Limited-Sources Justification (LSJ) - BPAs est. under FSS - Monster - Redacted.pdf

Limited-Sources Justification

Pursuant to the Multiple Award Schedule Program (as authorized by 40 U.S.C. § 501), this justification is prepared in accordance with (IAW) the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(c) for the use of sources limited to fewer than those required in FAR 8.405-1, FAR 8.405-2, and FAR 8.405-3. The circumstance justifying restriction is FAR 8.4056(a)(1)(B).

(1) Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG), Office of Contract Operations (CG-912) proposes a Firm Fixed Price Task Order award on the basis of a limited sources justification.

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

(a) Nature of action: USCG intends to limit competition to Monster Government Solutions, LLC (MGS), which MGS and its affiliates operate the Monster Hiring Management Enterprise (MHME) Suite.

(b) Name and address of the Contractor: MGS

133 Boston Post Rd.

Weston, MA 02493

(c) Contract type: Firm-Fixed-Price

(d) Estimated total value (including options):

Period Unit Price Total Base Period 01 September 2024 – 28 February 2025 6 mo. $72,500 $435,000 Option One – MHME Services

01 March 2025 – 31 August 2025 6 mo. $74,834 $449,000

Option Two – Archiving Services

01 March 2025 – 31 August 2025 6 mo. $8,334 $50,000

Option Three – Archiving Services

01 September 2025 – 31 August 2026 12 mo. $8,583 $103,000

Option Four – Archiving Services

01 September 2026 – 31 August 2027 12 mo. $8,841 $106,090

Option Five – Archiving Services

01 September 2027 – 31 August 2028 12 mo. $9,106 $109,272

Total $1,252,362.00

(e) Type of funding: Operations and support funds

(f) Year of funding: Fiscal Year 2024

(g) Solicitation number: 70Z02324Q12500003

(h) Background information about the requirement: The USCG is seeking to continue service of the existing MGS MHME contract during the transition to a different solution. Specifically, these functions represent the responsibilities, processes, and activities required to manage employees from hire to retire. The current contractor assists in developing: strategies, tactics, communications methods, and processes, to effectively implement and deploy change management initiatives across USCG organizations. This includes the use of project definition and management tools to scope change management initiatives, develop for Government approval integrated master schedules. The Contractor works in a highly collaborative environment, which includes coordination with Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Finance Center (NFC) and other USCG organizations.

(3) Description of Supplies/Services.

MGS is the sole distributor, without any authorized resellers, for the MHME, a proprietary searchable federal employment and labor resource subscription service. MGS owns all data rights and licenses for MHME. This requirement is to provide the software subscription, support and services required to support these elements of Human Resource (HR) staffing to include:

talent acquisition, talent development, employee performance management, compensation and benefits, separation and retirement, Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and Assessment Tool, and reporting tool capability with robust data analytics.

(4) Identification of the justification and the rationale.

• FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(B) – Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized

The services needed for this requirement are unique and highly specialized. MGS is currently performing the services on an existing Call Order 70Z02323F12500001 which initially expired 29 February 2024. FAR 52.217-8 was used to extend services 01 March 2024 - 31 August 2024.

USCG is transitioning to USAStaffing and will need to continue services through transition and use the Archival Subscription Service to mitigate the risks associated with transition. Since the service is commercially offered for sale by MGS, if we do not issue another task order, the U.S.

Coast Guard could experience a lapse in service which would be detrimental to HR functionality as well as a number of systems of record would be severely impacted. Services required to support these elements of HR staffing include:

• Talent Acquisition

• Talent Development

• Employee Performance Management

• Compensation and Benefits

• Separation and Retirement

• Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and Assessment Tool

• Reporting tool capability with Robust data analytics

(5) Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the anticipated order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d).

The Contracting Officer has determined that issuing the proposed task order to MGS represents the best value and will result in the lowest overall cost alternative, considering price and administrative costs, and that the pricing is reasonable based on the IGCE to meet the Government’s needs. The current Vendor is currently performing the service satisfactorily, and does not have authorized resellers to compare pricing with.

(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.

Market Research was conducted on 27 June 2024 via GSA Multiple Award Schedule MAS, SIN 511210, Software Licenses holders resulted in identification of multiple Vendors that offer HR subscription services but one (1) potential source, MGS (GS35F0609V) that offers the MHME Suite. The Government reviewed 13 Vendors via GSA MAS, SIN 511210, to locate a similar service being provided. The Government was unable to locate a similar service needed for this requirement. Below is a list of Vendors reviewed:

• Agate Software, Inc. (GS-35F-420AA)

• Blue Ridge Networks, Inc. (47QTCA22D00DB)

• Cartridge Technologies, LLC (GS-03F-0151X)

• Dell Marketing L.P (GS-35F-059DA)

• Government Acquisitions, Inc. (GS-35F-402GA)

• Innovative Solutions, Inc. (47QTCA21D00AM)

• Lakota Software Solutions, Inc. (GS-35F-410BA)

• Microsoft Corporation (47QTCA23D001T)

• Professional Information Systems, Inc. (GS-35F-0117Y)

• Raptor Technologies, LLC (GS-07F-127BA)

• Skillsoft LLC (47QTCA19D002B)

• Spectrum Center, Inc. (47QTCA21D009A)

• Telos Corporation (GS-35F-162DA)

It was determined that MGS was the sole provider, without any authorized resellers, of a HR subscription service capable of meeting the CG’s requirement. MGS owns all data rights and licenses for MHME. Market Research did not reveal additional sources of supply for the MHME Suite.

(7) Any other facts supporting the justification.

MGS is currently performing the services under Call Order 70Z02323F12500001.

Additionally, a search was conducted through sam.gov and the CG located multiple Limited Sources Justifications for the same services that are met by MGS: 70SBUR23F00000217, JA2023010909, 9523ZY21F0038, and 70SBUR23F00000053..

(8) A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that preclude the agency from meeting the requirements of 8.405-1 and 8.405- 2 before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

Due to the proprietary nature of access to MHME, there are no other providers that can provide the MHME subscription, maintenance, and archiving solution that is required by USCG to process the remaining existing application data and provide archiving access.

A task order will be awarded as firm-fixed price (FFP) for MHME Subscription and Archival Services for a six (6) – month base and two six (6) – month option periods, and three one (1) -year option periods of performance. At the conclusion of the period of performance, the Government will likely have completed its transition to USAStaffing.

The Government has determined through Market Research that USAStaffing will provide a total solution to the agency in the future. Based on this current market research, USA Staffing Solutions is the only Vendor that provides USAStaffing services, which is an official Government system.

(9) Contracting Officer’s Certification.

I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Bobbi Forbes Date Contracting Officer

(10) Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

I certify that this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for the justification, is accurate and complete.

Malcolm Mark Date Technical Representative/COR

Edward S. Frank Date Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition (PAAC)