Sole Source Justification Under Federal Supply Schedule_Redacted.pdf

The contractor will not negotiate on behalf of the Government but assist contracting officers in identifying potential savings in categories which are procured on a repetitive basis.

Principles of strategic sourcing shall be applied to the following categories:

1. Domestic office furniture: by optimizing furniture volume and placement, relative to worker count, establish a process that prioritizes existing inventory and reuse before new purchases. Conduct a Lease vs. Buy analysis for potential additional savings.

2. Information Technology (IT)/Mobility: establish top carriers and consolidate data plans to realize savings from quantity discount. Rightsize usage by eliminating unused or underused lines and features.

3. Logistics (non-Diplomatic Pouch (DPM)): Shift volume to lower cost option and decrease use of expedited shipping. Test rates by conducting a competitive event, including national and regional carriers.

4. Logistics (DPM): Compete carriers, by renegotiating shipping rates by weight, locking in the rate to increase stability of transportation costs.

5. Personal Effects: Compete carriers, by renegotiating shipping rates by weight, locking in the rate to increase stability of transportation costs. Shift volume to lower cost option and decrease use of expedited shipping.

The estimated value for the entire period of performance is $475,000.00.

SECTION 4: AUTHORITY AND SUPPORTING RATIONALE

Pursuant to GSAR 538.7104-3(ii), competition for this strategic sourcing requirement should be limited to a single source because Accenture Federal Services, LLC. (AFS) is uniquely capable of performing the work at the level of quality required. AFS currently maintains the Department's internal procurement and financial systems, providing AFS with direct visibility into transactional data, spending patterns, and contract vehicles that would otherwise require extensive onboarding and system access approvals for another contractor. This existing familiarity with the Department's procurement environment enables AFS to immediately identify opportunities for cost savings and consolidation; work that a source lacking this institutional knowledge and system access could not replicate without a significant investment of time and resources, undermining the timeliness and quality the Department requires.

This unique positioning is of particular importance because of the Department's operational timeline. Several existing contracts are scheduled for re-competition before the end of the calendar year, and the strategic sourcing analysis contemplated under this action would directly inform and improve the terms, pricing, and structure of those recompetes, as well as provide proof of concept. Given the compressed timeframe, there is insufficient opportunity to onboard a new contractor, grant the necessary system access, and allow for a ramp-up period without jeopardizing the Department's ability to apply strategic sourcing to the recompetes. AFS's current access and familiarity with the relevant systems and procurement history allow them to begin substantive analysis immediately, greatly improving the likelihood that the strategic sourcing recommendations are available in time to meaningfully inform the upcoming recompete actions.

Accordingly, no other source can provide the required services or solutions at the level of quality and within the timeframe needed, as the combination of specialized system access and procurement pattern familiarity that is unique to AFS. Limiting competition to this source under GSAR 538.7104-3(ii) is therefore appropriate and necessary to meet the Department's strategic sourcing objectives and recompete deadlines.

SECTION 5: DETERMINATION BY THE ORDERING ACTIVITY CONTRACTING

OFFICER THAT THE CONTRACT ACTION REPRESENTS THE BEST VALUE

CONSISTENT WITH FAR 8.305

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated contract action will represent the best value based on the Contracting Officer’s plan to follow the procedures in FAR 8.405. Although approval is requested to contract with one source, the Contracting Officer will not award the planned contract action unless the Contracting Officer evaluates and determines that the resultant price is reasonable.

SECTION 6. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AMONG

SCHEDULE HOLDERS AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON

MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED

For the reasons listed above, only preliminary market research was conducted. Because of the timeline involved, and AFS’s existing access to the Department’s systems, there is no other firm that can provide these services in such a way as to maximize their impact.

While many firms on GSA’s multiple award schedule (MAS) are capable of performing strategic sourcing support, only AFS has immediate access to the contracting systems and history necessary to begin performance immediately after award.