Limiting Competition under SAT (FAR 8_12_16) 26-Q-A056 (SIGNED) v2.pdf

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

Memorandum for Record – Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

1. Requiring Activity: 1ID G8, Fort Riley, KS.

2. Contracting Activity: MICC - Riley

3. Description of Action: Data Analytics and Power BI Training

Nature of Requirement: ☒ New ☐ Follow-on ☐ Existing Requirement

Brand Name: ☐ Yes ☒ No

Contract Vehicle: ☒ Purchase Order

☐ Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

☐ Order/BPA against FSS Contract #

☐ Order against multiple award IDIQ Contract

☐ Order against a single award IDC Contract

☐ Modification to existing PO/TO/DO/Call Order

Pricing/Contract Type: ☒ Fixed Price

☐ Cost Reimbursable

Funds: FY: _26

☒ Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA)

☐ Other Funds:

Name of Proposed Contractor(s) and Address:

University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business_ 1014 Green ST, Columbia, South Carolina 29208

4. Description of Services or Supplies: 1st Infantry Division (1ID) requires training to rapidly collect, organize and analyze data for command decision making processes.

The contractor shall provide a 10 day (80-hour) Intermediate Data Analytics Course tailored to Army Data Systems and reports enabling the use of Power-BI to produce organized Dashboards displaying current data for quicker leadership decision making.

The University of South Carolina (USC) Darla Moore School of Business has provided Power BI training at the U.A. Army Finance School since 2014 and currently provides training at overseas forward Army locations. Darla School of Business has incorporated U.S. Army specific finance, logistics, contracting, transportation systems into their Power-BI training, therefore reducing the learning curve that would be needed by other vendors. USC will be able to quickly train 1ID on how to collect, organize and analyze data from Army systems and display this data on easy-to-read dashboards. These dashboards will save time during higher level analysis and improve decision making.

Period of Performance:

Period Period of Performance (POP) Estimated Value

Base 10AUG26 – 21AUG26 $240,000

Total Value: $240,000

5. Authority: Select the appropriate authority below:

☒ FAR 12.201-1 For commercial acquisitions valued at or below the simplified acquisition threshold

Limiting Sources when Ordering under the Federal Supply Schedule

☐ GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1)(i) - Urgency

☐ GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1)(ii) - Only One Source is Capable

☐ GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1)(iii) - Logical Follow-on

☐ GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1) (iv) - Satisfy minimum guarantee

☐ GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1) (v) - Authorized or required by statute

☐ GSAM 538.7104-4 - Items peculiar to one manufacturer

Exceptions to Fair Opportunity

☐ FAR 16.507-6(b)(1) - Unusual and urgent need

☐ FAR 16.507-6(b)(2) - Only One Awardee is Capable

☐ FAR 16.507-6(b)(3) - Logical Follow-on

☐ FAR 16.507-6(b)(4) - Minimum Guarantee

☐ FAR 16.507-6(b)(5) - Statute Authorizes / Requires Purchase from Specified Source

☐ FAR 16.507-6(b)(6) - Satisfies Exception under FAR 6.103

☐ FAR 16.507-7 - Items peculiar to one manufacturer

6. Reasons for Authority Cited:

Training and education on Data Analytics and Power BI is available to anyone or any authority that wishes to partake. University of South Carolina’s (USC) Darla Moore School of Business has held a partnership with the US Army Financial Management School since 2014 and has set the training standard. This acquisition is expected to be under the SAT and meets the requirements of a limited commercial service as defined in RFO FAR Part 12 and RFO Far 16.507-6(b)(2).

The Government would have to pay more money to send the Soldiers and GS Civilians TDY for training if the instructors are not able to go to them. Individual finance civilians have already attended the training while out on TDY. The remaining personnel will be on rotation in Poland prior to the suspension of class. There is currently only one group that says they can physically teach while in Poland, and that’s USC. Failure to train the financial Soldiers and civilians in Data Analytics and Power BI would continue to limit what they are able to do in the office and slow down Command decision making process that must be made quickly and accurately.

7. Publicizing Contract Actions:

a. The public display and synopsis requirements of FAR 5.101(a) and FAR 5.101(d)

☐ do not apply, less than $20K threshold

☒ apply and will be followed

☐ do not apply due to an exception at FAR 5.101(b)(1)(i)

b. Requirement to post justification in accordance with, FAR 12.102(a)(2), GSAM 538.7104-3(a)(3) or FAR 16.507-6(f) unless:

☒ Action is not a brand name restriction and is under SAT, no posting required.

☐ Action is a brand name restriction, under $40K, no posting required.

☐ Action is a brand name restriction over $40K but will not be posted due to the following exception:

☐ FAR 6.301(e)

☐ GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(3)(i)(B)

☐ FAR 16.507-6(f)(4)

8. Market Research:

Market research was carried out through SAM.gov, GSA and AbilityOne. Outside contracting sources of similar requirements were also searched through. There are no environmental conditions nor is this a government-unique requirement. The leverage the Government currently hold is the fact that Soldiers and civilians will be out of the country shortly and the training will have to follow them. The price for the instructor traveling to Poland is less than sending Soldiers and civilians TDY. Only one of the potential vendors has communicated that traveling was no issue and they also have an existing partnership with the US Army.

9. Other Facts: Since the Army Financial Management School at Fort Jackson initially began its partnership in 2014 with the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, over 3000 Soldiers and Army civilians have received education in data analytics. Darla Moore continues to provide courses in business analytics, intermediate and advanced business analytics, cost management, and foundational Power BI introduction.

Contractors that have produced similar work for the Government and created a contract are: Computable Insights, Assent Advisory Group, and Data Society. Two of those contracts were sole sourced to their vendors indicating that a sole source to the Darla Moore School of Business would not be incorrect.

10. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

CPT Nicholas Noble 1ID G8 and DIVARTY S8

11. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon prices and quotes that were compared to previous proposals.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that completing this purchase as a sole source is in the best interest of the Government. Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Digitally signed by

BANKS.SHEILA.ANNETTE.

ANNETTE.1074 1074943167

943167 Date: 2026.06.26

09:58:56 -05'00'

Sheila Banks Contracting Officer

NOBLE.NICHOLAS. Digitally signed by

JOHN.1548694457

Date: 2026.06.26 11:50:21 -05'00' _

BANKS.SHEILA.