SAS Renewal Limited Source.docx

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Chief Financial Officer Contracts and Acquisitions Management

Limited Sources Justification Renewal of SAS Software Maintenance

1. IDENTIFICATION:

Agency Office:

Institute of Education Sciences 550 12th Street, SW, Floor 4 Washington, DC 20202

Contracting Activity:

United States Department of Education Contracts and Acquisitions Management 550 12th Street, SW, Floor 7 Washington, DC 20202

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION(S) BEING APPROVED:

The United States Department of Education (Department) is a cabinet level Federal Agency that resides in the Executive Branch and is charged with the responsibility of promulgating and administering education policy and management of Federal educational loans and grants programs, as enacted by Congress. One of the centers within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), has a need to purchase maintenance and support services for Statistical Analysis System (SAS) licenses. In 2009, the Department purchased SAS Business Intelligence and Statistical Software Tools under contract ED-OCO-10-O-0116 to support statistical data analysis and reporting of EDFacts data. The SAS licenses drive the Analytics and Information Management System (AIMS) in EDFacts for data reporting and analysis.

The contract file included a sole source requirement thus limiting the sources for competition, as set forth under FAR 6.302-1, Items peculiar to one manufacturer. The Department has invested time and resources in training Department staff to use the SAS product. In addition, Department technology support contractors have assigned staff that are knowledgeable in using SAS to conduct statistical analyses. The Department is required to purchase software maintenance annually in order to receive software updates, bug fixes, and support, should issues arise.

SAS sells to the government exclusively through Executive Information Systems (EIS) on the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule; therefore, the Department must procure this support through EIS.

The purpose of this acquisition is to procure annual software licenses and support for Statistical Analytics System (SAS).

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

· Project title: Renewal of SAS Software Maintenance

· Description of supplies or services: The purpose of this acquisition is to procure annual software licenses and support for Statistical Analytics System (SAS).

· The Delivery Date is anticipated to be September 30, 2024.

· Estimated amount: $432,000.00

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING LIMITING SOURCES AND SUPPORTING RATIONALE:

The statutory authority permitting the limitation of sources is implemented by FAR 8.405-6. The specific rationale for this justification is based on FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), which pertains to limiting sources for items peculiar to one manufacturer. Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

The Department has invested time and resources in training Department staff to use the SAS product. In addition, Department technology support contractors have assigned staff that are knowledgeable in using SAS to conduct statistical analyses. The Department is required to purchase software maintenance annually in order to receive software updates, bug fixes, and support, should issues arise.

SAS sells to the government exclusively through Executive Information Systems (EIS) on the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule; therefore, the Department must procure this support through EIS. SAS provided the government with a letter confirming that EIS is the only approved reseller.

5. BEST VALUE DETERMINATION

The pricing established by the General Services Administration (GSA) under its Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts have already been deemed fair and reasonable. In addition, the estimated amount of the award to SAS Institute is based on the IGCE which is based on historical data for this software license. Therefore, the anticipated cost to the Government is considered to be fair and reasonable based on historical data for the expenses incurred by similar contracts in place in the previous years.

6. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH

The manufacturer was contacted, and a letter was provided confirming that EIS is the only authorized reseller for government customers located in the United States.

7. OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS:

No other facts were used to support this Limited Sources Justification.

8. STATEMENT OF ACTION TO REMOVE BARRIERS:

The Department is procuring proven software on a firm-fixed price basis in order to continue utilizing SAS software to support statistical data analysis and reporting of EDFacts data. On an annual basis, the continued need for SAS maintenance and support services will be identified and market research will be conducted to determine whether there are other providers of the relevant SAS services.

9. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

By signing below “I have reviewed this limited sources justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.”

Approved By:

Tracey Perry Contracting Officer image2.emf image1.png