Gartner_Limited_Source_Justification_final1_Redacted.pdf

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

V2.0_APRIL 2017

Non-DoD #:

Control #: 191715

1. Contracting Activity The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT), Contracts Department, Code 02, Newport, RI.

2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved

The nature of this action is to procure proprietary, brand-name, commercial, off-the-shelf, Gartner Information Technologies (IT) Research and Advisory Subscriptions for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT). The brand-name Gartner subscriptions will be awarded as a Firm Fixed Price purchase order against the GSA contract number

47QTCA18D008L.

3. Description of Supplies/Services (including the estimated value)

The purchase of Gartner for

• (1) Gartner for Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus - Team Leader

• (3) Gartner for Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus - Partner Member

• (2) Gartner for Executive Programs Leadership Team Plus - Advisor Member

The period of performance for this requirement is one year from the date of award.

Fiscal year 2019 NUWCDIVNPT overhead funds will be utilized to fund this effort, and were provided from Code 00X for a strategic investment project.

4. Authority The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), the property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency.

5. Supporting Rationale

This acquisition is conducted under the regulatory authority of FAR 8.405-6(b), “An item peculiar to one manufacturer can be a particular brand-name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer” and brand name specifications are acceptable, as this brand name “is essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's needs (FAR 8.405-6(b)(1)).”

The required software services are available on the DoD ESI BPA, a mandatory source in accordance with (IAW) DFARS 208.7402. Gartner is the only ESI BPA holder, who can meet the Government requirement.

6. Best Value Determination

The contracting officer determines the order placed pursuant to this Limited Source Justification represents the Best Value to the Government. The contracting officer will make a determination of fair and reasonable pricing for this individual order using the proposal analysis techniques at 15.404-1 in accordance with Class Deviation 2014-O0011 to FAR 8.404(d).

7. Market Research

The Government conducted market research for IT Research and Advisory subscriptions based on the requirement to determine what subscriptions are available that meet the Government's needs.

The Government reviewed contractors on the DoD ESI BPA with similar service/product offerings.

Only the vendors Gartner, Forrester and Fedmine LLC listed similar products and services for comparison to the Government’s minimum specification. The market research indicated that only Gartner could meet all of the Government's requirements, as the other contractors do not have "Secret or Top Secret" security clearance that are required for the level of discussions required with the advisors. Gartner is the only solution that meets the requirements for an IT Research and Advisory subscription solution and has a Secret security clearance. Market research confirms no other companies' products meet, nor can be modified to meet, the agency's needs.

8. Other Supporting Facts The subscription will assist NUWCDIVNPT Chief Information Officers and Information Assurance Managers in developing command-wide strategic IT plans and to assist with making more informed decisions on the best technological methods to adhere to in this fast changing IT environment. NUWCDIVNPT has a completely unique operating environment that accomidates multiple classification impact levels, and as a result, subject matter experts (SMEs) often custom design IT initiatives to accommodate their mandated network requirements. The process of design and deployment of these new initiatives can be risky as the SMEs rely on testing in simulated environments to accurately predict success, and a certain level of trial and error fills the void of in-depth, experiential research on specific IT topics. The subscription provides a knowledge base on the best practices of introducing the same IT innovations in similarly-unique operating environments, thereby minimizing unknown and unforeseen conflicts. Without the knowledge that can be gained from the subscription, the Warfare Center risks failure when introducing new IT initiatives command-wide. Failure to adequately design and deploy a new IT initiative could mean delay, network down-time, user-distrust, scrapping of the project altogether, increased labor and material costs, and potential mission-essential project disruption or failure.

9. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

While conducting market research with the BPA listed agencies NUWCDIVNPT conversed with BPA listed agency sales associates and stated that there was a classicication requirement. Discussion followed that suggested holding appropriate clearances would allow them to be more competive with the DoD.

IDENTITY OF NEGOTIATOR:

SIGNATURES:

A. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION (FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(ix))

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. In addition, I hereby determine that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

B. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION (FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(x))

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and its supporting data, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

C. JUSTIFICATION APPROVAL (FAR 8.405-6(d))

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby determine the circumstances indicated in paragraph 4, above, apply to this order.

I hereby approve the Limited Sources Justification for the procurement of the supplies/services indicated in paragraph 3, above, subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.