SF-1013 Bloomberg_Redacted.pdf

Treasury Standard Form – 1013 (Rev 12/24)

Prescribed by Treasury: DTAP 1013.501

Tracking No.

the agency to maintain access to critical tax research tools without interruption while also promoting competition for future services.

Bloomberg has demonstrated reliable performance throughout the existing contract, consistently meeting or exceeding service level agreements and providing responsive customer support.

6. A description of efforts to ensure that offers were solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies:

The requirement was solicited as Sole Source Bridge contract requirement.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated price for this bridge contract will be fair and reasonable based on the following factors:

Comparison with existing contract: The proposed pricing for the bridge contract is consistent with the current contract rates, which were previously determined to be fair and reasonable through competition.

Market research: Preliminary market research conducted for the upcoming competitive procurement by the COR indicates that the proposed pricing is within the range of similar services offered by other providers in the electronic legal research market.

Added value services: The proposed price includes additional services such as customized training and dedicated customer support, which add value beyond the basic subscription.

Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE): The proposed pricing aligns closely with the IGCE, which was developed based on historical data and current market trends.

Price analysis: A comparison of the proposed pricing with published commercial price lists and publicly available information from other government contracts for similar services supports the determination of fair and reasonable pricing.

Based on these factors, the Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for this bridge contract will be fair and reasonable.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see FAR part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted:

Market research for this bridge contract was limited due to the urgent need to maintain continuity of services. Despite historical market research associated with previous procurements, currently market research is being conducted for the upcoming competitive procurement of electronic legal research services. This ongoing market research for the new award includes:

Treasury Standard Form – 1013 (Rev 12/24)

Prescribed by Treasury: DTAP 1013.501

Tracking No.

Request for Information (RFI): An RFI was issued on SAM.gov in 2024 to gather information on potential providers, their capabilities, and pricing models. Five responses were received and were analyzed to inform the acquisition strategy.

Industry outreach: The agency hosted virtual demonstrations in 2024, attended by three potential vendors. Additional industry sessions are being contemplated.

Market analysis: The program office has reviewed publicly available information, including annual reports, product brochures, and pricing information from major electronic legal research service vendors.

Preliminary results of the market research indicate:

• There are three potential providers capable of meeting the agency's core requirements for electronic tax research services.

• Pricing models vary among vendors.

• Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning are being integrated into tax research platforms, offering potential improvements in search efficiency and analytical capabilities.

• There is a trend towards more customizable platforms that can be tailored to specific agency needs and workflows.

This ongoing market research will inform the development of the acquisition strategy and requirements for the upcoming competitive procurement, ensuring that the long-term contract takes advantage of current market capabilities and promotes full and open competition.

9.a Any other facts supporting this justification:

Continuity of operations: The Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service relies heavily on the current electronic tax research platforms for daily operations. A lapse in service or an abrupt transition to a new system without adequate preparation could significantly impair the agency's ability to provide timely and accurate legal and tax advice.

Data integrity and historical research: The existing platform contains extensive customized databases, saved research, and annotations specific to the agency's work. A ensures continued access to this valuable historical data while a plan for data migration or preservation is developed as part of the competitive procurement process.

Training and familiarity: Treasury and IRS users are thoroughly trained and familiar with the current Bloomberg platform. The contract allows time for potential retraining and adaptation if a new provider is selected through the competitive process, minimizing disruption to operations.

Integration with existing systems: The current electronic tax research platform is integrated with other agency systems, such as document management and case tracking software. The provides time to address any integration issues that may arise if a new provider is selected.

Ongoing litigation support: The agency is currently involved in an extensive amount of active legal cases that require consistent access to the electronic tax research platform. The ensures uninterrupted support for these ongoing matters.