W15QKN16Q0003_REDACTED_J A.pdf

Program/Item: IRIS Intelligence License and Maintenance Support Estimated Dollar Value: 93,754.00

ACC-NJ-IT December 15, 2015

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Request Contracting Officer approval of an Other than Full and Open Competition Justification for the acquisition of IRIS (IRIS) Intelligence Professional Version 6 (v6) software licenses, server license, and annual maintenance support for Program Executive Office (PEO), Enterprise Information System (EIS), Project Management (PM) Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army (IPPS-A).

1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: U.S. Army Contracting Command - New Jersey

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: The proposed action is to award a new Firm-Fixed Price order for the procurement of (IRIS) software licenses, server license and annual maintenance support in support of IPPS-A. In accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 25-1 and Department of the Army (DA) Policy memorandum, dated 04 May 2009, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Part 208.74 and Army Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (AFARS) Part 5139.101, Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) is the mandatory source for commercial Information Technology (IT) hardware and software. Purchasers of commercial hardware and software must satisfy their Department of Defense (DoD), Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) or Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) agreements first, regardless of dollar value. This item is not available under CHESS, DoD ELA or DoD ESI and Statement of Non-Availability Number 216701502 was obtained on September 16, 2015. A Goal 1 Waiver was approved 21 September 2015. The acquisition strategy is to award the proprietary IRIS Intelligence Professional software licenses, server license, and annual maintenance support to IRIS Intelligence Ltd. Fiscal Year 2015 Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds are provided for this procurement.

Proposed Contractor: IRIS Intelligence Ltd.

8 Circus Mews Bath, Avon, BA12PW United Kingdom

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES: IPPS-A seeks to procure IRIS Intelligence Professional Version 6 software licenses, server license, and maintenance support.

The IRIS procurement includes one (1) server license and 60 Professional Version 6 Named User licenses. The server license will allow the IRIS platform software to operate, and provides the foundation of the IRIS Intelligence software platform. IRIS Intelligence is a risk tool that is highly intuitive, have site administrative and role based management that allows for the designation/ assignment of risk owners, and meet’s the program’s business needs. The Risk Manager will manage the risks that users submit. The 60 Named User licenses will allow the user base to interact with the IRIS Intelligence system, establish a Risk Management Framework (RMF) to input issues and risks, monitor and provide risk burn-down, view and export metrics, and provide reporting to the IPPS-A leadership and relevant stakeholders. The total estimated value of this action of IRIS is $93,754.00. The period of performance is one 12-month base period from date of contract award with two 12-month option periods.

Table 1: Supplies and Services

Product Description

Quantity

IRIS Server License Plus 12 month Maintenance Support (Base Year)

IRIS Professional Version 6 Named User Software License Pack Plus 12 months of Maintenance Support (Base Year)

Option Year 1 Maintenance Support

Option Year 2 Maintenance Support

4. AUTHORITY CITED: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) and Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 6.302-1(a)(2), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy the Agency Requirements.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED: The following provides rationale for the cited authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii) and (iii):

IPPS-A requires a robust risk management solution to implement and sustain an automated Risk Management Framework (RMF) that will be managed throughout the lifecycle of the IPPS-A program. IPPS-A will use the RMF to identify, track, and mitigate risks and issues from their inception through the completion of mitigation strategies. IPPS-A is currently using several manual processes to track and mange identified risks. These processes are manually intensive, prone to errors, and do not provide adequate, graphical, metrics required by the program.

IRIS Intelligence software and maintenance support is proprietary software that is solely manufactured and sold by IRIS Intelligence Ltd. The IRIS server license will allow the IRIS platform software to be operated and provides the foundation of the IRIS Intelligence software platform. The 60 Named User licenses will allow the user base to interact with the system, establish a RMF to input issues and risks, monitor and provide risk burn-down, view and export metrics, and provide reporting to the IPPS-A leadership and relevant stakeholders.

The maintenance support will provide IPPS-A with critical updates, and patches, ensuring continued operability of the IRIS software. The IRIS risk tool’s RMF provides for risk modeling and analysis, risk burn-down, to include progress of mitigation steps, associated metrics and a robust reporting mechanism. IRIS Intelligence also includes the ability to export charts directly to Microsoft (MS) PowerPoint (PPT), provide a built in email server, be built with a standard SQL back-end, and leverage standard ODBC architecture for the integration of other popular software packages, such as MS Project Server, MS SharePoint, and other third party applications.

Additionally, IRIS Intelligence meets the ability to function with limited loss of capability when installed in an Army/DoD data center environment with hardened security. Excel does not produce a Risk Management Framework nor does it allow for Risk burn down. The other tools evaluated did not provide Risk Burn down nor did they integrate well with PowerPoint for reporting. IRIS Intelligence maintenance support provides IPPS-A with critical updates, and patches, ensuring continued operability of the IRIS software, as well as a Maintenance Support Handbook – a mechanism to outline the relevant processes for logging a support ticket on the manufacturer’s website, the ticket escalation process, patch management process, upgrade path and eligibility plans.

Procuring the IRIS Intelligence licenses and maintenance support is critical for the IPPS-A’s mission. IPPS-A personnel currently uses a combination of several tools; MS Excel, MS Project, and SharePoint. Currently, all the actions are manual and labor intensive. IRIS Intelligence was specifically designed to be a Risk Management tool. It was built to be flexible and meets the IPPS-A requirements. No other tool could provide Risk burn down and seamless integration with Project Sever and Office Products. Without the essential support of the IRIS Intelligence solution, the program office will lose its ability to properly identify, prioritize and adjudicate Issues and Risks. IRIS Intelligence also has the ability to export charts directly to Microsoft (MS) PowerPoint (PPT), provide a built in email server, be built with a standard SQL back-end, and leverage standard ODBC architecture for the integration of other popular software packages, such as MS Project Server, MS SharePoint, and other third party applications. The tool must also meet or have the ability to function with limited loss of capability when installed in an Army/DoD data center environment with hardened security. The procurement of the IRIS Intelligence software will satisfy these requirements.

The IRIS Intelligence technology platform utilizes current technologies known to be safe, secure, and interoperable with other IPPS-A solutions. Not acquiring the IRIS Intelligence package would result in a significant delay in the transition to the IPPS-A Information Technology (IT) investment as directed by the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition Technology and Logistics (USD AT&L). Award to any other source will result in substantial loss of time and productivity to the IPPS-A PMO. For IPPS-A to replicate and maintain the features native to the IRIS platform (as reflected in Table 2: IPPS-A Capability Matrix) below would be in excess of $150,000.00. This amount includes three full time SharePoint Developers who would have to configure and customize SharePoint to interact and create workflows with other Microsoft Office products, one full time Database Developer to integrate the back-end databases, and two full time Risk Managers to assist with the development of the documentation, manual processes, configuration and ongoing gathering of risk and issue data. IRIS Intelligence software licenses and maintenance support is a necessary tool to use for tracking, mitigating and managing risks by the program office.

6. EFFORT TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: Market Research was conducted as discussed in paragraph 7 below and the capabilities of other potential sources and contract vehicles were assessed. The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace. Future requirements for this software will be competed to the maximum extent practicable.

7. MARKET RESEARCH: Market research was performed 15 August 2015, by Adam Young, Chief, Lifecycle Services Branch, Lifecycle Management Division (LMD), IPPS-A. In accordance with Army Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (AFARS) 5139.101, a search on the Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) website determined that this product is not offered through CHESS, and a Statement of Non-Availability (Number 216701502) was obtained on September 16, 2015. An Army G1 Goal 1 Waiver (Number 20150831827143) was approved on 18 September, 2015. A further search on the General Services Administration (GSA) Information Technology (IT) Schedule 70, Special Item (Sin) 132-33 determined that the IRIS is not available on GSA Advantage. Several companies were interviewed, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a product analysis was performed and IRIS Intelligence met the requirements for IPPS-A. Additionally, there are no resellers of this product, and it is only available from the manufacturer, IRIS Intelligence Ltd. A sole source letter was obtained from IRIS Intelligence Ltd on 12 November 2015.

Adam Young, Chief, Lifecycle Services Branch, Lifecycle Management Division (LMD), IPPS- A conducted a software capability analysis to determine which tool(s) in the product category satisfied the unique requirements for the program. The four (4) capabilities evaluated are most critical to IPPS-A’s success. Each identified products was reviewed against the current set of capabilities required. Only, IRIS was able to meet the needs of the IPPS-A. Reference: Table 2:

IPPS-A Capability Matrix.

Table 2: IPPS-A Capability Matrix

Capability 1 Capability 2 Capability 3 Capability 4 (RMF) (Risk Burn down) (Graphical view of Metrics) Export to Office Products

KEYW

Corporation Risk Mitigation Tool

(RMT)

X

Active Risk Manager

(ARM)

X

IRIS X X X X

Each identified products was reviewed against the current set of capabilities required. Only, IRIS was able to meet the needs of the IPPS-A.

In addition to product evaluations, IPPS-A explored other alternatives such as leveraging the program’s internal SharePoint system to provide an RMF. The amount of customization would require development of a new process to meet the capability provided by IRIS, and this option would not be cost effective, nor would it be delivered in the time frame needed.

ACC-NJ-IT conducted market research on 12 November 2015. Market research consisted of contacting the manufacturer IRIS Intelligence Limited to request a list of authorized resellers.

IRIS Intelligence confirmed they are the manufacturer and the sole provider of the IRIS Intelligence licenses and maintenance support. A sole source letter was obtained 12 November 2015.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES: NOT APPLICABLE (N/A)

10. OTHER FACTS:

This a new acquisition.

11. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATIONI certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that the pricing for this order will be fair and reasonable based on the following FAR 15.404-1 proposal analysis techniques: 15.404- 1(b)(2)(i) Comparison of proposed prices received in response to the solicitation and 15.404- 1(b)(2)(iv) Comparison with competitive published price lists, published market prices of commodities, similar indexes, and discount or rebate arrangements.