Redacted ITAC JEFO IEEE IEL Subscription.pdf

Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity(JEFO) for Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Electronic Library (IEL) Subscription Services

JEFO No.: - - 1 -

JEFO No.: -

Date: 11/19/2024 PR Number: - -

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) Information Technology Acquisition Center (ITAC) prepared this Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity (JEFO).

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

DHS OPO intends to award a task order without considering other awardees under Library of Congress (LC) Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract Number LCFDL24D0008 pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B).

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

DHS has a requirement to provide access to industry standards incorporated by reference for compliance by all components, as well as industry research published through conference proceedings, journals, and transactions. DHS researchers, engineers, cyber security threat assessment teams, and emergency management personnel require access to a searchable database that contains the following requirements: National Electrical Safety Code Online, Aerospace Electronics, Blockchain Technology, Cybersecurity, Digital Health, Smart Grid, Information Technology, Nuclear Engineering, Power and Energy, Radiation, Robotics/Automation, Storage Systems Collection, Vehicular Technology, and Wake Up Radio.

The Independent Government Cost Estimate for this effort is $ The Period of Performance (PoP) is for one (1) 12 Month Base Period and Three (3) twelve

(12) Month Option Periods.

Periods Period of Performance Estimate

Base Period 01/01/2025 - 12/31/2025 $ Option Period 1 01/01/2026 - 12/31/2026 $ Option Period 2 01/01/2027 - 12/31/2027 $ Option Period 3 01/01/2028 - 12/31/2028 $ Total $

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4. Identify the exception to fair opportunity and supporting rationale, including a demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the exception cited.

X FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B). 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.

Rationale:

IEEE is the exclusive publisher and copyright holder to IEEE IEL content. IEEE is the only vendor that can provide access to these services. There are no other services offering the same content or the IEEE Xplore platform. IEEE meets the requirements of DHS. DHS researchers, engineers, cyber security threat assessment teams, and emergency management personnel protect America through research and development, staying up to date on the latest cyber security innovations including threat assessments, and ensure government property is safe and secure by utilizing industry standards and specifications incorporated by reference. This subscription provides online access to the full-text papers, journals, conference materials, eBooks, and other resources included in the IEL subscription. This mission requires access to a searchable database that contains industry standards and specifications incorporated by reference for compliance by all components, industry research published through IEEE sponsored conference proceedings, journals, transactions, and magazines.

A subscription to IEEE will provide DHS the capability to conduct science-based threat and risk analysis. These services will assist with Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats, Secure Cyberspace and Critical Infrastructure, Secure U.S. Borders and Approaches, and Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience missions. IEEE IEL is a crucial knowledge repository for evidence based scientific literature. IEEE IEL is a leading authority in electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) events. The breadth and depth of scientific EMP and GMD literature published by IEEE IEL provides Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Science & Technology (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) the capability to understand EMP and GMD threats to the United States (US), which enables science-based threat and risk assessments to US Critical Infrastructure. Knowledge gained from harnessing existing science-based evidence and standards and specifications empowers DHS to develop protocols for protecting US Critical Infrastructure, which includes the National Public Warning System which is FEMA’s national system for local alerting that provides authenticated emergency and life-saving information to the public. IEEE IEL unquestionably has the most in-depth content coverage in a single source. It provides a library which allows DHS to have access to almost a third of the world’s current electrical engineering and computer science literature and IEEE published standards for radiation monitoring and detection for Homeland Security.

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With this research and data, DHS researchers, engineers, cyber security threat assessment teams, and emergency management personnel will be better able to meet industry engineering and technology standards, remain up to date on the latest engineering and technology innovations, and perform the highest quality engineering and technology research and development (R&D).

Without this research and data, DHS will not be able to support its missions of Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats, Secure Cyberspace and Critical Infrastructure, Secure U.S. Borders and Approaches, or Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience.

5. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Prices have been previously negotiated by the LC and were determined to be fair and reasonable at time of award. The order level Contracting Officer will verify that the price for this effort is consistent with the pricing in FEDLINK Contract Number LCFDL24D0008 and request additional discounts.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification.

DHS has a Directive for Efficiency Review Initiative: Subscription Consolidation, Directive Number: 072-01, Revision Number: 00. This Directive establishes the DHS RLIS and sets forth the policies for managing and operating the Program. The RLIS Program supports the information and research needs of DHS Components; is an information resource center providing access to research and information subscriptions in accordance with the DHS Efficiency Review process; and serves as an information resource center that collects and organizes research materials instrumental to the mission of DHS Components.

7. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

The RLIS program office regularly performs market research such as reviewing Government and Commercial databases, reviewing professional journals and attending conferences to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity, and will continue to do so before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

8. DHS intends to post this requirement on sam.gov pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D).

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9. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

Pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(B)(9), I certify that this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which form a basis for the justification, are accurate and complete.

Technical Representative/COR

10. Contracting Officer Certification

Pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(B)(8), I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Information Technology Acquisition Center (ITAC) Office of Procurement Operations

11. Approval.

I hereby determine that the circumstance in FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) applies.

Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition Office of Procurement Operations