SOLE SOURCE Special Notice.pdf

This is a SOLE SOURCE Special Notice in support of a planned SOLE-SOURCE acquisition— by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy Resource Directorate of a three-year subscription to services provided by Politico Pro.

That planned award would have one Base Year and two Option Years. Its estimated aggregate grand total value, as counted across that Base Year and all Options Years, is approximately $170,700.00.

1. IDENTIFICATION OF AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY AGENCY

REQUIRING ACTIVITY: The Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy Resource Directorate, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590. The contracting activity is the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST), Acquisition Services Division (M-63), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590.

2. DESCRIPTION OF CONTEMPLATED SOLE-SOURCE PROCUREMENT

ACTION: The Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy Resource Directorate have a need for a specialized news coverage service for twenty (20) users. This action would continue the existing Politico Pro services for those offices via the awarding of a new Sole Source contract to cover a Base Year plus two Option Years running from approximately April 10, 2026, through approximately April 9, 2029, if DOT exercises both Option Years of that now-contemplated new contract with Politico Pro. Such a sole-source award is necessary to give DOT employees access to a legislative news cycle that impacts Transportation.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS:

The Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy Resource Directorate requires the continuation of all of their existing Politico Pro services. The Politico Pro provides the most distinct coverage of Washington and beyond, and thousands of politics and policy professionals depend on this publication each day to do their jobs. Politico Pro's team of more than 100 accomplished journalists delivers to subscriber’s game-changing developments and exclusive insights in the areas of Agriculture, Campaigns, Cybersecurity, Defense, Education, eHealth, Energy, Financial Services, Health Care, Labor & Employment, Technology, Trade, Transportation and Tax, meets the information requirements for OST/S3 approved, on-going and projected transportation projects.

In addition, DOT’s existing Politico Pro subscription service provides the following:

Access to all POLITICO Pro policy areas: previously, the team’s plan included access to 14 policy areas. Users now have access to all 30 of POLITICO Pro’s policy areas on the platform and are no longer required to purchase access to additional policy areas if needed as would have been the case under our previous model.

Subscription credit flexibility: with a Pro subscription, each user now has 14 subscription credits that they can attribute to any of Pro’s 30 policy areas to fully customize the news alerts receive they receive based on their individual needs and policy focus.

Full access to legislative and regulatory tracking tools: the team’s subscription now includes full access to Pro’s state and federal legislative tracker along with a newly built out federal and state regulatory tracker for monitoring the federal and state rule making process.

Pro’s re-designed policy intelligence platform: as of this month, the users now have access to a fully redesigned POLITICO Pro homepage dashboard that optimizes workflow by displaying team members’ customized news stories, bill and regulatory tracking, and calendar all in one place.

Projects workflow tool: Pro now includes access to the Projects functionality that allows users to collaborate with one another by organizing and compiling content across the platform in one workflow tool, streamlining group work and further consolidating aspects of your team’s work that can be completed within the platform.

4. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITING OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

Only one source can provide the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. The statutory authority for the proposed contract with Politico Pro is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1,(a), which states that an executive agency may use procedures other than competitive procedures only --- (2) “When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.” While other vendors may be able to fulfil this requirement, however, Politico Pro is the only vendor that will meet OST needs to continue with providing proficient services in support of the required.

5. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION THAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS

ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE CONTRACTING

OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF:

The contemplated new sole-source contract with Politico Pro would enable DOT’s Office of Governmental Affairs, The Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy Resource Directorate to continue to utilize subscription services provided by Politico Pro. Switching to another vendor at this point in the program would require substantial duplication of time and resources already devoted to customizing a new service, which would be unlikely to be an offset and recovered through competition. A new vendor would have to replicate the work DOT has already put in place with Politico Pro.

Therefore, Politico Pro is only vendor that can meet DOT’s current needs.

6. EFFORTS MADE TO OBTAIN COMPETITION, AND 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:

This Sole Source Special Notice numbered 693JK426Q600002, as published by DOT contracting officer Melinda Riddick in the SAM.gov website, constitutes the needed notice contemplated in FAR 5.207-2.

7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND

REASONABLE:

The Contracting Officer reviewed the proposed rates. Moreover, each invoice submitted by the contractor during performance of this contract will be scrutinized for allowability, allocability and reasonableness of billed cost in accordance with FAR Part 31. The anticipated costs for the Base Year period of this requirement is $53,100.00 and have been deemed fair and reasonable based on historical data. All costs for services will be evaluated to ensure a fair and reasonable cost to the Government.

8. A DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS

OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON THAT MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT

CONDUCTED:

Pricing is deemed fair and reasonable. There are currently no actions being taken to prohibit the competitive acquisition process. Based on manufacture and internet research there is not another direct replacement that would not add additional cost to the government in order to maintain.

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND

OPEN COMPETITION:

Not applicable.

10. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO

REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFOREANY

SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THESE SERVICES:

No Contractors have expressed interest at this time as no notification was issued identifying the opportunity against the existing contract. Politico Pro and OST Contracting Officer will take all steps necessary to ensure that all the rules of procurement integrity are followed in addition to ensuring compliance with the Competition in Contract Act.

11. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION THAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS

ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE CONTRACTING

OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF:

As confirmed by the signature below, the Contracting Officer Representative hereby certifies that the facts and representations included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of her/his knowledge and belief.

OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND:

Any entity OTHER THAN Politico Pro—which believes that it is fully capable of meeting DOT’s needs and requirements at the high level of thoroughness and quality indispensable to the Department—may attempt to prove that point by e-mailing a Statement of Qualifications to Melinda.Riddick@dot.gov and to Tammi.Daniels@dot.gov no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Time April 9, 2026.

mailto:Melinda.Riddick@dot.gov mailto:Tammi.Daniels@dot.gov