LSJ_Redacted.pdf

commercial and non-commercial, such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). These service models are defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and must adhere to the Low, Moderate, and High-risk impact levels.

A cloud service provider (CSP) is a third-party company offering a cloud-based platform, infrastructure, application, or storage services while IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS are the three most popular types of cloud service offerings (CSO). Any cloud service provider (CSP) that wants to provide product and services to the U.S. Government must establish FedRAMP compliance before a Federal agency can use them. CSPs must achieve the following high-level requirements for FedRAMP certification, authorization, and compliance by the FedRAMP Program Management Office (PMO):

The CSP has been granted an authority-to-operate (ATO) either through an Agency ATO (U.S.

Federal agency) or a Provisional ATO (P-ATO).

The CSP meets the FedRAMP security control requirements as described in the NIST 800-53, Rev. 4 security control baseline for moderate or high impact levels.

This cloud computing solution offers several key advantages for the Department.

Accessibility: DOL employees can utilize the SRS remotely from any location with internet access using a government furnished mobile device or government furnished computer. This feature is particularly beneficial for employees working remotely or traveling to various DOL office locations within the Continental United States (CONUS), apart from Alaska and Hawaii, as well as outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) such as DOL’s Hagåtña, Guam;

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; and Guaynabo, Mayaguez, San Juan, Arecibo, and Ponce, Puerto Rico locations.

Scalability: The Department has the flexibility to easily customize its usage and features to accommodate changing needs, without requiring additional investment in hardware or software other than the workplace management solution. This cloud-based solution can enable the agency to expand its capabilities in the automation of:

o Real-Time Floor Plans: Effortlessly view individuals, areas, and assets on an intuitive real-time floor plan interface.

o Amenities: Efficiently request and oversee necessary resources, including seating, audiovisual equipment, additional space such as a reception area, and any other necessary items.

o Social Distancing in the Workplace & Contact Tracing: Provide employee trust to encourage coming back to the workplace, contactless operations through mobile app and QR code bookings, partition stagger strategies, physical/social Distancing, contact trace and verification, and compliance support.

o Support Reinvestment and Recovery Legislation: Renovate, transform, and consolidate Federal office space, measure actual utilization of all office space, down to each workspace, manage more modern and agile work styles and arrangements, attracting and retaining young talent, optimize desks and meeting rooms to increase utilization and eliminate vacancy.

Cost-effective: A cloud-based system offers cost savings through reduced initial investment as it eliminates the need to purchase equipment. Furthermore, the system requires less specialized expertise for maintenance compared to traditional on-premises software solutions. Having less physical hardware on site also results in lower maintenance expenses, making it a cost-effective option for the Department.

Security: A cloud-based system provides an enhanced security compared to traditional on-premises systems due to utilization of advanced security protocols and regular software updates to safeguard against cyber threats.

Implementing a cloud security posture management solution can help DOL mitigate risks by continuously scanning for configuration errors, automating processes to minimize human error, and monitoring for any suspicious activity or unauthorized access.

DOL will implement measures to ensure that employees and contractors receive necessary permissions for reserving spaces. This will involve using identity and access solutions to verify identities, controlling access to sensitive areas such as the Secretary's Office, and implementing multifactor authentication and least-privilege policies as needed.

Automation: Cloud automation leverages computerized tools and processes within a cloud environment to streamline operations that would typically be manual tasks. Implementing a cloud-based system enables the Department to optimize procedures, minimize manual work, and enhance efficiency, ultimately leading to time savings and improved productivity.

Data analysis: Effective workspace analytics and reporting tools will enable the Department to analyze workplace trends, understand patterns in work practices, identify areas for improvement, and enhance efficiency.

Integration: Cloud-based systems may integrate with other DOL software and could potentially provide a more comprehensive solution i.e. requesting maintenance or the replacement of conference room equipment, janitorial services, etc.

OCIO conducted a thorough evaluation of alternative workplace management software providers such as, but not limited to:

Accruent LLC (GSA MAS – Large Business) – Not FedRAMP certified Envoy Workplace, Robin, SmartSpace Global LTD, and SpaceIQ by Eptura (Open market only)

– Not FedRAMP certified

As verified through FedRAMP Marketplace, Tango Reserve by AgilQuest is the only workplace management CSO to have attained the required FedRAMP certification (September 21, 2021). This accomplishment demonstrates their dedication to meeting the rigorous security and compliance standards required by the Government.

Due to the paramount importance of security and compliance in managing Government data, the Department recognizes AgilQuest as the sole provider for meeting its requirements. Should a vendor product be selected which is not currently FedRAMP certified, the Government will incur additional costs associated with the Authority-to-Operate (ATO) process. Additionally, the ATO process will lengthen the amount of time for delivery for use to the Department.

5. Determination by the Ordering Activity that the Order Represents the Best Value FAR 8.404(d):

In addition to price when assessing best value for this sole source acquisition, OCIO considered the necessary FedRAMP certification for a CSP, socioeconomic status, past performance, and software special features.

FedRAMP Certified AgilQuest Corporation is the only provider capable of delivering the Department with an integrated workplace management solution that offers the highest value, lowest risk and is a FedRAMP Authorized CSP as of September 21, 2021 (FedRAMP Marketplace). There are no other workplace management software providers that are FedRAMP certified.

Socioeconomic Status The utilization of FAR Subpart 8.4 allows for the accomplishment of socioeconomic objectives. Awards granted to small and small disadvantaged businesses contribute towards an agency's goals. Therefore, AgilQuest's socioeconomic standing as a small business and Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) will assist the Department in obtaining credit for both socioeconomic business types.

Past Performance

Special Features Furthermore, AgilQuest’s current performance in DOL’s pilot has been very successful, cost effective and considered as best value. The Tango Reserve by AgilQuest workplace management software features in the current pilot have been very beneficial in:

Tracking and visualizing existing space usage to improve workplace potential.

Strategically changing space needs, including surveying of future space requirements by the

Department.

Creating unlimited what-if scenarios based on existing and future floorplans.

CAD integration.

The ability to analyze existing density and availability of space by department and space type.

Price In accordance with FAR Subpart 8.404(d) using Schedules, GSA has already determined the prices of supplies and fixed-price services under schedule contracts to be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer will request additional price discounts and conduct a price analysis to ensure the proposed pricing is fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer will make a determination that the order represents the best value to the government prior to making an award.

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 executed in compliance with FAR Part 10. The research used resources such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP), both GSA Advantage and e-Library, as well as Army Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) Information Technology Enterprise Solutions – Software 2 (ITES-SW2).

During the research, small and large business authorized service providers, namely Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc. (ETSI), New Tech Solutions, Inc., and Software Information Resource Corp. (SIRC), were identified as approved vendors on NASA SEWP, and possibly on Army CHESS and GSA. After a comprehensive evaluation, it was determined that the workplace management solution required can be obtained through the GSA Federal Supply Schedule GS-35F-470BA through AgilQuest Corporation. This choice was made because as the sole proprietor of AgilQuest Corporation since January of 2022, Tango (Tango Acquires AgilQuest (tangoanalytics.com)) is the only FedRAMP certified CSP for a workplace management solution at this time.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification:

Under order 1605TB-23-F-00043, the Department underwent a pilot effort leveraging AgilQuest’s Tango Reserve SaaS solution which began mid-April 2023 and went through mid- November 2023. During the pilot, DOL adopted practices and procedures on capturing physical space, space management, and location management which are inherent in the Tango Reserve SaaS solution.

Should the Department veer from the current Tango Reserve SaaS solution, DOL would incur additional costs associated with the rework of in place processes for physical space management. Additionally, the Department has employed various technological tools such as Microsoft 365, SAML Single Sign On (SSO), and the Department’s Azure tenet for use within the Tango Reserve solution specifically. Any change in technology would incur additional costs to refactor processes currently in place with the Tango Reserve solution. The Department has developed training, and documentation specifically built around the Tango Reserve solution. Any change in technology would also incur additional costs associated with re-training and refactoring the supporting materials.

The AgilQuest Corporation offers the necessary software and licenses for DOL’s SRS, along with addressing various business requirements and technical support functions. Their support services will encompass phone and web-based technical assistance, as well as providing access to online self-service support tools:

AgilQuest Forum AgilQuest Forum FedRAMP Premier Support for Meeting Rooms AgilQuest Forum FedRAMP Premier Support for Workspaces Forum Additions and Enhancement License – User Management Process (UMP) User Management Process (UMP)

8. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made:

Market research indicated there are no other products that will satisfy this requirement. OCIO will continue to perform market research to identify additional suppliers if the need for these services arises in the future.

OCIO will continue to research industry for software that could possibly be tested and integrated into the DOL environment in future requirements. OCIO is committed to maintaining an open and competitive environment for all subsequent acquisitions of supplies or services and the agency’s primary objective is to ensure that all acquisitions are conducted in a manner that promotes fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity.

9. Technical Certification The program/technical official further certifies that no conflict of interest exists in awarding a sole source contract to the contractor identified herein.