Justification - Redacted.pdf

Last Updated Mar 19, 2025, 10:38 AM UTC

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

GitLab License Renewal

Requisition Number:

Division(s): Operational Technology Division

Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity

Nature and/or description of the action being approved

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s description of the contract action proposed for approval is detailed below.

The OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION Division(s) of the The Federal Bureau of Investigation require(s) the following products/services:

IT Operations Management Software

In support of the renewal of GitLab Premium Self-Managed one (1) year subscription that will be utilized for source code management, issue tracking and continuous integration across the

Contract Type

New contract/agreement; Firm Fixed Price

Statutory authority permitting restricted (other than full and open) competition

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s selected statutory authority which permits restricted (other than full and open) competition for this requirement is listed below.

41 U.S.C. 152(3)/ 40 U.S.C. 501, FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) — Only One Capable Awardee (Brand Name Specification)

Unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s qualification of the selected statutory authority which permits restricted (other than full and open) competition for this requirement is stated below.

41 U.S.C. 152(3)/ 40 U.S.C. 501, FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) — Only One Capable Awardee (Brand Name Specification)

Unique qualification(s) details:

GitLab exceeds it's compeitors by the following:

Integrated CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment)GitLab comes with built-in CI/CD features that allow you to automate testing, deployment, and integration directly within the platform. This feature is integrated into the core GitLab offering and doesn't require third-party tools or services.While Actions for CI/CD, , GitLab's CI/CD is generally considered more mature and flexible, making it a top choice for teams that need robust automation features out of the box.2. Self-hosting Option GitLab offers a comprehensive self-hosted option, meaning you can host it on your own infrastructure. This is a huge advantage for organizations that need more control over their data or want to integrate it into their internal systems.

UNCLASSIFIED

also offer self-hosting options, but GitLab's self-hosted version (GitLab CE) is more feature-rich, giving you access to almost the same functionality as the cloud version.3. End-to-End DevOps Lifecycle GitLab is designed as a full DevOps platform, which means it supports the entire development lifecycle, from planning and coding to CI/CD and monitoring. It provides tools for issue tracking, code review, and even Kubernetes integration for managing focus more on source code management and collaboration, while GitLab integrates features for the entire DevOps workflow. This makes GitLab especially appealing for organizations looking for a unified platform for all their DevOps needs.4. More Granular Permissions and Features GitLab provides more granular control over user permissions and roles. You can control what each user can do with fine detail, which is useful for managing large teams and enterprises.While has user roles like "admin" and "collaborator," and offers permissions for repositories and projects, GitLab provides more control over various project management and deployment settings.5. Built-in Issue Tracking & Project Management GitLab has a comprehensive built-in issue tracker and project management tools, including features like Kanban boards, milestones, and burndown charts.While have integrations with third-party project management tools, GitLab offers a full suite of built-in tools that are natively integrated with the source code.6. Comprehensive Documentation and Open-Source Nature GitLab is open-source, which means you can inspect the code and customize it to your needs. This is a huge advantage if you want to add or modify functionality. is also open-source for its underlying software, but the platform itself is proprietary.

was originally closed source but now supports some open-source components, though its primary offering is proprietary.

7. Unified Interface GitLab offers a unified interface for managing repositories, CI/CD pipelines, issue tracking, code reviews, and more. This centralizes workflows and makes it easier for teams to work together efficiently. also have a user-friendly interface but may require third-party tools or integrations for some functionalities that GitLab provides natively.8. Security and Compliance GitLab has security features built into the platform, including vulnerability management, dependency scanning, and license compliance checks. It also integrates well with security testing tools, making it a good choice for organizations with strict compliance and security requirements.While has some security tools and has some integrations, GitLab's focus on security throughout the CI/CD pipeline is a standout feature.9. Open-Core Model GitLab uses an open-core business model. While the platform is free and open-source, it also offers paid features in its Enterprise edition, which provides additional tools for large teams and enterprises. This flexibility allows organizations to choose the right level of features depending on their needs.10. Large Community and Frequent Updates GitLab has a large and growing community of contributors, and since it's open-source, there's a continuous flow of updates and improvements. also have large communities, but GitLab's focus on rapid development, including user-driven feature requests, means it's often quicker to adapt to new trends in DevOps.

Anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition and determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's methodology which supports the determination of fair and reasonable cost to the Government is provided below.

Market Research (including an Independent Government Cost Estimate)

Other facts supporting the use of restricted (other than full and open) competition

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s description of additional facts which support the use of restricted (other than full and open) competition is provided below.

Statement of any actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated

UNCLASSIFIED

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s planned and/or executed actions to remove or overcome competitive barriers for subsequent acquisitions are described below.

A competitive procurement is not planned in the future.

The FBI will continue to monitor the marketplace to identify any new brands that are capable of meeting future requirements. For new requirements, the FBI will conduct a thorough review of the marketplace to identify and remove any barriers to competition so that competition can be achieved to the maximum extent possible.

Description of the products and/or services required to meet the agency’s needs

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s description of the requirement which meets its needs is listed below.

Products

Storage Management Software

GitLab Premium Self Managed 1 year Subscription Renewal

Storage Management Software

GitLab Premium Self Managed 1 year Subscription Renewal

Storage Management Software

GitLab Premium Self Managed 1 year Subscription Renewal

Storage Management Software

GitLab Premium Self Managed 1 year Subscription Renewal

UNCLASSIFIED

Services

Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

This contract will allow for the purchase of services or goods classified as other direct costs (ODC) as identified herein. Any ODCs not documented in advance of contract award will require written approval by the FBI contracting officer (CO) prior to the purchase. Requests for approval must specifically identify the services or goods to be procured and the estimated price of each.

Justification is required for all ODCs that demonstrate that the goods or services to be purchased are in direct support of the contract. Invoices submitted for payment that include ODCs must specifically identify the services or goods purchased and break out in detail the costs associated with the ODCs. Invoices containing ODCs not listed in the contract or identified and approved by the CO in advance of billing will be treated as improper invoices and will not be paid. Similarly, invoices that include ODCs listed in the contract but fail to specifically identify them and elucidate the costs in detail, will be treated as improper and will not be paid.