A03_SOLE_SOURCE_JUSTIFICATION_-_Ringtail_JA_-_PLAD_17415__62116.pdf

Control No: JA-E-16-472 Ringtail Corporation

Ringtail AgileGraph V2 Software Maintenance Services

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR SUBPART 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN

COMMERCIAL ITEMS – SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Program/Equipment: Distributed Common Ground Systems - Army (DCGS-A) /Ringtail

AgileGraph v2.x Software License Annual Maintenance Renewal

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. as implemented by FAR

Subpart 13.501(a)(2) – SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN

COMMERCIAL ITEMS and FAR 6.302-1.

Amount:

Prepared by: DSN:

IT Specialist / Action Officer Date: 18 Nov 2015

Email:

Contracting Officer: DSN:

Procuring Contracting Officer Date:

Email: l

Technical: DSN:

IEW&S Contracts Manager Date: 10 Feb 2016

Email:

Requirements: DSN: -

Chief, Contracts Division Date: 22 June 2016

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Program Manager: DSN:

Signature:

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command

Aberdeen Proving Ground – Division E

Bldg. 6001 Combat Drive

Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005

2. Description of Action: Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) Software

Engineering Center (SEC) requests a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract with Ringtail

Corporation, 11044 Research Blvd, Suite B-500, Austin, Tx.78759-5365, NAICS CODE

511210, (CAGE CODE 76R22). The requirement will procure Commercial Off-the-

Shelf (COTS) Ringtail AgileGraph V2 software maintenance and support for a quantity of one (1). The effort consists of one (1) base year plus three (3) one-year options to support the Distributed Common Ground System – Army (DCGS-A) program. The options will continue the software support purchased during the base year. The

Government anticipates a June 2016 award using FY2016 Operation Maintenance, Army

(OMA) funds.

An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d) (i) (B).

This action is a follow-on to contract W15P7T-13-C-E095. That contract was not competed under authority 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (1) and FAR 13.106-1. Paragraph, “Actions to Increase Competition” of the previous justification, stated: Market research will continue to be conducted to determine if changes occur in the market place that would enable competition to future actions. Market Research has continued, but Ringtail

Corporation is the developer and sole resellers of their software/maintenance and has confirmed that they do not have resellers of their products (per email from dated 6/02/2016).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Distributed Common Ground System – Army

(DCGS-A) mission is to provide distributed Intelligence, Surveillance and

Reconnaissance (ISR) planning, Intelligence, ISR management, sensor control and tasking, multi-intelligence fusion, and joint, allied and coalition forces interoperability.

DCGS-A systems empower commanders, decision makers, and analysts with ISR information and fused products at all echelons to support the execution of battle command, synchronization of fires and effects, rapid shifting of battle focus, situational understanding and force protection.

DCGS-A manages all lifecycle aspects associated with the Army's cornerstone intelligence processing system within approved cost, performance, and schedule baselines in order to provide the Soldier with a net-centric, knowledge-based, predictive

ISR capability that is the Army's LANDISRNET Foundation Layer.

Program Manager for DCGS-A is responsible for the design, development, procurement, deployment and sustainment for an enterprise system that will replace the Army’s multiple intelligence ground processing systems currently in the field. DCGS-A system is the Army’s primary system for posting of data, processing of information, and disseminating ISR information about the threat, weather, and terrain to all components and echelons. DCGS-A systems provide Commanders the ability to task battle-space sensors and receive intelligence information from multiple sources, and will facilitate

“Seeing” and “Knowing” on the battlefield. The DCGS-A system contributes to visualization and situational awareness, thereby enhancing tactical maneuver, maximizing combat power and enhancing the ability to operate in an unpredictable and changing environment throughout the operational spectrum.

Ringtail AgileGraph software is being used within the DCGS-A V3.x systems. DCGS-A system is an integration of existing and future ISR ground processors to produce a common network-centric, modular, and scalable, multi-intelligence interoperable architecture. DCGS-A V3.x integrates the hardware and software products of DCGS-A.

DCGS-A V3.x integrates capabilities and services for battle command interoperability, all source analysis, Counter Intelligence / Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT), weather and terrain visualization that are provided by current force “Program of Record” systems.

DCGS-A V3.x consists of a server stack (IFS), a system controller, portable multi-function workstation (P-MFWS), and a geospatial workstation (GWS). Ringtail

AgileGraph v2.x software allows the user to proceed from raw data to interactive graphs and chart in one click. A key aspect of the software is the “Automatic Chart Creation

(ACC)” feature. Via Automatic Chart Creation (ACC), all graphs are created for the user upon the import of user data. Ringtail AgileGraph v2.x software transforms raw data into knowledge through rapid, visual data presentation to help the user better understand the data and draw meaningful conclusions quickly and easily. Ringtail AgileGraph v2.x software has a ‘Point-n-Click Interface’. The user can filter and refine data rapidly with simple checkboxes and sliders. This simplified user interface means the software does not require user training. The user does not have to know anything about databases, queries or pivot tables.

Ringtail AgileGraph v2.x software makes visual data analysis easy, using multiple views of the same data, revealing relationships and patterns that might otherwise remain hidden.

Interactive charts provide additional user insight. The user may change one view and see other views dynamically update. The user may interact directly with these charts to better understand the relationships and hidden meaning in the data. Clear visual results provide intuitive charts and color coding making key information stand out. The user can employ the software to create clear and attractive presentations. The software allows the user to publish to PowerPoint via a wizard allowing the user to quickly create presentations to officers and other analysts.

The contract award plus all options will be:

Base Period: 5/4/2016 - 5/3/2017 Value:

Option Period 1: 5/4/2017 - 5/3/2018 Value:

Option Period 2: 5/4/2018 - 5/3/2019 Value:

Option Period 3: 5/4/2019 - 5/3/2020 Value:

Total

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.501(a)(2):

Unusual and compelling urgency

X One Responsible Source

Industrial mobilization

Other: State the purpose.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The proposed source is Ringtail Corporation, 11044

Research Blvd, Suite B-500, Austin, Texas 78759. Ringtail Corporation is the sole developer and distributor of the Ringtail software product line.

Ringtail AgileGraph Version 2.x software is part of the DCGS-A V3.X baseline that has already been fielded to the Soldiers. The maintenance on Ringtail AgileGraph Version

2.x software license must be renewed to support the fielding of DCGS-A to soldiers. If

Ringtail AgileGraph Version 2.x software license is not renewed, the fielded DCGS-A systems will not receive software upgrades/updates or technical support.

DCGS-A installs software to equipment in the field, including equipment used by the

Soldier. The substitution of similar software is a violation of the DCGS-A Authority to

Operate (ATO), which is a requirement prior to fielding software.

If the Government selected another product to replace the functionality of the Ringtail

AgileGraph v2.x software products from the DCGS-A Systems, it would impact

It would result in extensive research and functional testing to identify potential products for replacement, developmental efforts to re-engineer the baseline, which would be followed by production, certification testing and re-accrediting efforts.

This effort would require significant funding that could easily exceed plus of the DCGS-

A System baselines.

The functionality requirements were determined by the systems’ Army stakeholders (e.g., soldiers) based on their mission requirements. Those defined requirements were the standard used to check which products that can best meet them. After continual product research, no other products were observed or have been found to have the functional ability to meet the needs offered by utilizing Ringtail AgileGraph Version 2.x software products. This resulted in the selection of the Ringtail AgileGraph Version 2.x software products. In addition, as referenced in the previous paragraph, to re-engineer and field new baselines to replace the Ringtail AgileGraph Version 2.x software products with other potential products would be

As a result of the above, Ringtail AgileGraph v2.x Software is essential and fulfills the Soldiers mission requirements.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Software Engineering Center Centralized

Acquisition and License Management (CALM) Team conducted market research - details of which are outlined in paragraph 8. The Contracting Officer shall publish the notices required by FAR 5.201.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Market research will be performed for the follow-on requirement to identify all potential sources by the Aberdeen Proving Grounds -

Acquisition Contracting Center (APG-ACC). All future procurements will look to determine if changes occurred in the market place that would enable greater competition.

8. Market Research: Market research was performed by the SEC CALM Team in

November 2015 and June 2016. The research was conducted by reviewing information on the Internet from various software sources, reviewing in-house information and searching various Government contract vehicles including the Army Computer Hardware

Enterprise Software Solutions (CHESS), the Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) website, the General Services Administration (GSA) website RFQ#1051443, and the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise Wide

Procurement (SEWP) RFQ#18180. No contractor responses were received from Army

CHESS, ESI, GSA, or NASA SEWP. A CHESS Statement of Non-Availability (SoNA)

Number 216704046 was obtained for this requirement. Ringtail Corporation confirmed that Ringtail Corporation is the sole source provider for AgileGraph maintenance.

Vendor/Base Company Type Contract Projected

Pricing

Ringtail Corporation Privately Held – Small

Business

OPEN

MARKET

9. Interested Sources: The Government Point of Entry (GPE) notice required by FAR

5.201 will be published on the Federal Business Opportunities Page. Any proposals that are received shall be considered.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History:

b. Acquisition Data Availability: Acquisition Data Availability: The

Government only possesses the commercially available technical data customarily provided with this COTS product. Technical data for the previously acquired licenses is proprietary to Ringtail Corporation. The commercial purchase description does not provide enough technical information to allow other vendors to create the functionality of this product.

Contract Contractor

Number

Award Date Extent

Competed/Authority

Ringtail Corporation W15P7T-13-C-

E095

06 Sept 2013 Sole Source

Ringtail Corporation W15P7T-12-C-

C962

28 Sept 2012 Sole Source

c. Subcontracting Competition: The Government will seek to maximize subcontracting completion with a focus on subcontract to so small and small disadvantaged businesses.

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance that are included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: 10 Feb 2016

Title: IEW&S Contracts Manager

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance that are included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: 22 June 2016

Chief, Contracts Division

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following: X price analysis X IGCE

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data is not required because the item and/or services being acquired are considered commercial.

Date: 23 June 2016

Contracting Officer :

14. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the award of a Firm Fixed Priced

Contract for purchase of renewal software upgrade and annual maintenance support for a quantity of one (1) Ringtail AgileGraph v2.x maintenance and support for one (1) base year plus three (3) option years for Ringtail AgileGraph V2 Software Maintenance. The proposed contract will be awarded on sole source basis pursuant to the authority of the

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C 1901(a)(2) as implement by 10 FAR 13.501(a)(2) subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition. If the proposed contract action is not completed within 180 days from the below date, this

Justification and Approval shall be returned to the Contracting Officer for revalidation.

Additionally, if any changes to the requirements, basis for the justification, market conditions or increases in the estimated value of the proposed action occur at any time, the file shall be documented with changes in a memorandum and obtain review/concurrence from the Contracting Officer.

Contracting Officer