Sole Source Justification - VAO Subscriptions REDACTED.pdf

FY27 VAO Subscription Services

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FAR 8.401(b) (FAR Class Deviation 25-20 R1 for FAR Part 8), GSAR 538.7104-3, HSAM 3008.401-71(a)

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG), Office of

Procurement Policy, Procurement Systems & Metrics Division (HCA-PPO).

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action being Approved.

(a) Name and address of the contractor:

Unison Virtual Acquisition Office LLC

21251 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 100

Dulles, Virginia 20166

(b) Type of action: Firm Fixed Price Task Order

(d) Estimated total value (including options):

Period Unit Price Total

Base Year: 9/30/2026 to 9/29/2027

12 mo.

$27,885.05

$334,620.63

Option Year 1:

9/30/2027 to 9/29/2028

12 mo. $28,860.99 $346,331.97

Option Year 2:

9/30/2028 to 9/29/2029

12 mo. $29,871.16 $358,453.97

Option Year 3:

9/30/2029 to 9/29/2030

12 mo. $30,916.60 $370,999.21

Option Year 4:

9/30/2030 to 9/29/2031

12 mo. $31,998.58 $383,982.97

Total $1,794,388.75

(e) Type of funding: Operations and support funds

(f) Year of funding: Fiscal Year 2026

(g) Solicitation number: 70Z02326Q91230002

(h) Background information about the requirement: VAO subscription services are currently being provided under Task Order/Call Number 70Z02321FPCR00100 under BPA Number 70Z02321AACS03200 against GSA Contract Number GS-https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-8 https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-8 https://www.acquisition.gov/fss-ordering-procedures https://www.dhs.gov/publication/chapter-3008-required-sources-supplies-services

35F-131GA. The Period of Performance for this order expires on 09/29/2026.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The USCG requires an enterprise VAO subscription consisting of 350 user licenses, unlimited research inquiries, and two (2) designated Inquiry Points of Contact (POCs).

The VAO subscription provides the USCG Contracting Enterprise to include Contracting

Officer’s Representatives (CORs) with enhanced access to acquisition knowledge management and decision-support capability. It also provides them with continuously updated acquisition references, statutory and regulatory guidance, expert research support, standardized templates, practical implementation tools, webinars, and on-demand training spanning the entire acquisition lifecycle.

Beyond serving as an information resource, VAO functions as an enterprise workforce enablement capability. By providing standardized guidance, expert research assistance, and readily accessible acquisition tools, the subscription reduces research time, promotes consistent application of acquisition policy across the USCG, improves workforce proficiency, reduces procurement risk, and increases acquisition efficiency. The subscription serves as a force multiplier by expanding the capability of the existing acquisition workforce without increasing government staffing requirements.

4. Identification of Statutory Exception and Rationale.

The statutory exception is GSAR 538.7104-3(b)(ii) Only one source is capable of providing the products, services, or solution required at the level of quality required because the products, services, or solutions are unique or highly specialized.

Continued use of VAO provides significant operational benefits by promoting consistent acquisition practices across the USCG, reducing time spent researching complex acquisition issues, improving workforce proficiency, reducing procurement risk, and enabling acquisition professionals to execute procurements more efficiently. The platform serves as an enterprise capability enhancement and workforce force multiplier by increasing the effectiveness and capacity of the existing acquisition workforce without requiring additional Government personnel. Because VAO is proprietary and available exclusively through Unison Virtual Acquisition Office, LLC, no other source is authorized or capable of providing continued access to the required platform and its associated proprietary services.

5. If applicable: Demonstration of the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications to

Provide the Requirement.

The Government’s requirement is for continued access to VAO, a proprietary enterprise acquisition knowledge management platform owned and exclusively licensed by Unison

Virtual Acquisition Office, LLC. The requirement is not simply for acquisition reference materials or online training. Rather, the Government requires an integrated solution that combines:

• Proprietary acquisition knowledge management resources;

• Continuously maintained acquisition templates and practical implementation tools;

• Expert acquisition research and inquiry services;

• Enterprise-wide licensing and user management;

• Integrated webinars and on-demand professional development;

• Historical acquisition publications and research archives; and

• A centralized platform supporting acquisition professionals and CORs throughout the acquisition lifecycle.

Although other commercial and government resources provide individual acquisition references, regulations, or training, market research did not identify another commercial source capable of providing this integrated combination of proprietary content, expert inquiry services, knowledge management capabilities, standardized acquisition tools, and enterprise subscription services that satisfies the Government’s requirements.

a. There is no other contractor that can provide all the required services. The services cannot be segregated to allow for competition.

b. A review of Management Concepts, the Public Contracting Institute, and 3rd Eye

Technologies revealed that these contractors offer webinars, in person training, and online learning. However, they do not provide news, research, analysis, tools, or an on-call help desk.

c. The VAO subscription services provide information that is not available from any other source. Without these services, contracting and procurement professionals would lack access to essential information needed to do their jobs. The subscription services include a Knowledge Burst Program that sends tailored monthly messaging to subscribers on different “just in time” acquisition topics to complement USCG’s current acquisition training curriculum. As procurement actions become more complex and regulations change quickly, these subscription services help the contracting and procurement community stay informed. They provide up-to-date information that supports professionals in understanding complex requirements and adapting to new regulations.

This enables them to effectively award and manage a wide range of contracts.

6. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

I certify that this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for the justification, is accurate and complete.

[REDACTED] Date

Technical Representative/COR

7. Contracting Officer’s Certification.

I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer

APPROVAL

Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition (PAAC)