P03 - JA KnowWare QI Macros Redacted.pdf

QI Macros Excel Add-In Software Licenses Control Number VA-25-00053431

JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Office of Procurement Acquisition and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a firm-fixed-price order to be issued under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement (SEWP) V Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for KnowWare International Inc. (KnowWare) QI Macros Excel Add-In software license upgrades.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information Technology, Business Operations, Public Services Division requirement of 350 QI Macros Excel Add-In software license upgrades. The QI Macros software allows Microsoft Excel data tables to be transposed into Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts and Six Sigma projects. Both of these imaging offerings are integral to the daily operations. The period of performance shall 12 months from the time of award with two 12-month option periods and optional task items for each period.

The total estimated value of this proposed action is inclusive of options.

4. Statutory Authority: Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 16.505(a)(4), the following brand name requirement is being justified and approved as an exception to fair opportunity under the statutory authority of Section 41 U.S.C.

4106(c)(2) as implemented by FAR Subpart 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), entitled “Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized”.

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Based on market research, as described in paragraph 8 of this justification, it was determined that limited competition is available for this procurement. Only brand name KnowWare QI Macro software is compatible and interoperable with the existing QI Macros Excel Add-In software utilizing the current infrastructure at the VA. KnowWare QI Macros software is proprietary in nature.The Macros software allows Microsoft Excel data tables to be transposed into SPC charts and SIX Sigma projects. Both of these imaging offerings are integral to the daily operations. Competing for new software would not result in savings, and the purchase of QI Macros brand name software maintenance is more advantageous to the Government.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in section 8 of this justification. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements. However, the undersigned VA technical representative determined that limited competition is available among authorized resellers for brand name Salesforce licenses, as well as software

QI Macros Excel Add-In Software Licenses Control Number VA-25-00053431 maintenance and support. In accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)(1), this justification will be provided with the solicitation to all appropriate NASA SEWP V GWAC holders. Furthermore, in accordance with FAR 5.301, 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D), and 16.505(a)(4)(iii), the award notice for this action will not be synopsized on the Contract Opportunities website and this justification will not be made publicly available within 14 days of award as the total estimated value is below the simplified acquisition threshold.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to learn if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: The Government’s technical experts conducted market research in February 2025 to ascertain if similar software could meet the VA’s requirements.

Specifically, the technical experts reviewed similar software products, including Minitab and Sigma XL. As a result of the market research, it was determined that due to its proprietary nature, no other software was found to be compatible and interoperable with the existing QI Macros Excel Add-In software currently in use in VA. Therefore, only brand name KnowWare software licenses can meet the VA’s requirements.

Additional market research was conducted in February 2025 utilizing the NASA SEWP V GWAC Market Research Tool, which resulted in the identification of multiple resellers of the required brand name KnowWare. The market research indicated that the required brand name KnowWare is offered by 20 resellers of which seven (7) are Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). As a result, there is a reasonable expectation that competition exists on the NASA SEWP V GWAC for the brand name KnowWare QI Macros Excel Add-In software licenses.

9. Other Facts: None