REDACTED Limiting-Competition-under-SAT_ACC.pdf

Control No:

Version – February 2017

Memorandum for Record – Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified

Acquisition Threshold

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command (ACC)-Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) – Huachuca Division, 2133 Cushing Street, Building 61801, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-7070

2. Description of Action: The United States Army Regional Cyber Center Southwest Asia (USARCC-SWA) requires the Brand Name purchase of INFOSEC Institute Boot Camp courses in the corresponding amount of $. These Boot Camps will be used to facilitate the delivery and certification of USARCC-SWA personnel to fulfill their associated DoD Cyber Workforce roles. The funding provided for this new requirement is Fiscal Year (FY23) funds using the Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA) funding from NETCOM.

3. Description of Services or Supplies: Purchase of one (1) voucher for $. providing INFOSEC Institute Boot Camp courses that contain a variety of training and vouchers depending upon course selection. This voucher will cover approximately 40-60 people that can take training under the voucher. Voucher will cover pre-study to completion, provide access to On-Demand training for continuous training.

4. Authority: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization.

5. Reasons for Authority Cited: The United States Army Regional Cyber Center Southwest Asia (USARCC-SWA) is responsible for the operations & maintenance, management, security, protection, defense, and compliance of all computer network systems in the Southwest Asia (SWA) Theater. The USARCC-SWA provides supervision and ensures adherence to ARCYBER and NETCOM cyber tasking orders that affect over 10,000 workstations, 2,123 servers, and over 5,000 users geographically dispersed over nine (9) countries. The average tour length for a Soldier assigned to the USARCC-SWA is 12 months; therefore, emphasizing the necessity to have training and certification autonomy. USARCC-SWA leadership must have the flexibility to manage participation and execute a training program that affords maximum certification attempts and an unconstrained delivery option. Soldiers of the USARCC- SWA must obtain and remain DOD 8570/DOD 8140 certified for elevated network privileges on the SWA Domain.

6. Publicizing Contract Actions: For FAR Part 13 actions, the public display Action is a brand name restriction, over $25K. It will be redacted and posted with the solicitation.

7. Market Research: Searches were conducted through online resources in which INFOSEC INSTITUTE, Training Academy, Intellectual Point, and Pro Train submitted market research quotes in MAY/JUNE 2023. A price analysis was conducted based on

Control No:

Version – February 2017 the initial market research. The data from the market research was analyzed against the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) concept. The brand name INFOSEC Institute is the preferred vendor based on the below details: 90 day extended access to Boot Camp Components; 90 day software skills subscription; 90 day access to Cyber Range for lab based training requirements; 2nd EXAM RETAKE VOUCHER FOR ALL COURSES; COURSE RETAKE FOR 12 months after original course date; Most extensive course offerings from other vendors.

INFSOEC Institute provided an email stating “they have resellers and some of them are small business.” This email was provided to contracting on 25 July 2023.

8. Other Facts: N/A

9. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

10. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon price analysis. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that completing this purchase as a sole source is in the best interest of the Government. Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.