Limited Sources Justification.pdf

AOP No. 5, J&A-Other Than Full & Open Competition- Attachment 4 (Feb. 26, 2020)

Limited Sources Justification United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 8.405 Federal Supply Schedules Multiple Award Schedule Program

Technology Roadmap Assessment

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

United States Department of Agriculture, Departmental Administration, Office of Contracting and Procurement, Procurement Operations Division, 355 E Street SW, 10th Floor, Mail Stop 9307, Washington, DC 20024.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in support of the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS), and Farm Service Agency (FSA) mission areas intend to issue a task order contract under the IT Cadre GSA IT 70 Schedule contracting vehicle for services on a firm-fixed price basis per FAR 8.405-6 Limiting Sources.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The proposed sole source Contractor, IT Cadre, shall develop a technology roadmap for the Information Technology (IT) systems in support of the (Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) via IT Business Consulting methodologies and practices.

The technology roadmap developed by the Contractor shall include/address the following areas at a minimum:

• Current State Visualization of the infrastructure that reflects the technology, cost, and alignment with specific programs in order to assist the business and the IT experts in understanding when new requirements are crafted for development or enhancement of new programs.

• Future State Visualization that will provide support to the employee resulting in a better customer experience which will enable customers to meet the desired outcomes and goals

• 3-year Roadmap that establishes agreements, eliminates redundancies and disconnects, identifies risk, identify cost to include, expenses and potential savings, and provide clarity around priorities.

During the implementation of the technology roadmap, the Contractor shall create an expedited process with a concentration tailored to employees working in the field to deliver products with the best suitable customer experience to include a modernized approach.

The period of performance (POP) for this task order effort shall be one (1)-year from the date of award. The total estimated dollar value of this task order contract is $700,000.

4. The authority and supporting rationale.

FAR 8.405-6 – Limiting Sources

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) - Only one source capable due to the unique or specialized nature of work.

IT Cadre invented methods and deliverables called Visualization Engineering. IT Cadre is the only provider of Visualization Engineering® and the resulting unique visualization deliverables. IT Cadre uses proprietary methods developed over 17 years. Through market research conducted by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR), it was found that no other companies in the marketplace use these methods or produce a similar deliverable in both form and content. IT Cadre has trained, experienced, and ready Visualization Engineering® teams established.

IT Cadre features several unique capabilities and qualifications that meet the specified requirements of NRCS and FSA, such as:

- the use of an integrated visualization in a large plot diagram that incorporates an end-to-end view from a strategic level to a tactical level;

- the invention with Visualization Engineering® deliverables is a new and unique form that integrates multiple types of traditional documentation which are normally prepared and created separately in domain specific formats; and

- the integration of expertise with people, process, systems, data, finance, policy in a single delivery team.

Unique aspects of IT Cadre’s Visualization Engineering® capability are skilled visualization engineers, innovative deliverables, and remarkable speed of delivery. No other company/vendor demonstrates the ability to perform this type of end-to-end analysis based on a visual engineering methodology. Visualization Engineering® uses a structured methodology (i.e. Current State, Future State, and 3-year Roadmap) that incorporates function, skills, processes, finance/funding, accountability, assets, schedule, program management, vision, objectives, and security based on customer needs.

Visualization Engineering® looks to simplify complexity using a unique horizontal (end-to-end) view and the power of a single focused Visualization. Developed by Visualization Engineers, this unique capability from IT Cadre aggregates capabilities of traditional approaches such as process improvement, systems, data, operations, technology, stakeholder involvement, accountability and security as well as funding sources. This work product provides leadership with unparalleled insight into the operations of their organization. No other company uses a Visual Engineering® approach to analyzing enterprise organizations.

5. A determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer (CO) that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

IT Cadre will be asked to provide their GSA IT 70 schedule pricing for IT professional services which have already been competed and determined to be fair and reasonable by GSA under schedule contracts. The Contracting Officer (CO) will compare pricing of historical orders of similar scope and the IGCE to make a final determination of pricing to be fair and reasonable.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

The COR was provided a recommendation by the Department’s CIO office to research IT Cadre as a proposed Contractor to fulfill the requirement of the NRCS and FSA mission areas. In addition, the COR executed various market research methods such as Internet searches, review of historical contracts of similar scope and complexity, etc. and was unable to identify a Contractor in the marketplace whom could completely fulfill the NRCS and FSA IT requirements.

Market research was conducted solely on the crafted requirements of the NRCS and FSA mission areas and it was determined that there was only one responsible Contractor/source (IT Cadre) whom met the NRCS and FSA requirements for the technology roadmap assessment and visualization path.

IT Cadre develops a visualization that shows the complexity of the IT systems and their interdependence of each other in a way that the business owner can understand in laymen’s terms. Other companies do not create their roadmap assessments with strong emphasis of a business owner in mind, instead other companies that were identified via market research create/write these complex/technical roadmap assessments from the understanding of an IT expert perspective. NRCS and FSA’s biggest issue collectively is “speaking in technical terminology” or speaking past one another. NRCS and FSA requires a Contractor that can produce one document that allows the mission area to move forward and understand what needs to be done to implement a visualization program demonstrating the impact it has for the overall modernization.

7. Any facts supporting the justification.

None

8. A statement of actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

In the future, if there is a follow-on task order contract to the current proposed sole source task order contract, the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) in support of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP), Procurement Operations Division (POD) will re-evaluate the market for any new potential sources during contract performance and post the proposed task order contract’s expiration of the period of performance (POP) to determine if requirements have changed moving forward, no longer required by the Government and/or if sources/new entrants can meet Government requirements to allow for a full and open competitive environment.

Certifications & Approval

Supporting data which form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

Terri Meighan Customer – Technical Personnel

The information contained in this Limited Sources Justification is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

John Paul Flores Contracting Officer

Additional Reviews & Approvals

Signatures are required at each threshold up to the total estimated dollar value of the acquisition

Procurement Operations Division (POD) Branch Chief (if not the Contracting Officer) (if over $700,000). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Jason Kattman Contracting Branch Chief

POD Competition Advocate (if over $700,000). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Danielle Knipper Competition Advocate, Procurement Operations Division

POD Senior Procurement Analyst (if over $700,000). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Senior Procurement Analyst, Procurement Operations Division

POD Deputy Chief (if over $700,000). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Insert Name of the POD Deputy Chief Deputy Chief, Procurement Operations Division

Advocate for competition for the procuring activity (if over $700,000, but not exceeding $13.5 million). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as advocate for competition for the procuring activity, I hereby approve this justification.

Insert Name of the Procuring Activity Competition Advocate Chief, Procurement Operations Division Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition

Head of the procuring activity (if over $13.5 million, but not exceeding $68 million). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as Mission Area-Senior Contracting Official, I hereby approve this justification.

Insert Name of the Head of the Procuring Activity Head of the Procuring Activity United States Department of Agriculture

Senior Procurement Executive of the Agency (if over $68 million). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Therefore, as the Senior Procurement Executive, I hereby approve this justification.

Insert Name of Senior Procurement Executive Senior Procurement Executive United States Department of Agriculture