Limited Sources Justification - Redacted.pdf

Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A)

NEGOTIATION SENSITIVE

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I. Contracting Activity.

Limited Sources Justification

Air Force District of Washington(AFDW)/PK 1500 West Perimeter Road, Suite 5750 Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762 Contracting Officer: Capt Alexandra Farnsworth Telework Number: (240) 294-3378

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

This limited sources justification is to establish a new Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) call order with Gartner Inc to provide subscription based Technology Research and Advisory Services. This action will be awarded to Gartner via a FFP call order under the General Services Administration (GSA) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for the Department of Defense (DoD) Enterprise Software Initiatives (ESI), Agreement No. N6600119A0049, GSA Contract Number, 47QTCA18D008L. DoD ESI is a mandatory source for software licenses and subscriptions services. The Period of Performance (PoP) is one 12-month base period plus four 12-month option periods.

The existing call order was sole sourced to Gartner, Inc. via DoD ESI Agreement No. N6600119A0049, GSA Contract Number, 47QTCA18D008L, Call Order No. FA701420F0115. The 12- month PoP expires on 30 June 2021.

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

The USSF continues to move swiftly to organize itself as the newest branch of the Armed Forces. It will continue to be built to enable its mission to provide resilient, dependable, and affordable space capabilities for our Nation and the joint force.

As the principal uniformed advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force on Space Force Activities, the Headquarters Space Force staff is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping space forces. In supporting this mission, the Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO), also referred to as SF/S1, will strategically plan and manage the transfer of thousands of Airmen, Sister Service military and civilians into this new military service.

This requirement is for technical research and advisory services to include Information Technology (IT) research benchmarking databases, on-the-job toolkit, research briefs that are timely and relevant to the USSF and Government personnel, topic-focused member exclusive meetings, webinars, briefings, access to exclusive special interest groups for senior IT leaders of the USSF focusing on topics that are USSF-driven, document review services, research, and research help desk support.

This acquisition will be funded with USSF Operation and Maintenance (O&M) 3410 appropriations. The Period of Performance (PoP) for this effort will include a base period of approximately twelve (12) months and four (4) twelve

(12) month option periods. These subscription services are performance-based.

CLIN 0001 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers -Team Leader (Qty 4) - $294,872.00 CLIN 0002 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers -Advisor Team Member (Qty 7) - $205,303.00 CLIN 0003 Gartner Talent Neuron-- Single Country (Qty 1)- $28,757.00 CLIN 0004 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 3)- $12,429.00 CLIN 0005 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Workbench Add-on (Qty 1) - $9,748.00 CLIN 0006 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 1) - $89,359.00 CLIN 0007 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- IT Executive Team Member (Qty 1)- $89,359.00 CLIN 0008 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus --Advisor Member (Qty 1) - $34,801.00

Optional CLIN 0009 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 1) - $73,718.00 Optional CLIN 0010 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 1) - $73,718.00 Optional CLIN 0011 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) - $29,329.00

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Optional CLIN 0012 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) - $29,329.00 Optional CLIN 0013 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) - $29,329.00 Optional CLIN 0014 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) - $29,329.00 Optional CLIN 0015 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 1) - $4,143.00 Optional CLIN 0016 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 1) - $89,359.00 Optional CLIN 0017 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member (Qty 1) - $34,801.00 Optional CLIN 0018 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Leader (Qty 1) - $29,329.00 Optional CLIN 0019 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Advisor Member (Qty 1) - $29,329.00

CLIN 1001 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 5 CLIN 1002 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 10) CLIN 1003 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Single Country (Qty 1) CLIN 1004 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 10) CLIN 1005 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Workbench Add-on (Qty 1) CLIN 1006 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 2) CLIN 1007 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- IT Executive Team Member(Qty 2) CLIN 1008 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member (Qty 2)

Optional CLIN 1009 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader( Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1010 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1011 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1012 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1013 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1014 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1015 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1016 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader -(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1017 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1018 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Leader(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 1019 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Advisor Member (Qty 1)

CLIN 2001 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 8) CLIN 2002 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member(Qty 10) CLIN 2003 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Single Country (Qty 1) CLIN 2004 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on(Qty 20) CLIN 2005 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Workbench Add-on (Qty 1) CLIN 2006 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 2) CLIN 2007 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- IT Executive Team Member (Qty 2) CLIN 2008 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member (Qty 2)

Optional CLIN 2009 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2010 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2011 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2012 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2013 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2014 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2015 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2016 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2017 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2018 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 2019 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Advisor Member (Qty 1)

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CLIN 3001 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 8) CLIN 3002 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member(Qty 15) CLIN 3003 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Single Country (Qty 1) CLIN 3004 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 25) CLIN 3005 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Workbench Add-on(Qty 1) CLIN 3006 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 2) CLIN 3007 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- IT Executive Team Member (Qty 2) CLIN 3008 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member (Qty 2)

Optional CLIN 3009 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3010 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3011 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3012 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3013 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3014 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3015 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3016 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3017 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3018 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 3019 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Advisor Member (Qty 1)

CLIN 4001 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 8) CLIN 4002 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 20) CLIN 4003 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Single Country (Qty 1) CLIN 4004 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 30) CLIN 4005 Gartner Talent Neuron -- Workbench Add-on (Qty 1) - CLIN 4006 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 2) CLIN 4007 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- IT Executive Team Member (Qty 2) CLIN 4008 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member (Qty 2)

Optional CLIN 4010 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4011 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4012 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4013 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4014 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4015 Gartner for Chief Human Resource Officers - Advisor Team Member (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4016 Gartner Talent Neuron, User Add-on (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4017 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4018 Gartner Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus -- Advisor Member(Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4019 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Leader (Qty 1) Optional CLIN 4020 Gartner for Human Resources Leaders Team - Team Advisor Member (Qty 1)

Period of Performance: 30 June 2021 - 29 June 2026

The total cost estimate: $10,063,984.00

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

April 2021 NEGOTIATION SENSITIVE Page 5 of 6April 2021 NEGOTIATION SENSITIVE Page 5 of 6 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.

In accordance with DFARS 208.7402, the Government shall fulfill requirements for commercial software and related services in accordance with the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI). There are five DoD ESI Enterprise Service Agreements (ESA) vendors. The capabilities of each vendor were reviewed to determine whether the requirement could be fulfilled via the DoD ESI ESA. The DoD ESI ESAs for services are with Cisco, Fedmine LLC (Fedmine), Forrester, Inc.

(Forrester), Gartner, Inc. (Gartner), and Microsoft Enterprise Services (MES). Of the five ESAs, only three provide research and advisory services: Fedmine, Forrester, and Gartner. Fedmine is unable to meet the requirement as it is a subscription service that provides information on federal spend and opportunity data. It does not provide services for executive consulting and advisory services or access to special events such as conferences, webinars, workshops or peer networking.

Fedmine did not respond the Government's Request for Information (RFI).

Forrester and Gartner both offer each of the required types of services (research, data and tools, consulting and advise, and access to special events). However, in-depth reviews of both Forrester and Gartner's websites revealed differences in the focus of the services provided.

Regarding Forester, five of their seven Market Imperatives are customer-focused, reflecting Forrester's focus on business strategies such as emphasizing market trends, what it means to be a company, and how to compete and win. Forrester's stated goal is "to help our clients see new opportunities before their competitors and to help them leverage that head start to move to lead their markets." While the DoD is customer (Warfighter) focused, that focus is on meeting the needs of the Warfighter. It is not possible, due to statutory and regulatory constraints, to be customer-centered in the manner that Forrester promotes. Additionally, unlike individual businesses and companies, the DoD has no competition for customers.

The only other organizations that similarly serve the Warfighter are sister services in the DoD, and in contrast with Forrester's philosophy, the Federal Government pursues opportunities to coordinate and collaborate with those organizations in efforts to reduce duplication of effort and save money. Therefore, with the conceptual inconsistencies (customer-decision driven focus and industry competition) in what Forrester counsels versus how the Government must operate, Forrester is not able to meet the specialized Government requirements for this acquisition. Additionally, Forrester does not have facilities cleared to at least TOP SECRET, as required.

Gartner provides licenses and databases dedicated to human resource and IT professionals, while Forrester focuses on best practices for driving business process innovation and transformation. Gartner's ready to implement benchmarks and maturity assessments along with access to job aids, research briefs, on-the-job toolkits, and benchmarking databases with authentic, unbiased and authoritative research better meets the requirements of establishing the organization structure and strategy of the USSF. Additionally, Gartner has the ability to access and handle Top Secret information, as required.

Lastly, Gartner's Unified Benchmarking Platform (UBP) provides required data-based insight gained from 230+ HR and talent metrics. Forrester's capabilities does not meet the requirement as its capabilities are more focused on building and improving the culture of the organization versus establishing the organization structure and strategy. Gartner is the incumbent and has confirmed in its RFI response that it could continue meeting the S1's requirement. Forester provided alternate services in their capability statement. Additionally, Forrester does not have Top Secret (TS) security clearance and Gartner does have TS security clearance to meet the Government's needs.

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

FAR 8.404(d).

The DoD ESI pricelist is all-inclusive of the pre-packaged services and the prices have already been determined fair and reasonable for what's contained therein. The Contracting Officer will seek additional discounts from the schedule pricing.

DoD Class Deviation 2014-O0011-- Determination of Fair and Reasonable Prices When Using Federal Supply Schedule Contracts, states that GSA's determination that prices of supplies and services under schedule contracts are fair and reasonable, does not relieve the ordering activity contracting officer from the responsibility of making a determination of fair and reasonable pricing for individual orders, BPAs, and orders under BPAs, using the proposal analysis techniques at FAR 15.404-1. The deviation continues to say that the complexity and circumstances of each acquisition should determine the level of detail of the analysis required.

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The Contracting Officer will use appropriate and available information to review proposed prices and determine that they are fair and reasonable, and such documentation shall be included in the contract file. The contracting officer will review the offerors' published commercial price, including prices list on various government-wide acquisition vehicles and other sites, such as pricing data contained in the GSA Acquisition Gateway Pricing Portal. Other information that may be used includes Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCE), historical information, contractor's invoice payments and commercial pricing that have been determined to be fair and reasonable.

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

It was determined that the software could be procured via DoD ESI, which is a mandatory source for software licenses and subscriptions services. Market research was conducted by reviewing the capabilities of the five DoD ESI ESA vendors: Cisco, Fedmine, Forrester, Gartner, and Microsoft Enterprise Services.

Additionally, on 19 April 2021, a Request for Information (RFI) was sent to the vendors under the DoD ESI services agreement.

The Government received three responses to the RFI: Gartner, Inc., Forrester, Inc., and Sirus Federal. The vendor, Sirus Federal submitted a response indicating that this requirement is out of its scope of work. Gartner, Inc. confirmed it could meet the intent of the requirement. Forrester, Inc. provided a capability statement for an alternate course of action. The requiring activity assessed the capabilities of both Gartner, Inc. and Forrester, Inc. and determined that only Gartner, Inc. could fulfill this requirement (as outlined in Section IV above).

VII. Other facts supporting the justification.

DFARS 208.7402 states that departments and agencies shall fulfill requirements for commercial software and related services, such as software maintenance, in accordance with the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI). ESI promotes the use of enterprise software agreements (ESAs) with contractors that allow DoD to obtain favorable terms and pricing for commercial software and related services.

Furthermore, the contracting officer is following the acquisition procedures at DFARS PGI 208.7403.

The previous call order, FA701420F0115, was awarded under a Limited Source Justification. The contracting team conducted the RFI to ensure the market has not changed since the previous procurement.

A notice regarding the Limited Source Justification shall be published within 14 days after placing the order on betasam.gov in accordance with FAR 8.405-6.

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 USSF. It is the Space Force's intent to continue its survey of the market, as well as reviewing USSF's requirements to evaluate the possibility of competing future requirements. USSF/S1 will participate in industry days and technical demonstrations to learn about new software solutions that may be able to fulfill their future needs.

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 signature above, I certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my responsibility, is both accurate and complete.