VOCUS_LSJ-SSJ-.doc

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Combined Limited Source Justification (LSJ) and

Sole Source Justification (SSJ)

1. IDENTIFICATION OF AGENCY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE

Agency:

Social Security Administration (SSA) Contracting Office:

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

Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) Program Office:

Office of Telecommunications and Systems

Operations (OTSO) Title:

Subscription Maintenance to

Vocus Public Relations Enterprise Software with two add-ons and fax services Proposed Contractor:

Vocus, Inc.

4296 Forbes Boulevard

Lanham, MD 20706

2. NATURE OF ACTION

We seek approval of a combined LSJ and SSJ for maintenance of Vocus Software. We will solicit a quote and award a single firm fixed-price delivery order for a one-year base period and four one-year option periods.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND ESTIMATED COST

Vocus Public Relations Enterprise software products are web-based tools allowing users to perform complex queries and develop reports on media organizations, journalists, and community organizations. These products are used by the Office of External Affairs to support all Press Office activities including press releases, media monitoring, recording press inquiries and events, maintaining the agency’s list of organizational contacts, and release of the Social Security Update, special Commissioner Announcements (e.g. Compassionate Allowances Updates), and all advocate meeting and Deputy Commissioner roundtable invitations.

The Vocus software products on the General Services Administration (GSA) contract are Public Relations Enterprise Edition, Advanced Analytics, and Email Campaigns. The open market product is Publicast Broadcast Fax for Vocus Public Relations.

Maintenance for these products consists of a subscription to software and database updates, storage of data, and telephone/internet support.

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. This FAR subpart provides that “orders placed . . . under Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) 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. Paragraph (b) of FAR 8.405-6 permits restricted consideration to items peculiar to one manufacturer (i.e., a particular brand name item, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer.) The FAR cautions that “brand name specifications shall not be used unless the particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs.” FAR 8.405-6(b)(1) (emphasis added). As discussed below, only Vocus is capable of meeting our needs.

The Publicast Broadcast Fax for Vocus Public Relations software maintenance to be procured is “commercial” in nature, as defined at FAR Part 2, and will be solicited using FAR Part 12, as well as the procedures outlined at FAR 13.500, “Test Program for Certain Commercial Items.” The acquisition will be a sole source as described at FAR 13.501(a) utilizing simplified acquisition procedures under the authority of section 4202 of Public Law 104-106, as amended by section 822 of Public Law 112-239.

Vocus software is proprietary. Therefore, only Vocus has legal access to the source code necessary to provide the required maintenance subscription. The subscription includes software and database updates, storage of data, and telephone/internet support. As the copyright holder, Vocus is also the only entity legally authorized to license additional quantities. There are no authorized resellers.

5. DETERMINATION OF BEST VALUE

The CO will perform applicable and appropriate price evaluation as required by FAR 8.405-2(d) to determine that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d) and results in the lowest overall cost to meet the Government’s needs. In addition, as provided in FAR 8.404(d), GSA has already determined the prices of services and fixed-price rates for services offered at hourly rates under FSS contracts to be fair and reasonable.

6. MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED

Vocus is the copyright holder for Public Relations Enterprise Edition, Advanced Analytics, Email Campaigns, and Publicast Broadcast Fax for Vocus Public Relations software.

Only Vocus has legal access to the source code necessary to provide software maintenance. Software maintenance consists of a subscription to software and database updates, storage of data, and telephone/internet support. Vocus products have no authorized resellers.

Continued maintenance of these products is essential. Access to upgrades, updates, fixes, and patches ensures software will continue to be compatible with the operating system and remain in good working order. Without maintenance, there is potential for a major workload disruption. Focus provides unique patches and technical assistance. Any interruption to maintenance can severely affect service to our internal and public customers.

7. SOLICITATION EFFORTS

We published a Notice of Intent on the Federal Business Opportunities website stating our intent to acquire Vocus software and maintenance on November 25, 2014. We did not receive any response for Vocus software and maintenance.

8. OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS

We currently have maintenance for this software with Vocus via delivery order SS00-14-31171 that expires on January 31, 2015.

9. REMOVING OR OVERCOMING BARRIERS

We will continue to survey the market place by synopsizing our requirements and reviewing product literature and capability statements submitted by the vendor community.