Description
Page 1 of 4 LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AUTHORITY: FAR 8.405-6 and 40 U.S.C 501 PR# This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program. 1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a Limited Source Justification. Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate, on behalf of the Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. This requirement is for an independent objective review of the Integrated Reporting of Wildland-Fire Information (IRWIN) application and an evaluation of integration services available in the Wildland Fire Enterprise. This is a new requirement for professional services. The Government anticipates award of a sole source task order to Noblis, Inc. 3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agencys needs (including the estimated value). The service required to meet this need is an independent objective review of the Integrated Reporting of Wildland-Fire Information (IRWIN) application and an evaluation of the existing and potential technology and solution of supporting an enterprise data exchange capability. Estimated Value: 4. The authority and supporting rationale (see 8.405-6(a)(1)(i) and (b)(1)) and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractors unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service. FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)B - Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. Noblis is uniquely qualified for the tasks and requirements outlined in this effort because of their specialized history performing evaluations and facilitating PR# 40350382 Page 2 of 4 discussions with the specific stakeholder groups that facilitate IRWIN and related integration services and support. Noblis first completed a business and work process review of the wildland fire dispatching community to provide an objective independent study that identified and highlighted community needs. This study was completed with alternatives identified. From this review, the concept of a data exchange service for the community was considered, and in response the community invested in IRWIN to facilitate the data exchange service for the wildland fire community. Since the development of IRWIN is well underway, it is necessary for the exchange service to be evaluated independently and objectively. This evaluation will determine if IRWIN meets the needs of the community and will verify that it is being built using the best technology available, or if there is other alternatives that support the community in a better way. Noblis was also contracted to perform an objective independent review of the Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) in FY17. During that review the team was exposed to the functionality of IRWIN and gained a solid understanding of the data exchange capability and the functionality between systems. This experience provided Noblis with technical knowledge of IRWIN and the use of the data exchange technology within the enterprise, which will be necessary to expedite the review process for this requirement. Noblis is an independent vendor who has no desire to influence the outcome of the reviews in order to steer the business in any direction. They have the ability to provide a review that the government can use to mold the future of data integration throughout the enterprise with no issues or concerns about subjectivity being included in the results. 5. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d). The contracting officer will determine the price(s) fair and reasonable based on a price analysis of the quote received from Noblis, Inc., to include comparison of the prices to historical data from previous orders for similar services using GSAs Contract Awarded Labor Category (CALC) tool, Noblis Inc.s Federal Supply Schedule pricing, and the Independent Government Estimate. 6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted. Market research was conducted to verify Noblis, Inc. as the viable sole source awardee for this effort. The market research included Noblis, Inc.s past performance on two previous objective and independent reviews of the wildland fire community, systems and capabilities. During each of those efforts Noblis, Inc. provided excellent service PR# 40350382 Page 3 of 4 overall and thorough documentation of alternatives and evaluations. The delivery of items were objective, comprehensive and on time. Further research was conducted by reviewing GSAS CALC tool for labor category analysis and comparison, System for Award Management (SAM), Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS). 7. Any other facts supporting the justification. Noblis has worked in the wildland fire community for the past ten years, which allows the team to start the review quickly and effectively reach out to the community in a timely manner to facilitate discussions with the wildland fire community in order to deliver the reports under the . The Noblis team will not require the time it would take a team not familiar with the community or the business to start the review process while finishing the deliverables in a timely manner. The relationships and knowledge that Noblis has amassed over the last ten years, coupled with the trust built during that time frame, will require less oversight by the government team and in turn be less costly to the government. 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 supplies and services is made. This effort will complete the process of evaluation of the business case and need and follow up with an independent review on how effective the identified and developed solution meets the business needs and requirements. The government evaluated alternate vendors and determined that other vendors would take a longer duration to start the effort, facilitate discussions with the community and ultimately result in a delay of delivery of a final product. If a follow up evaluation of systems is necessary outside of the enterprise integration environment the government has and will continue to utilize full and open competition. 9. The ordering activity contracting officers certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officers knowledge and belief. I certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. PR# 40350382 Page 4 of 4 10.Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Governments minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for limited sources) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel. I certify the technical data which forms a basis for this justification is complete and accurate and meet the Governments minimum needs. 11.For justifications under 8.405-6(a)(1), a written determination by the approving official identifying the circumstance that applies. FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)B - Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. 12. Reviews and Approvals Concur ____________________________________ ________________