Systegra_PC157021_LimitedSourcesJustification.pdf

PEACE CORPS/HEADQUARTERS PC-15-7-021

Limited Sources Justification

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

This justification is prepared by the United States Peace Corps, Office of Acquisition and Contracts Management (OACM) on behalf of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). The OACM is located at the following address:

Peace Corps Office of Acquisition and Contracts Management 1111 20th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20526

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

The award of a firm-fixed price contract; PC-15-7-021 to Systegra Inc. located at 132 Stoneledge Place NE, Leesburg VA 20176 for security operations support services. The award was made on a sole source basis under U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Information Technology Schedule 70 Contract (IT 70 Schedule). The term of the contract (recognized as a bridge) will be for a 12 month period and will contain a 6 month base period and two 3 month option periods. The need for the bridge contract is entirely due to unanticipated delays encountered by the Government’s acquisition team responsible for conducting the planned competitive procurement action for the follow-on contract. The two option periods (of three (3) months each) may be exercised should the agency encounter additional delays and/or if necessary to accommodate an adequate transition period to the follow-on contract.

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

The Peace Corps has a need for continued cyber security infrastructure support within the Security Operations Center (SOC). The SOC primary responsibilities include identification and remediation of incidents, vulnerability scanning, threat analysis, operation and maintenance of SOC and forensics. This contract will supply a technical support service team to efficiently and professionally manage areas of information security engineering, cyber threat analyses, vulnerability scanning, forensics, process automation, optimization, as well as SOC operations and maintenance in execution of the agency’s Information Security Program.

The estimated value for this bridge contract is $733,800.00.

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

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405- 6(a)(1)(i)(B) – Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required.

Given the importance and complex nature of this requirement, the lack of time to conduct a competitive action, and the need for a transition period, the agency has decided to award PC-15-7- 021 to Systegra Inc. for the continued development and production of Peace Corps security infrastructure. Awarding this action to any other source other than Systegra Inc. at this moment would likely result in security risks, unacceptable outages, substantial duplication of cost and unacceptable delays.

Systegra, has the historical knowledge of Peace Corps security technology, working under Indefinite Delivery/Indefinitely Quantity (IDIQ) contract PC-11-4-003. Under contract PC-11-4-003, Systegra Inc. has made the required engineering changes to expand the agency’s security system and to ensure that Peace Corps security infrastructure remains secure and in accordance with federal security regulations. Systegra has developed a robust understanding of the various different security procedures and tools used at the agency. They have configured, deployed, operated and managed the critical AlienVault, Imperva and Tenable security tools domestically and internationally for the agency. Some other unique agency technical requirements that Systegra is familiar with include:

• AlienVault Enterprise Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM)

• AlienVault Enterprise USM and Logger

• Linux (Red Hat, Debian & Ubanta)

• IPS rules (Suricata a & snort)

• Forensic Tools (Forensic Tool Kit -FTK, Helix Pro)

Having the current and historical knowledge of the Peace Corps security system and tools makes Systegra uniquely qualified to provide the in-depth security services required to meet the demanding conditions under which the Peace Corps operates. The inability to continue these mission critical services while the Peace Corps is conducting the follow-on competition would severely impact the agency and put the agency at unnecessary risk and in violation of federal security regulations.

This justification will be posted on Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website notifying industry of the agency’s intent to sole source Peace Corp security operation support services requirement to Systegra Inc. for a period of up to 12 months, while a follow-on competitive procurement action is awarded.

5. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d).

As the bridge contract will be awarded under IT 70 Schedule, pursuant to FAR Subpart 8.404(d), Multiple Award Schedule offers are listed as fixed prices and GSA has already determined Schedules prices and rates to be fair and reasonable. Furthermore, as the previous contract, PC-11-4-003, was awarded using competitive procedures, the Contracting Officer will work with Systegra Inc. to maintain either the current contract pricing or the GSA Schedule pricing, whichever is lower, ensuring a fair and reasonable price to the Peace Corps.

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.

In accordance with FAR Part 10 Market Research was conducted and concluded that at this time Systegra Inc. is the only vendor who can meet the government’s requirements. The Peace Corps has no plans at this time to select another contractor due to the factors outlined in Section 4 of this document. A follow-on competitive action will be awarded in the near future.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

None.

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

The Peace Corps is committed to continuing the practice of increasing competition in an effort to select the most cost-effective solution in fulfilling the agency’s operational goals. Actions are underway to conduct a competitive follow-on procurement for this requirement. It is anticipated that the award of a new contract for cyber security infrastructure support within the Security Operations Center will be awarded on or before March 15, 2016.

9. The ordering activity contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Adrianne Wells, Contracting Officer Date

10. Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

I certify that the technical information contained in this document for which I am responsible is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Pam Duvall, Program Manager Date