USMC Connect Subscription J and A FY20 Redacted.docx.pdf

J&A NO. RCO–NO-20009

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity. Marine Force Reserve Regional Contracting Office, New Orleans, LA

2. Description of Action Being Approved. Authority to act under this class J&A for the award of a contract on sole source basis for the USMC Connect Mobile Application annual subscription, in support of nine 4th Marine Division units located throughout the continental United States at

Marine Forces Reserve sites, from Straxis, LLC, 1305 E. 15th Street, Tulsa, OK 74120 expires on

September 29, 2020.

3. Description of Supplies/Services. This J&A authorizes and approves the award of a sole-source, firm-fixed price, multi-year contract to Straxis, LLC for the annual subscription of the USMC Connect

Mobile Application. The current USMC Connect Mobile Application contract designator is M67861-

19-P-0032 and is currently being successfully implemented. Since the initial contract was meant primarily as an implementation requirement, this contract will only require the need for an annual subscription. The annual subscription will maintain continuity in providing support and services to the Marines and Sailors of 4th Marine Division by way of access to the USMC Connect Mobile

Application. It will also will continue to provide technical help desk support, maintenance for the application, and ongoing CMS training to include application management. Enhancements via Ui/Ux improvements will also continue to be provided in order to maintain both user experience and user interface to the USMC Connect application. The following modules will also remain in place: News, Push Notifications, Events, Twitter, Facebook, Multimedia, Photos, Fitness, Map, Service Song, Directory, Links, Weather, Radio, Checklists, Polls, Bulletins, References, Emergency, and Content

Management System. The annual subscription will continue to provide Marines and Sailors of 4th

Marine Division the ability to download USMC Connect via the Apple or Google app stores onto their personal smartphones or tablets.

Estimated Dollar Value

MAFC

FY20 $45,000.00

FY21 $45,000.00

FY22 $45,000.00

FY23 $45,000.00

FY24 $45,000.00

TOTAL $225,000.00

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C Section 2304 (c)(1), as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, the property needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of property will satisfy the needs of the agency.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority. Straxis, LLC is the sole developer and designer of the U360 mobile platform, which the USMC Connect Application is derived from. This application platform is currently the only Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) approved mobile application that serves as a gateway to both public and non-public Government website content, which can only be accessed using a Government-issued CAC. The USMC Connect Mobile Application has been approved and certified by the Headquarters Marine Corps Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Department (C4). As the sole proprietor of this mobile application platform, Straxis, LLC and has not licensed any other company to use, manage, or re-sell the U360 mobile platform, USMC Connect Application or any of its other active Department of Defense (DOD) client’s applications. Straxis, LLC’s ownership of the required mobile application platform renders it the only vendor capable of delivering all requirements necessary to maintain and build on the already implemented progress of the USMC Connect Mobile Application.

A performance specification, technical data package, specifications, or a detailed engineering description suitable for full and open competition cannot be developed because the U360 mobile platform, to include USMC Connect Mobile Application is proprietary to Straxis, LLC. The unique capability of the USMC Connect Mobile Application provides the government with the appropriate online cyber-security capabilities and help desk support essential for providing a safe and secure manner for Marines and Sailors of 4th Marine Division to access command information and online trainings.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offers as Possible. This purchase is being issued per the authority of FAR6.302-1 (c)(1)(i). This particular product is peculiar to one manufacturer, which does not provide for full and open competition, regardless of the number of sources solicited.

Market Research

Two Sources Sought were posted via BetaSam (7/31-8/14 and 8/17- 8/27/2020). In response to sources sought vendors included proposal to recreate an application at a substandal higher cost to the government.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable. The fair and reasonableness of the cost/price will be based on analysis of Straxis, LLC’s cost/price proposal. It is anticipated this analysis will be conducted using experienced technical representative, contract specialists, and field pricing support.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition. For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, the

Marine Corps has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the types of supplies/services covered by this J&A. If another potential source emerges, the Marine Corps will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

Technical/Requirements Certification

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning document, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical Cognizance:

(Signature)______________________________________________________Date__________________

Printed Name and Phone No._____________________________________________________________

Requirements Cognizance:

Legal Sufficiency Review

I have determined that this Justification is legally sufficient.

Contracting Officer Certfication

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.