LSJ_DOC Dashboard_1333LB20F00000046_P20005_Final.pdf

DOC Limited-Sources Justification

DOC Dashboard

1333LB20F00000046/P20005

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

FOR DIGITAL WEB SERVICES

In accordance with FAR 8.4 and CAM 1306.70

Contract Title: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard

Solicitation Number: 1333LB20R000000300

Contractor: Accenture Federal Services

Period of Performance: July 17, 2020 through March 3, 2022

Place of Performance: Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

Contract Type: Hybrid - Firm Fixed Price and Time & Material (Assisted Acquisition)

This Limited Sources Justification specifies the U.S. Census Bureau’s need to obtain contractor services to provide critical work via the Digital Transformation Services Task Order 1333LB20F00000046. USCB intends to obtain these services on a non-competitive basis, to better assist emergency preparedness efforts of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The current task order provides key digital systems and efforts, which support the mission of the Communications Directorate and other program areas within the U.S. Census Bureau (USCB).

The current task order maintains public-facing digital properties such as websites, customer relationship management, search implementation, web analytics, and customer experience management. This justification will enable USCB to provide vital capabilities to DOC’s internal and public-facing communications efforts throughout this current COVID-19 pandemic. It will also enable the agency’s mission and ability to disseminate data and information to the public.

This requirement focuses on Information Technology (IT) Systems design, development, implementation, and solutions for COVID-19 Communications and data dissemination efforts as it relates to the health and safety of the American public and Department of Commerce employees.

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Office of Acquisition Management and the U.S. Census Bureau (USCB), Headquarters (HQ), Communications Directorate.

The Contracting Activity is the USCB Acquisitions Division.

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

This is a non-competitive modification action for critical and time sensitive COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Dashboard systems development and support from Accenture Federal Services located 800 North Glebe Road, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22203. The Task Order modification will consist of Fixed Price tasks.

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

The circumstances surrounding the effects of COVID-19 are unprecedented and historical in nature. The vital ability to monitor agency facilities and track metrics at various geography levels (e.g. state, county) to support data analysis is critical during this period. Leadership teams at the Department of Commerce and its operating units and Bureaus continue to monitor the COVID- 19 outbreak and provide guidance as circumstances evolve.

The U.S. Department of Commerce requires the development and support for monitoring and optimization activities for business processes including, but not limited to: COVID-19 tracking, emergency response management, contact tracing and partnership monitoring.

The purpose of this effort is to modify the existing Task Order (1333LB20F00000046) to provide DOC with the use of open source, publicly available models integrated into dashboards to support COVID-19 forecasts. These efforts will allow DOC personnel to analyze and monitor statistics to aid in decision-making as it pertains to the immediate status of Government and non- Government operations and potential disruption thereof.

The period of performance of this Task Order modification includes a 15-Month Base Period from June 15, 2020 through September 30, 2021. Given the uncertainty surrounding the duration and extent of COVID-19, this Task Order modification will include FAR 52.217-8 Optional Extension of Services.

The estimated value of this procurement is $350,000.00.

4. The authority and supporting rationale (see 8.405-6(a)(1)(i) and (b)(1)) and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor's unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority applicable to this acquisition is, FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A) – “Urgent and Compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays”.

Supporting Rationale and demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications As of June 11, 2020, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported 1,973,797 cases of COVID-19 and 112,133 deaths related to COVID-19. As of June 10, 2020, COVID-19 Health Data.org has estimated that an estimated 731 COVID-19 related deaths per day may occur. As the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies and continues to stimulate social and economic uncertainty, time is of the essence. The pandemic demands real-time data in a way that is urgent, unprecedented and compelling. COVID-19 has presented to be the most challenging event facing the U.S. Government and the American people since the middle of the 20th century. There is a need to timely and accurately monitor current data that tracks the trajectory of the impacts of the pandemic and helps DOC and its Bureaus respond accordingly.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/48/8.405-6#a_1_i

The U.S. Census Bureau, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of a national emergency by the President of the United States on March 13, 2020, was tasked with providing its unique capabilities and expertise to aid the United States as it confronts unprecedented and historic challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic by studying its impacts on the public, businesses, and policymakers.

It is vital for the Government and policy makers to have real-time access to integrated data sets to assist in decision making for the DOC and its other agencies and bureaus. By leveraging the USCB integrated Government, public and open source data sets, the DOC will deploy a large-scale, low burden, dashboard, refreshed as needed.

There is an urgent need to leverage all available resources to design, develop and deploy an all-encompassing dashboard. This is also to ensure integration and monitoring of necessary critical insights and impact data can begin and assist in emergency preparedness and planning for DOC decision-makers. The USCB currently acquires key digital systems and efforts such as the Customer Experience Management (CEM) design, enhancement and maintenance of new dashboard services from Accenture Federal Services GSA IT Schedule 70 contract 1333LB20F00000046. To expedite all the activities that go into the design, configuration, integration and implementation of COVID-19 related public and open source data, along with Government data sets, it is in the best interest of the Government to modify the existing contract.

Doing so will allow for the development and support for COVID-19 dashboards to meet the broader need of the DOC and its operating units, via Accenture Federal Services. The ability for Accenture to, within hours, stand-up the infrastructure, the application, monitoring of the app and system, and their ability to design expert user interfaces, positions them to develop this crucial tool under urgent and compelling circumstances.

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

The Contracting Officer determined the final estimated value was fair and reasonable. A comparative analysis was completed between the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and the offeror’s proposal, to assist in the determination of fair and reasonableness. The total estimated price for the modification is $350,000.00.

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 Report was completed and documented in accordance with FAR Part 10 in support of this procurement. Market Research for this procurement consisted of a review of historical acquisition information, knowledge in procuring services of this type, use of source lists for identical or similar items obtained from Government, and professional and/or industry sources.

Market research revealed there are several companies that provide website support and experience management services in the industry. However, due to the critical nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent and compelling requirement, the extensive amount of time involved in obtaining another provider would jeopardize the expedient delivery of secure and necessary data to Federal decision makers. Therefore, an urgent and compelling need exists, and the procedures pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A), are applicable.

A full Market Research Report is located in the file.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

With the urgent start date of June 15, 2020, the acquisition process to identify another solution is inconceivable. Given that it is already Fed RAMP certified, has the Authority to Operate (ATO), and is poised to deliver real-time, actionable insights, satisfying this effort with its continued use, Accenture Federal Services will be instrumental to getting the critical information disseminated to those who need it most. The timely information will better position the DOC and its bureaus and other agencies for data driven decision-making.

The current environment of the COVID-19 poses exceptional circumstances in the amount of time required to train, educate, and provide a skill-set comparable to Accenture Federal Services.

Utilizing a different vendor would cause unacceptable delays in the DOC’s ability to complete the services described in Section 3 and 4 enabling DOC to make better-informed decisions regarding the operating status of its offices, and; which cannot be tolerated due to the time sensitivity and constant refreshing of COVID 19 data.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, 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 is made.

For this particular requirement, due to the urgency of the need, no other sources were sought at this time, for the detailed reasons documented in the Justification above. As a result, the USCB, by way of a Limited Sources Justification with unusual, urgent, and compelling circumstances, which covers the requirements, terms and conditions, intends to leverage the existing digital web support services under USCB Task Order No. 1333LB20F00000046. These services are currently provided by Accenture Federal Services

However, in an attempt to remove and overcome barriers to competition, for any future similar needs and requirements, the U.S. Census Bureau intends to compete these requirements if determined to be in the best interest of the Government to do so.

9. Technical Certification I certify that the data and information forming the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Zachary H. Schwartz Date Deputy Division Chief Center for New Media and Promotion U.S. Census Bureau

10. Contracting Officer Certification I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Based on the above justification, I hereby approve award of the subject task order action due to urgent and compelling need pursuant to the authority FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A).

DiJon F. Ferdinand Date Contracting Officer Acquisition Division U.S. Census Bureau