NSF LSJ ITCS_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SSEL

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

OFFICE OF BUDGET, FINANCE AND AWARD MANAGEMENT

DIVISION OF ACQUISITION AND COOPERATIVE SUPPORT

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

GSA ORDERS

FOR 47QRAA19D0069 IT CUSTOMER SERVICE

Pursuant to the Multiple Award Schedule Program (Title 41 U.S.C. §152(3)), this justification is prepared in accordance with the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6, Limiting Sources. The circumstance justifying restriction is FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C) and is supported by the following facts and rationale.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support (DACS), Contract Operations Branch on behalf of the Office of Information Resource Management (OIRM)/Division of Information Systems (DIS) proposes to award an order pursuant to FAR 8.405-6, Limiting Sources.

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

It is anticipated that a logical follow-on will be awarded to NTT Data Services Federal Government LLC (SAM UEI: WLDXH4S6J7G6) as a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) and Time and Materials (T&M) order under General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) 54151S, IT Professional Services. This justification provides the rationale to award the contract action.

3. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

The requirement is to provide the National Science Foundation (NSF) with Information Technology Customer Services (ITCS). The work is to support users at NSF's Alexandria HQ and working remotely at a total cost of The period of performance for these services will be six (6) months. The Information Technology Customer Support (ITCS) contract provides customer call center support, deskside technical support, and other help desk services to agency staff and customers. This order supports the agency’s mission and operations by providing scientists, researchers, members of academia, and other members of the public with assistance in using NSF’s business systems to submit proposals, check on the status of grant payments, etc. Without this order in place, external customers and stakeholders may experience significant issues completing transactions with NSF – for example, they would not be able to receive technical support in resetting passwords, troubleshooting issues with proposal submission, drawing down fund increments associated with grant payments, etc. These services are critical to the performance of the NSF mission.

ITCS not only provides rapid problem resolution services to NSF IT users but is also a vital link to the scientific research community. Academic and private sector grant seekers who utilize NSF systems for submitting and reviewing grant proposals are over 80% of the callers to NSF Help Central. ITCS staff assist grant seekers in using NSF systems, correcting errors and resolving issues with the many types of NSF grant proposals. ITCS also plays a critical role in assisting grant application reviewers in setting up review panels, providing assistance with NSF systems during the proposal review process, and providing rapid problem resolution when problems arise, keeping the merit review process on track.

4. The authority and supporting rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the services.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C) as a logical follow-on to a prior competitively awarded Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) No.

47QRAA19D0069/NSFDACS15B1182Call Orders No. 49100421F0124, 49100421F0164, and 49100421F0141 which were awarded on August 21, 2021, expiring on August 20, 2022.

These logical follow-on orders to NTT on sole source basis are necessary since the current task orders cannot be extended and are necessary to ensure there is not lapse of critical IT services to the NSF. If and when the competitive BPA for these services is upheld, or a new order must be reissued, sufficient time to successfully transition NSF to the new competitive BPA will be required. It is unknown at this time if the competitive BPA award will be upheld, or if corrective actions will be required by the court.

NTT is uniquely qualified to provide ITCS services to NSF under this logical follow-on contract action pending a transition to a new competitive BPA. NTT currently provides these services and can immediately transition to a new BPA with no diminution of critical services to NSF. The issuance of an order to another company would result in substantial delay of performance, given the long lead time required for a new vendor to capture and hire incumbent contractor staff, hire new replacement staff, and become an expert in executing NSF IT operations.

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

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on utilization of pricing from the GSA MAS, previously competitively award rates, and historical pricing data possessed by NSF. By signing this justification, the Contracting Officer makes a determination that the price represents the best value to the Government.

6. Description of market research conducted.

To conduct market research, NSF reviewed available providers of IT Facility Operations and Maintenance subgroup under the GSA MAS 54151S for IT Professional Services. This market research confirmed that the current ITCS provider, NTT, is still eligible for award and provides fair and reasonable pricing for the services.

7. Any other facts supporting the Justification.

A competitive recompete BPA (49100422A0002) was formed on April 6, 2022, to DirectViz Solutions, LLC. A timely protest was filed against this award in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and remains unresolved. The most economical and efficient way to maintain critical services pending resolution of the COFC protest is to issue a short term logical follow on to the previously competitive order.

8. 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.

The Agency will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.