Sudaan - Sole Source Justification - Redacted.pdf

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

a. Federal agency and contracting activity. HHS/NIH

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine (NLM) Office of Acquisitions (OA)

b. Sponsoring organization.

Center for Information Technology (CIT) Information Systems Distribution & Procurement (ISDP)

c. Project Officer information.

Andrew Shearin – ISDP 6555 Rock Spring Drive, Suite 3G25 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4806 Andrew.shearin@nih.gov

(301) 496-1470

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives.

The purpose of this requirement is to acquire proprietary Sudaan software licenses via RTI” International (the only authorized seller), as a follow on to the current Sudaan software license delivery order number 75N97024P00083 that was awarded on 5/1/2024 and ends on 4/30/2025.

Scientists and researchers consider the Sudaan software licenses critical to accomplishing their mission of research and analysis. These licenses provide HHS with a statistical software package that specializes in providing efficient and accurate analysis of data from complex studies.

The objective is to ensure the continued use of the Sudaan software licenses without a lapse in the software application (preventing the need for a reinstatement fee), loss of use, and to allow HHS users seamless functionally during the renewal.

Sole Source Justification for Acquisitions Between $25K – $250K

b. Project background.

HHS Operation Divisions (OPDIVs) use Sudaan software licenses to support its mission for basic research. HHS researchers use Sudaan software licenses to analyze clustered data, complex sample surveys, randomized experiments, and epidemiological studies. These licenses provide three modeling procedures including linear models, multinomial-logistic models, and regression models for time-to-event data. Each of these procedures offers three variance estimation models, which is a capability only available with Sudaan. The variance estimate models are the Taylor series linearization which makes generalized estimating equations for regression models; Jackknife with or without user-specified replicate weights; and Balance Repeated Replication.

Together, these procedures and techniques provide a powerful variety of analytical tools not available in any other commercially available software product. Additionally, the Sudaan software licenses’ availability for a wide variety of computing platforms including PCs under Windows, PCs under Linux, and Sun workstations under Solaris is a critical feature.

Sudaan is proprietary software sold only by Research Triangle Institute, who have no resellers or distributors. As the sole distributor of this necessary software, RTI is the only eligible contractor able to fulfill the requirements under this Special Notice for sole source procurement of additional Sudaan licenses.

c. Renewal of the Sudaan software licenses, without a lapse service will ensure HHS maintain the current high level of availability and functionality. The existing contract with RTI expires 4/30/2025. The Contract No. is 75N97024P00083 and was originally awarded for a period of performance of 5/1/2024 through 4/30/2025. As a sole source to Research Triangle Institute (RTI) for the total amount of

$XXXXXXXX.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

a. Project title.

Sudaan Software Annual License

b. Project description.

Sudaan software licenses analyze clustered data, complex sample surveys, randomized experiments, and epidemiological studies. Sudaan provides three modeling procedures including linear models, multinomial-logistic models, and regression models for time-to-event data. Each of these procedures offers three variance estimation models, which is a capability only available with Sudaan. The variance estimate models are the Taylor series linearization which makes generalized estimating equations for regression models; Jackknife with or without user-specified replicate

Period of Performance Product Description weights; and Balance Repeated Replication. Together, these procedures and techniques provide a powerful variety of analytical tools not available in any other commercially available software product. Additionally, Sudaan’s availability for a wide variety of computing platforms including PCs under Windows, PCs under Linux, and Sun workstations under Solaris is a critical feature.

Requirement type.

Research & development (R&D) R & D support services Support services (non-R&D) Supplies/equipment Information technology (IT) Construction Architect-engineer (A & E) services Design-build Other (specify):

Type of action.

New requirement Follow-on - 75N97024P00083 / RTI International Other (specify):

Proposed contract/order type.

Firm-fixed-price Other fixed-price (specify, e.g., fixed-price award-fee, fixed-price incentive-fee):

Cost-plus-fixed-fee Other cost reimbursement (specify, e.g., cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee):

Time and materials Indefinite delivery (specify whether indefinite quantity, definite quantity, or requirements):

Other (specify):

Completion Form Term form

Acquisition identification number. N/A

c. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period. The Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) is $XXXXXXX, for the period of twelve (12) months starting 5/1/2025 through 4/30/2026.

5/1/2025 - 4/30/2026 SUDAAN Release 11.0.4, Annual License, Individual PC (32 bit), SAS-Callable or Standalone, SAS-Callable License SUDAAN License Number: A0004531 SUDAAN License Type: Government/Non-Profit Total users associated with this license: 36 SUDAAN license will period: May 1, 2025 -April 30, $ XXXXXXX

SUDAAN Release 11.0.4, Annual License, Individual PC x64, SAS-Callable, SAS-Callable License SUDAAN License Number: A0004530 SUDAAN License Type: Government/Non-Profit Total users associated with this license: 123 SUDAAN license will period: May 1, 2025 -April 30, $XXXXXX

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

This acquisition is conducted under FAR 13.106-1 (b)(1)(i)

(b) Soliciting from a single source.

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

(i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

VENDOR ADDRESS

RTI International PO Box 12194 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s).

This is a Sole Source requirement for Sudaan software licenses. Sudaan is a proprietary software to analyze clustered data, complex sample surveys, randomized experiments, and epidemiological studies. These procedures and techniques provide a powerful variety of analytical tools not available in any other commercially available software product. Additionally, Sudaan’s availability for a wide variety of computing platforms including PCs under Windows, PCs under Linux, and Sun workstations under Solaris is a critical feature.

There are currently no manufacturers that offer a software with the same salient characteristics as Sudaan that meet the Government’s requirements.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

A Special Notice from the Department of Health and The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be posted to SAM.gov notifying industry of the Government’s plan to issue a sole source to RTI for the purchase and renewal of SUDAAN software licenses.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will determine whether the price is fair and reasonable by reviewing the quoted price and historical pricing of the current contract award and approved DCMA escalation.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research per FAR 10 was conducted due to the software licenses being proprietary and only available through one reseller.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

Per FAR 6.302-1 there is only one available source in which the SUDAAN software licenses may be purchased. As previously stated, RTI is the only approved reseller for the SUDAAN license and related support.

10. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Not applicable.

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services.

For future acquisitions, CIT will continue to perform market research to determine if any other software has the same features as the Sudaan software licenses and can meet the Government need to give fair opportunity to similar software companies.

12. Program Office Certification.

This is to certify that the portions of this justification that have been developed by the undersigned program office personnel, including supporting information and/or data verifying the Government’s minimum needs, schedule requirements and other rationale for other than full and open competition, are accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature & Date

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Andrew Shearin

COR, ISDP

Acquisition Management and Planning (APMG)

Billi Woodard Director, APMG

Funds Certifying Official

Ernesto Gomez Financial Officer

Head of the Sponsoring Program Office

Kevin Davis Executive Officer

13. Contracting Officer certification.

This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support the rationale and recommendation for approval is accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Contracting Officer

(CO)

Jessica McTaggart Contracting Officer National Library of Medicine