TemplateForSingleSourceOverSAT_AA_signed Redacted.pdf

1 | P a g e

Justification for Single Source or Brand Name United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 13.5 – Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

Contracting Activity: USDA, AMS 3275 Appling Road Memphis, Tennessee 38133

Agency: USDA, AMS 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The USDA proposes to enter into a sole source, brand-name, firm fixed-price contract with Carahsoft for DocuSignGen software licenses, using the simplified procedures for certain commercial items under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.5.

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

DocuSignGen software licenses to support digital signature capability for the modernization of AMS's electronic certification system, eTDE. The modernized system will be used by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to create, approve, manage, and transmit export certificates that will need digital signature and workflow supported by DocuSignGen software. These licenses will also support SCION initiatives that are supporting both Dairy and Specialty Corps programs.

USDA plans to procure these licenses for a base year of 9/30/2021 through 9/30/2022, and two option years.

Estimated value include base and two option years: $1,350,110.26

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

41 U.S.C § 1901 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures up to $7 million, as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

USDA originally purchased these licenses in September 2020 under USDA order 12639520F1219.

USDA still has the requirement for these licenses for eTDE and SCION. These licenses are needed for the creation of pdf templates for export certificates in an ongoing Salesforce development and for building document management workflows. It will be very time consuming to manually develop the pdf templates and much more expensive to build the document management workflows than using the DocuSign software.

BSBrown Pencil

BSBrown Highlight

2 | P a g e

6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

This notice was originally posted on GSA ebuy in September 2020. Carahsoft was the winning proposal. USDA plans to continue procuring the DocuSign licenses through Carahsoft for the base year and two option years.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The prices proposed are determined fair and reasonable as compared to other Government requirements .

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted under the original purchase in September 2020. It was determined that DocuSign was the best solution for USDA’s needs for the Salesforce development projects.

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

None

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

Original interest in September 2020.

Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc.

FNH, Inc.

New Tech Solutions, Inc.

11. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

None. The development projects are already in development using DocuSign. USDA requires DocuSign licenses to continue with the development projects and to be used in the live platforms.

3 | P a g e

Certifications & Approvals

Supporting data which form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

Ashok Anant Branch Chief, Digital Services and Enterprise Platform Support

The information contained in this Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Beverly Brown Contracting Officer

Additional Reviews & Approvals

Advocate for competition for the procuring activity (if over $700,000). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as advocate for competition for the procuring activity, I hereby approve this justification.

Larry Nelson Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition