Redacted_Datawatch_J A.doc

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION > SAT

Brand Name

Licenses and Maintenance Renewal of Datawatch Modeler

NITYU5RC202

REFERENCES:

· In accordance with FAR Subpart 6.3, the contracting agency is required to prepare a sole source justification using the format at FAR 6.303-2, as provided below.

DOCUMENTATION:

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

Requiring Activity

Joshua Lisowski DFAS Bratenahl

Information and Technology ZTABD

555 E. 88th Street

Bratenahl, Oh 44108

216-204-3520

Joshua.S.Lisowski.civ@mail.mil Contracting Activity

DFAS Columbus

Contract Services Directorate

Building 21, Room 2B218

3990 E. Broad St.

Columbus, OH 43213-1152

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

The purpose of this document is to obtain necessary approvals for a brand name acquisition in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c) and FAR 6.303. Competition is limited to authorized sellers and distributors nd no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.The software needed is essential to the Government’s requirements and market research indicates other companies’ similar products cannot meet the needs of DFAS.

The procurement strategy is to issue an open market Request for Quote through FedBizOpps in accordance with FAR 13.5, Test Program for Commercial Items/ the Services Reform Act of 2003.

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

This requirement is for the procurement of a quantity of 148 DataWatch Desktop (Modeler) Licenses (Part Number- FPDDESK120-AESDT1) and maintenance (Part Number- DESK-MNT) for those licenses. These licenses are used within many different organizations within DFAS Operations. The software is used to pull data from multiple file types and data sources into a single location so users can create customized, real-time reports without programming skills.

The contract will include a base year plus four option years. The estimated cost for the base period is $306,049.20. The estimated option period cost is $55,189.20 per year for maintenance coverage of the 148 licenses. The estimated cost for the total contract (base period and four one-year option periods) is $526,806.00. (Option periods are estimated at $55,189.20 a year)

(4) An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c) authorizes the Department of Defense (DoD) to contract without full and open competition under certain circumstances. For this acquisition, other than full and open competition is permitted per FAR 6.302-1 as only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirements.

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The DataWatch Desktop (Modeler) product is a desktop based product that interacts with a DataWatch server based product. DFAS runs a Windows Server with that DataWatch DataPump Server product installed. DFAS has invested $158,000.00 into the hardware and software for this server and without the DataWatch Desktop (Modeler) product licenses, this server would become obsolete. DFAS currently owns older versions of the DataWatch Desktop (Modeler) product now but those old versions are unsupported and no longer allowed to be installed on the DFAS network. The DataWatch Modeler product is currently being used throughout DFAS and this requirement will simply upgrade the version on the licenses as well as provide maintenance going forward. The maintenance is critical in order to meet audit readiness for the software because in order to be audit ready DFAS must maintain a supported version of the DataWatch Modeler product.

We have completed market research and have confirmed that the DataWatch Desktop (Modeler) product is the only product of its kind in the sense that anyone can use it. All of the other tools on the market that complete the same functions are very detailed and complicated software packages that are used by software developers and programmers, while the Datawatch product allows for anyone without software programming and developing to use easily. Switching to another product would cost DFAS roughly $450,000 for new licenses and another $100,000 per year to maintain. In addition DFAS would have to provide $115,000 in training to teach the DFAS users how to use the more complicated tool. In addition DFAS would have to purchase another server based product and hardware which would cost roughly $125,000.00 in software, hardware, and implementation.

Below is list of salient features for the DataWatch Modeler Product:

· Compatability to work with a wide range of report formats including PDF, XML, HTML, text, spool and ASCII files

· Ability to access data from invoices, sales reports, balance sheets, customer lists, inventory, and logs

· Minimum of 70 pre-built functions designed specifically for data preparation

· Ability to remove or obscure confidential PII data with redaction capabilities

· Ability to export to databases and flat files

· Ability to connect to DataWatch Server

· User friendly interface so non technical employees can use

(6) A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

An open market Request for Quote (RFQ) will be issued through FedBizOpps in accordance with FAR 13.5, Test Program for Commercial Items.

(7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The following is a high-level Government cost estimate: $526,806.00 for a period of performance of June 22, 2015 to June 21, 2016. Four option years could potential extend coverage until June 21, 2020.

In determining a fair and reasonable price, the Contracting Officer will evaluate a more detailed breakdown from a formal Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). The detailed estimate will provide the cost of individual service items identified above. Additionally, price comparisons will also be accomplished from as many other sources as possible, including commercially as well as any Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC).

These products are available from multiple authorized resellers. Based on market research, it is anticipated that open market pricing will be fair and reasonable.

Leveraging DFAS’ current use of the Manufacturers product and services, along with open market price comparison, the contracting officer is confident in obtaining the best value for DFAS.

(8) A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Availability and pricing information was sought from:

· Immersion Consulting

· Mobile Software

· Datawatch

· Carahsoft

NOTE: Based on additional market research there may be other interested sources as well.

Market research was conducted for the purpose of seeking as many potential sources as possible. Although Manufacturer is the sole manufacturer and provider of the product, there are multiple distributors with the required software and maintenance available on the open market and on GSA Advantage. Market research also indicates other companies’ similar products cannot meet the needs of DFAS. An RFQ will be posted on FedBizOpps in accordance with FAR 13.5, Test Program for Commercial Items. Competition will be sought among all authorized resellers for the best possible pricing. Market research has shown that Manufacturer products are available in a competitive environment on the open market.

(9) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as:

Nothing to add to this section that has not already been articulated within this justification document.

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

· Immersion Consulting

· Mobile Software

· Datawatch

· Carahsoft

(11) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

This solicitation will be publicized in accordance with FAR Part 5.2 in the interest of locating additional sources.

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that this justification is made in good faith, that the supporting data and information are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I would not be making this request if it were feasible to fully compete this requirement.

Requiring Activity/Program Management Office Certification

Printed Name:_____________________________

Title Org. Code ______________________________

Signature Phone Date_________

Contracting Officer Certification

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. I certify that this J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Printed Name: ______________ Title Contracting Officer

Organization Code DFAS/CSD-CO/ZECAB Signature_________________________ Phone Date_________

REVIEW FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY

Printed Name _______________________________________________________ Title __________________________ Organization Code ____________________ Signature_______________________ Phone ____________________Date_________

APPROVAL

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

PROCUREMENT SENSITIVE

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE