limited_sources_j_and_a- Gartner _6MAY2024_TAH_Redacted.pdf

Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A)

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I. Contracting Activity.

SMC/AC PKO

Operational Contracting Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA 90731 DoDAAC: FA2816

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

This is a procurement for Gartner Subscriptions Services to support the Space Systems Command (SSC). This action will be procured via a firm-fixed price (FFP) order under FEDLINK subscriptions services Gartner vendor IDIQ contract. The Period of Performance (PoP) is for twelve (12)-months.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

SSC requires Human Capital subscription-based research and related service research and advisory services aligned to individual levels of the organization. The contractor shall provide subscription-based research and advisory services to advise in strategic enterprise planning, human capital planning to target explicit mission capabilities that are aligned with the United States Space Force mission objectives. Space Systems Command (SSC) Human Capital (SSC/S1) requires access to business and technology research and advisory services to advise in strategic enterprise planning, human capital planning to target explicit mission capabilities that are aligned with the United States Space Force mission objectives. The research and advice must be relevant to the Department of Defense (DoD), United States Space Force and reflect commercial best practices central to organizational digital transformation, human capital strategic planning, roadmap development, resource and workforce planning and development, culture and change management, strategic communication and technological change drivers.

This acquisition will be funded with SSC O&M appropriation. The Period of Performance (PoP) for this effort will include a base period of approximately twelve (12) months. These subscription services are performance-based.

Chief Human Resources Officers (Team Leader) Chief Human Resources Officers (Team Advisor Member) Chief Human Resources Officers (Individual Access Advisor) Human Resources Professionals (Up to 20 Users)

IV. Identification of the justification/rationale for limiting sources and demonstration of the contractor's unique qualifications to provide the required supply/service.

FAR 8.405-6 requires an ordering activity to justify its action when restricting consideration of schedule contractors to fewer than required in FAR 8.405-2. In accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), only one source is capable of responding due to the unique or specialized nature of the work.

Market research was performed to determine that a legitimate need still exists and the Gartner, Inc. rates are comparable to support the subject acquisition to be procured as a sole source effort under the competitively awarded FEDLINK Contract #LCFDL24D0001. Gartner, Inc. is the only vendor, in terms of known schedule needs and the potential for capacity to meet critical changes in mission, with current Human Capital Systems access who is capable of providing subscription-based research and advisory Human Capital services to include an Information Technology (IT) research benchmarking databases, on-the-job toolkits, research briefs that are timely and relevant to SSC Human Capital, topic-focused member exclusive meetings, webinars, briefings, access to exclusive special interest groups for senior leaders of SSC focusing on topics that are SSC-driven, document review services, research, and research help desk support. Based on the above, it is in the best interest of the Government to award to Gartner Inc.

V. Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the order represents the best value consistent with

FAR 8.404(d).

Statutory Authority Section 103 of P.L. 106-481 (2 U.S.C. 182c) establishes FEDLINK as a revolving fund to provide "the

April 2021 Page 3 of 4April 2021 Page 3 of 4 procurement of commercial information services, publications in any format, and library support services,...related accounting services,...related education, information and support services" to federal offices and to other organizations entitled to use federal sources of supply (Subpart (f)(1)). SSC is a DoD organization authorized to use government supply sources by 48 C.F.R. § 51 and FAR 51.102. FEDLINK is in procedural compliance with the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Business Rules for Intragovernmental Exchange Transactions (Office of Management and Budget (Memorandum # M-03-01).

VI. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or explain why market research was not conducted.

Market research was performed to determine 1) if the required services are available to Governmental customers and 2) the sources from which those services are offered. Market research completed on the current contract (FA281621F0029) was reviewed and utilized.

3. For the market research, labor rate data was obtained from the “GSA Advantage!” website to compare the costs of Gartner, ValidaTek, Inc, FCN, INFO-TECH RESEARCH GROUP INC and UVS InfoTech LLC. While each company’s labor categories were slightly different, a best effort approach was taken to compare against similar defined functions. As summarized in the table below, Gartner, Inc. pricing is competitive with industry.

In accordance with FAR 8.002(a)(2), '...agencies shall satisfy requirements for supplies and services from or through the mandatory government sources and publications listed below in descending order of priority: (2) Services. Services that are on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (see subpart8.7).' The GSA Advantage website was searched for the required services, and multiple small businesses were not found that offer same services to those requirement by the Government to meet Space Systems Command Human Capital requirements.

Gartner, Inc. is the only vendor, in terms of known schedule needs and the potential for capacity to meet critical changes in mission, with current Human Capital Systems access who is capable of providing subscription-based research and advisory Human Capital services to include an Information Technology (IT) research benchmarking databases, on-the-job toolkits, research briefs that are timely and relevant to SSC Human Capital, topic-focused member exclusive meetings, webinars, briefings, access to exclusive special interest groups for senior leaders of SSC focusing on topics that are SSC-driven, document review services, research, and research help desk support. See Section D.II. above for the detailed results of Market Research.

Market research was performed to determine that a legitimate need still exists and the Gartner, Inc. rates are comparable to support the subject acquisition to be procured as a sole source effort under the competitively awarded FEDLINK Contract #LCFDL24D0001. Gartner, Inc. is the only vendor, in terms of known schedule needs and the potential for capacity to meet critical changes in mission, with current Human Capital Systems access who is capable of providing subscription-based research and advisory Human Capital services to include an Information Technology (IT) research benchmarking databases, on-the-job toolkits, research briefs that are timely and relevant to SSC Human Capital, topic-focused member exclusive meetings, webinars, briefings, access to exclusive special interest groups for senior leaders of SSC focusing on topics that are SSC-driven, document review services, research, and research help desk support. Based on the above, it is in the best interest of the Government to award to Gartner Inc.

VII. Other facts supporting the justification.

SSC has leveraged the recent market research completed by USSF S1 and historical data to determine that Gartner is the only company that can fulfill this requirement.

VIII. Actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services.

Currently, Gartner, Inc. is the only vendor who is capable of providing the Software and Subscription services required by SSC. It is the Space Force's intent to continue its survey of the market, as well as reviewing SSC's requirements to evaluate the possibility of competing future requirements. SSC/S1 will participate in industry days and technical demonstrations to learn about new software solutions that may be able to fulfill their future needs.

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IX. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

X. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.