ITG LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION FINAL-1.pdf

census.gov

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

Task Order Title: Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) Mobile

Device Support Services

Solicitation Number: YA1323-20-BS-0095

Contractor: Integration Technologies Group, Inc. (ITG)

Period of Performance: September 30, 2020 – August 31, 2021

Place of Performance: U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, MD

COR: Fernando Leonard

Task Order Type: Firm Fixed Price/Time and Materials Hybrid

Upon the basis of the following justification, prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition

Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(c)(2), I, as Contracting Officer, hereby approve the use of sources limited to fewer than those required in FAR 8.405-2 pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 251 as implemented by FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C).

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, U.S. Census Bureau, HQ, Field Division (FLD). The Contracting Activity is the U.S. Census

Bureau (USCB) Acquisitions Division.

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

This is a Limited Sources - logical follow-on to continue support previously obtained via Task

Order # YA1323-15-NC-0126, awarded to Integration Technologies Group, Inc. (ITG), under

ITG’s General Services Administration’s (GSA) Schedule 70, SIN 132-12 contract vehicle. The new Task Order will be awarded against ITG’s GSA schedule contract # 47QTCA19D001S.

This is a noncompetitive acquisition of CAPI Mobile Device Support Services from Integration

Technology Group, Inc. for FLD of the USCB. The USCB has obtained continued support for the mobile device services via a hybrid Firm Fixed Price/Time and Materials type Task Order.

3. Description of the Supplies/Services Required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The FLD has project responsibility for deployment of the CAPI mobile kits, continuing support for CAPI field operations, and principal technical authority over the delivery of technical services by the Contractor. FLD has a need to receive continued support for CAPI mobile devices used in support of survey and field data collection operations for the USCB. The

Contractor shall provide complete mobile device support services to support field operations.

The minimum service requirements provided shall include:

• Task 1: Contract/Project Management

• Task 2: Computing Device Repair Services

• Task 3: Continuing Operations and CAPI Accessories

• Task 4: Closing Operations

The period of performance includes a base period from September 30, 2020 through August 31, 2021. The total value of this task order is $991,757.92.

4. Statutory Authority and Supporting Rationale

Statutory Authority

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program

(see 8.401). The statutory authority applicable to this acquisition is FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C), “ In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal

Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original order or BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.”

Supporting Rationale for Cited Authority

The current CAPI Task order (YA1323-15-NC-0126) was competed among 8 small businesses under GSA IT Schedule 70 SIN 132-12 (Maintenance of Equipment, Repair services and/or

Repair/Spare parts).

Two quotes were received in response to the solicitation, with the best value determination resulting in an award to Integration Technologies Group, Inc. on May 7, 2015. Since the task order started, ITG has successfully supported, and continues to support, FLD and is performing exceptionally on meeting mission critical requirements.

https://www.acquisition.gov/content/8401-definitions#i1117303

ITG has compiled a well-versed, highly technical team of resources, with a variety of specialized knowledge regarding USCB’s field deployment procedures and expectations for laptops and tablets. All key personnel positions, and many of the task order positions, are filled by direct employees of ITG.

The CAPI Laptops covered under this Task Order were used to support the 2020 Decennial. In order to ensure the integrity of the data collected and analyzed during the 2020 Decennial, it is mandated that the methodology and systems used to support that methodology remain the same throughout the lifecycle of the initiative. This includes these CAPI Laptops. Due to reasons outside of this task order, the schedule of the 2020 Decennial was extended. In order to maintain continuity of systems and methodologies of the 2020 decennial, these laptops must stay in circulation. This extension was further compounded by the impacts of the COVID-19

Pandemic, as described later in this section, and the schedule was extended even further. As a result, USCB has an ongoing need to maintain these laptops in a consistent manner.

A disruption of the current work to re-compete these requirements, and to bring a new Contractor up to speed with the current environment, presents transition risks with no time to mitigate during peak 2020 Decennial Operations.

In the interest of economy and efficiency, it is in the best interest of the Government to select a contractor that possesses institutional knowledge, exposure to the agency's organization and systems, and the ability to seamlessly continue support to mission critical USCB FLD

Representative data collection laptop support needs, as they relate to the Decennial Census, the

Post Enumeration Survey (PES), and other survey and non-survey areas as well.

11,000 laptops have been distributed throughout the continental United States and the USCB

FLD have a non-severable need to support these laptops throughout the device lifecycle which ends July 2021. These laptops include SIM cards that are specific to the USCB’s cellular contract with AT&T and Census’ hard coded software was modified 5 years ago to only work with this carrier for FR data transmissions to Headquarters (HQ). The USCB cannot risk trying to change this code remotely and jeopardize the field representatives’ ability to transmit survey data.

Replacement devices have been procured but are not available for CAPI use until August 2021.

In summary, this follow on Task Order is needed to support the HP CAPI laptops for the USCB field representatives until the replacement Dell devices are available to deploy. The USCB cannot risk a lapse in this service, or a change to the cellular network and coding, as it will directly affect the quality of the data collected for the Constitutionally Mandated 2020 Census as well as other USCB initiatives.

ITG possesses extensive and detailed knowledge about the current deployment and maintenance procedures, as well as highly specialized knowledge of the operability status of all deployed equipment. By maintaining continuity of operations with this Contractor, the risk to the government of unsuccessful performance due to the loss of vital knowledge and expertise during

Decennial and PES operations is greatly reduced. It should be noted that transferring to a new contractor during this critical time in the Decennial Census and PES lifecycle, cannot be accomplished without a substantial duplication of effort resulting in a duplication of costs, missed deadlines, and a loss in residual value of deployed equipment for USCB.

The services provided by ITG directly affects USCB’s ability to complete high visibility, high priority business processes needed to successfully complete the 2020 Decennial objective. Given the criticality of these services, onboarding a new contractor would greatly decrease the likelihood of USCB receiving the minimum quality of services from the start of performance, on time delivery, or an acceptable price. A disruption of service would create duplication of costs, delays in delivery and a significant negative impact on major Census Programs. Any negative impact can result in poor performance, security issues, and a tarnished brand image of the highly publicized 2020 Census. Onboarding of a new contractor during the Decennial Census would result in learning curves and possible false starts until a new contractor is able to get up to speed.

Maintaining such a large fleet of devices deployed across the country is very complex in nature.

During the potential transition to a new contractor, current logistical and maintenance support would have to continue. As a result, additional costs in the form of additional hours per week by the current vendor and the incoming contractor in which knowledge is being transitioned would be realized. This would result, at minimum, in a 100% increase of the current monthly rate in order to transition to the new contractor. It is estimated that in order to minimize risk of service errors, the transition would take at least 2-3 months. Additionally, this would be occurring in the middle of major Decennial Operations; which is constitutionally obligated to maintain continuity of methodology, infrastructure, and data format. ITG has the firsthand knowledge and proven track record that mitigates the loss of continuity for this enormous and critical effort.

Any interruption in service is unacceptable due to the critical nature of the 2020 Decennial

Census and would adversely affect the Census Bureau’s mission.

The Decennial has multiple collection phases, releases, milestones, deliverables, operations, and reviews scheduled beyond the current task order duration that have immutable dates as a result of the impact of COVID-19 and Federal Court judgements to extend the length of the 2020

Decennial which USCB could not anticipate. Transitioning to a new vendor during this

Decennial schedule would most likely result in delays and impact the delivery of the Census counts to Congress. The Census Bureau is scheduled to complete its review of the count in

November 2020 and deliver the final numbers to the U.S. President in December 2020. Total population numbers will become publicly available in January or February 2021. State population counts are to be delivered by March 31, 2021.

Additionally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020 due to the novel (new) coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 that was identified Min the Wuhan Province of China. On March 11. 2020 the World Health

Organization (WHO) declared it to be a global pandemic. On March 13, 2020 the President of the United States declared the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 situation a national emergency in accordance with the National Emergencies Act. Also, on/around March 16, 2020 the USCB shifted to a “mandatory telework/remote work” posture in accordance with Office of Personnel

Management (OPM) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines in order to promote social distancing and the maximum safety of federal employees and contractors. This has greatly increased the need for a larger fleet of laptops and tablets; magnifying the criticality of successful performance without delays.

5. Determination of Best Value

In accordance with FAR 8.404(d), GSA has already determined the prices of hourly rates for services offered under schedule contracts to be fair and reasonable. Therefore, ordering activities are not required to make a separate determination of fair and reasonable pricing, except for a price evaluation as required by 8.405-2(d). Therefore, a comparison was made to determine if the rates proposed by ITG align with the rates on their GSA MAS Contract. Although GSA has already negotiated fair and reasonable pricing, the Contracting Officer sought additional discounts before placing this follow on task order.

In accordance with FAR 8.405-2(d), the Contracting Officer will determine that the final estimated value of the task order is fair and reasonable. A comparative analysis of labor rates and level of effort was done between the Independent Government Cost Estimate and the Offeror’s proposal to assist in the determination of fair and reasonableness.

6. Market Research

Market research was conducted for the current CAPI Support task order (YA1323-15-NC-0126), which indicated that this requirement could be met by commercial services. The Market

Research Team in FY 15 determined that the requirements identified in the Performance Work

Statement (PWS) could be provided by small business vendors under GSA Schedule 70 SIN

132-12. Two responses were received and it was determined that ITG was the best value for the

Government.

Market Research for this follow on task order consisted of a review of historical acquisition information, knowledge in procuring supplies/services of this type, and review of internet resources. It was determined that the requirements identified in the PWS could still be provided by a number of vendors under the GSA MAS. However, the same or equivalent immediate institutional knowledge and experience that ITG possesses, was unmatched. Our Market

Research established that a competition amongst the previously capable and new vendors was an alternative for this task order and can be considered for future procurements for these services at the conclusion of this follow on task order.

However, in the interest of economy and efficiency per FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C), no other sources were considered for this procurement as it is in the Governments best interest to issue a logical follow-on for this work to Integration Technologies Group, Inc.

The market research team concluded that, in the interest of economy and efficiency, it is in the

Government’s best interest to issue a logical follow-on order to ITG for these services, as they possess the specialized knowledge of in-process laptop deployment and maintenance for active

FLD Office actions. Further, it was determined that there were no exceptionally unique conditions or pricing factors that were applicable to this acquisition.

As a result of the market research, and a review of their capabilities and skills/experience of their leadership team, it was determined that this acquisition would be awarded to:

Integration Technologies Group, Incorporated

Markus Darby, CAPI Support Services Project Manager

2745 Hartland Road

Falls Church, VA 22043

Phone: (703) 698-8282

Fax: (703) 698-0305

Email: markus.darby@itgonline.com

DUNS: 126511963

NAICS: 334112

7. Any other Facts Supporting the Justification

The amount of time and funds required to train, educate, and provide a skill set comparable to

ITG would cause an unacceptable delay in the USCB’s ability to fulfill its constitutionally mandated and statutory mission. Not acquiring the services from this vendor will jeopardize the quality and timeliness of the USCB’s ability to complete the services as described in this limited sources justification.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

Census will continue to perform ongoing market research in an effort to remove any barriers of competition in the future. Our team will conduct thorough industry research to identify competitive vendors that have previous experience with CAPI Mobile Device Support Services.

The Census determined that similar support services for CAPI mobile devices are required across the USCB enterprise beyond the period of performance end date of this Limited Sources-Logical

Follow On Task Order and will be considered for competition.

9. Recommendations and Certification from Program Office

Under my cognizance, I certify that facts and representation of technical data that form the basis for this justification that are the responsibility of the technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Fernando Leonard Date

Senior Liaison

Technical Lead

Information Technology Service Management Office (IT SMO)

U.S. Census Bureau

10. Contracting Officer Certification

All of the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act (41 U.S.C. 253), as implemented in the Federal and Commerce Acquisition Regulations, have been considered in preparing this justification. As Contracting Officer, I hereby certify that the justification for limited sources for this requirement is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Bryan Shearer Date

Contracting Officer

Acquisition Division

U.S Census Bureau

11. Operating Unit Competition Advocate

I have reviewed this justification and determined that the rationale presented for issuing the order as a Limited Source- Logical Follow On applies to this Task Order and is approved. Since this limited source justification does not exceed $13,500,000.00, this review serves as final approval.

Leslie Andrecs Date

Assistant Division Chief

Acquisition Division

U.S Census Bureau