 It has been well-established that Cylitix owns the IP to Vulcan even with the Government investment.

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g. Furthermore, the S&T Deputy Director is constantly reviewing other potential technologies. While none exist to date, potentially disruptive technology could exist in the next couple of years to allow for an off ramp of the current situation. SOCOM technology scouts actively search for innovative technologies at events worldwide.

Additionally, SOCOM hosts an annual conference known as SOF Week where industry solutions are directly showcased to the SOF enterprise. Despite these efforts, a solution meeting the existing requirements has not yet been identified. Moreover, SOF AT&L and Component technical scouts are always being approached by competitors indicating they can provide or exceed Vulcan capability. Each vendor is provided the opportunity to showcase their products but, as mentioned earlier, none have provided a TRL 9 ready capability that will perform the services and functionality as provided by Vulcan.

USSOCOM SOF AT&L will continue with its efforts to allow potential competitors the right to demonstrate their products and provide fair evaluation and feedback to inform future acquisition decisions regarding this service and capability.

7. Market Research: (FAR 6.303-2(b) (8)).

a. In addition to the RFI referenced above, market research was conducted in Apr 2023.

For this, an analysis of alternatives was conducted. The potentially viable options evaluated included both Government and contractor solutions:

In evaluating the five tools, the that disallowed these other sources from meeting USSOCOM's requirements were identified. - acked visualization and analytics, inability to use media files, limited document generation, and lacked required feature set including scout cards; lllltacked document generation, visualization tools, scout card, lacked fea~ure set requir~ was difficult to integrate into other Government systems and 1Jm1ted security and lacked feature set required. - lacked securit required and limited accreditation information, lacked feature set re uired. acked securit and lacked feature set of re uirements.

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In addition, as part of the market research process, a search was conducted in our SOCOM Small Business Database and our eSOF Database which collectively hold~ ompanies and capabilities. There were no other solutions that met the Government's existing requirements. In summary, the findings of this report highlighted that there were no other solutions identified that could meet SOCOM's current unique requirements and existing functionality of Vulcan.

b. Then, in Oct 2023, additional market research was conducted. Several databases, including USSOCOM's Engage SOF "eSOF," SOCOM's Small Business Database, and the Internet were searched. No other vendors were found possessing a platform to meet the existing requirements.

c. Last, collective research, including that of other interagency and concluded that there are no qualified sources within the commercial sector that can support the existing requirement in the unique way addressed by Vulcan.

8. Other Authorities/Factors: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(9))

None

9. Interested Sources: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(10))

As mentioned previously, two companies responded to the Request for Information and the pre-solic1tat1on notice. ot o enngs were determined to be unacceptable and did not meet the Government's minimum needs.

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10. Technical and Requirements Certification: (FAR 6.303-2( c))

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

NAME: TITLE: Director, SOF AT&L Acquisition Resources (AR)

DATE: 16 May 2024 cur J&A No. 24-3766 carlos.cotto Cross-Out

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11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(7))

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for th is contract action will be fair and reasonable.

12. Contracting Officer Certification: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12))

I hereby certify that this J&A is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

NAME: David Tenenbaum TITLE: Contracting Officer

SIGNATURE:

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13. Legal: SOFARS 5601-1

Legal review complete

NAME: TITLE: Attorney-Advisor (Acquisition)

DATE: 17 Ma:i 2024

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14-. Agency Advocate for Competition (AAC): SOFARS 5601-1

I have reviewed this document and find the J&A adequate to support other than full and open competition:

NAME: TITLE: Deputy Director of Procurement

SIGNATURE: DATE: ____ _

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15. Approval: (HCA Over $15M to $100M [81 or SPE Over $100M 0) Based upon the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procureme nt of Cyli tix's subscrip tion for Vulcan outlined in this J&A. The requ irement will be released on an other than full and open competition basis with the estimated a mountof $35M. The actio n pursuant to this J&A are subject to the ava ilability of funds and the completion of all required statutory and regulatory reviews and approvals.

NAME TITLE: Director of Procurement

DATE: l l ·rA:1 1-1

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