ISSI_LSJ_Redacted.pdf

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION (LSJ)

1. IDENTIFICATION OF AGENCY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE

Agency: Social Security Administration

Contracting Office: Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance, Quality, and Management

Office of Acquisition and Grants

Contracting Officer (CO): Angela Lee

(212) 264-3529

Program Office: Office of Learning (OL)

Contracting Officer’s Anthony Burns

Representative (COR): (410) 966-1225

Title: Learning Management System (LMS)

Proposed Contractor: International Software Systems, Inc. (ISSI)

2. NATURE OF ACTION

We seek approval of an LSJ to obtain LMS maintenance, a Section 508 compatibility change to make its software complaint with IE11, and additional services as needed. We will solicit a quote from ISSI and award a firm-fixed price blanket purchase agreement (BPA).

3. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND ESTIMATED COST

Estimated Cost: $4 million

OL is responsible for training efforts nationwide covering approximately 65,000 active employees in 1,300 geographically dispersed sites. OL develops policy and procedures and administers all nation-wide training and development programs. OL also manages the national Interactive Video Tele-training network and oversees all other training activities.

LMS is essentially a software system for delivering, tracking, and managing employee learning. We implemented the ISSI LMS in fiscal year (FY) 2010 to meet the challenges in developing and administering training programs utilizing new methods of training delivery.

We currently host our LMS at ISSI contractor facilities that are available to all employees for online training. The solution includes a help desk with training on how to use the system and access to eBooks. We will eventually maintain employee-training records on line. Our current BPA agreement expires on March 18, 2015.

We would like to examine the current IT marketplace to explore state-of-the-art talent management systems. In April 2014, the team engaged a Government agency to determine if a shared service was a possibility for the talent management solution. We were informed in

November 2014 that additional time would be required before the Department of the Interior

(DOI) could provide a talent management solution through an Interagency Agreement. DOI informed the agency they will be moving away from the solution they currently have. In addition, for the current FY and possibly the next, DOI will not be doing interagency agreements (IAA) with new client agencies. With this information, we cannot do an IAA with DOI until possibly late in FY 2016. Once we can conduct a marketplace analysis, we will be in a better position to determine what current tools best meet today’s needs. To cover the marketplace, we will again look at shared services provided through an IAA by contacting DOI. We will also look at other vendors who can provide services and see if any are able to meet our needs. We could then hold a competition and make a new award. This

2-year bridge BPA will provide breathing room while we conduct this competition and implement a replacement system.

4. AUTHORITY AND JUSTIFICATION RATIONALE

We are conducting this acquisition under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule

Program (Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.401), and ordering software maintenance consistent with the policy and procedures set forth at FAR 8.405-6, which provides that

“orders placed under Federal Supply Schedules are exempt from the competition requirements in Part 6” of the FAR. However, FAR 8.405-6 requires the agency to provide an LSJ when restricting consideration under paragraph (b) of 8.405-6. The rationale for this justification is FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C) – “the new work is a logical follow-on to an original

Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original order or BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.” The original BPA Order SS00-10-40022 was competed among GSA schedule orders.

5. DETERMINATION OF BEST VALUE

As provided in FAR 8.404(d), the General Services Administration (GSA) has already determined the prices offered of supplies and fixed-price services and rates for services offered at hourly rates, under schedule contracts, to be fair and reasonable. By placing an order against a schedule contract using the procedures in FAR 8.405, the CO has concluded that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the Government’s needs. In addition, the CO will seek a price reduction for prices offered by ISSI consistent with FAR 8.405-4.

6. MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED

ISSI is the only vendor capable of providing the necessary support. Since ISSI holds the copyright, only ISSI has legal access necessary to provide updates, upgrades, fixes, and patches of the source code. Therefore, ISSI is the only entity capable of meeting our needs.

7. OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS

ISSI has been determined to be a responsible contractor by GSA in accordance with

FAR 9.104.

8. REMOVING OR OVERCOMING BARRIERS

We can legally only obtain support and maintenance of existing software from the software provider.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE COR

AND CONCURRENCE OF THE PROGRAM OFFICIALS

The COR and other program officials hereby certify that the information provided in support of this LSJ is accurate and complete.

CERTIFICATION BY THE CO

AND OTHER CONTRACTING OFFICIALS

The CO and other contracting officials hereby certify that the content of this justification is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge and belief and concur in the recommendation for an LSJ.

RECOMMEND: 01/29/2015

Angela Lee, Contracting Officer Date

Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG)

Office of Information Technology Acquisition (OITA)

Division of IT Software and Maintenance (DITSM)

CONCUR: 2/6/2015

Jane M. Quinn, Division Director Date

OAG, OITA, DITSM

CONCUR: 2/6/2015

Christian Hellie, Office Director Date

OAG, OITA

CONCUR: Cathy A. Bella 2/10/2015

Cathy A. Bella Date

Deputy Associate Commissioner, OAG

2/18/15

CONCUR:

Seth Binstock Date

Associate Commissioner, OAG

APPROVE: 2/24/2015

M. Elizabeth Reich Date

SSA Competition Advocate

Competition Advocate Review Board (CARB)

Project Title: Learning Management System

Estimated Amount: $4,000,000

Review and discussion occurred: Electronically

For a

__X__Limited Source Justification (LSJ)

_____Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC)

_____Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity

CARB Panel Members

Associate Commissioner, Office of Learning (or designee)

/s/ Lydia C. Marshall_____________________Date__2/24/15________

__X___I recommend signature by the approving official

_____I do not recommend signature by the approving official

General Counsel (or designee)

General Counsel (or designee)_ Date_Feb. 23, 2015

__X_I concur that the justification is legally sufficient

_____I do not concur that the justification is legally sufficient