LARA_JA Sole Source FAR Part 13-reviewed (002)_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SP-SSEL

Control Number:

Justification Review Document For Sole Source - FAR Part 13.501*

(*Format follows FAR 6.303-2, but modified to reflect FAR subpart 13.5 procedures)

Program/Equipment: Leadership Attribute Rating Application (LARA) Maintenance and Support Services.

Authority: 41 United States Code (USC) 1901 as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

Amount:

Prepared by:

Contracting Officer:

Jarrod Bowsky Contracting Officer

Technical and Requirement Representative:

(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

SEP 2021

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(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Reviews

I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Small Business Specialist:

DSN:

Date: See digital signature.

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(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Sole Source Justification and Approval Under FAR 13.501

1. Contracting Activity: Mission & Installation Contracting Command (MICC)- West Point, 681 Hardee Place, West Point, NY 10996

2. Description of Action: This approval is for a new firm fixed price service contract, funded with fiscal year 23, Operations and Maintenance (OMA) funds. Proposed Contractor:

Aptima, Inc.

12 Gill St. Ste. 1400

Woburn, MA 1801-1753

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The United States Military Academy (USMA), Department of Military Instruction (DMI) request to procure software maintenance and operation support to their existing digital assessment platform – Leadership Attribute Rating Application (LARA). LARA is a tool to develop a pool of ratings for each Soldier across multiple months and multiple events as they perform their jobs in an operational unit.

The service maintenance of the application includes iOS compatibility and any software and equipment updates to ensure the application meets security requirements and USMA protocol.

This requirement is for a period of performance of twelve (12) months. The NAICS code for this requirement is 541519 with a size standard of $34.0M and PSC DA10.

4. Authority Cited: As implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The Leadership Attribute Rating Application (LARA) was developed in order to help leaders more effectively provide both formal and informal feedback to Soldiers on critical leadership attributes and competencies. A research was accomplished under contract number G00Q14OADU428 for the Department of the Army by Aptima, Inc; as a result, a mobile application and accompanying dashboard were developed. After LARA was piloted by the United States Army Research Institute for Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) and their research was completed the application and hardware ownership was transferred to USMA and

DMI.

The USMA hosts Cadet Summer Training (CST) for over 4,000 Cadets every summer.

These competitive and training events are cornerstone to the USMA and demand

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(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4) accurate and secure feedback to inform decision making, develop cadets, and provide strategic level impact with sister commissioning services and international partners. The

In order to continue to use LARA, operational support and maintenance is needed.

To consider a different vendor will involve the purchase of equipment and payments for the work to tailor the application to fit DMI’s needs,

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A Synopsis Notice (ID: W911SD23R0164) was published on 21 June 2023 to 26 June 2023 to the Governmentwide Point of Entry System for Award Management (SAM) at https:// SAM.gov. In addition, a Request for Information (RFI), Reference # 455783, was created on 21 June 2023 to 23 June 2023 on the Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) at CHESS.Army.Mil. CHESS is the Army's mandatory source for commercial IT hardware, software, and services purchases. A mass email was sent to all vendors revealed on a Dynamic Small Business Search. There was only one vendor that responded (see interested sources section).

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Competition cannot be increased until there are multiple vendors who can provide the service requested. To date Aptima, Inc. is the only vendor that can provide the required services.

8. Market Research: Small Business Administration (SBA), Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) database revealed a total of sixteen (16) small businesses under NAICS 541519 and keyword: Software Maintenance. Aptima, Inc confirmed that there are no authorized resellers, and they are the only entity who has the knowledge, expertise and skills required to provide maintenance and support to the digital assessment platform LARA. Therefore, market research supports this requirement as a sole source in accordance with FAR 13.103-1(b)(1)(i).

9. Interested Sources: Aptima, Inc. developed LARA, The vendor listed below responded stating they can provide this service; however, they requested additional information about LARA.

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(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Company and

POC

CAGE

Lo ca tio n

SB

W O

ED

W

O

VO

Capability/Experience

Progsit, LLC

Betty Grullon

7ZAR3 NJ Y Y Y Y Engineering services for over 17 years. Support the US Army CCDC-AC at Picatinny Arsenal as a Subcontractor.

10. Other Facts: N/A

11. Technical Certification and Requirements Certification:

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.

12. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based price analysis techniques listed in FAR 13.106-3. Certified cost or pricing data is not required per FAR 15.403-1(b)(3).

13. Contracting Officer Certification and Approval:

Date: .

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement Leadership Attribute Rating Application (LARA) maintenance and operational support on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Signature: Date: See digital signature.

JARROD BOWSKY, Contracting Officer