Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) has issued a Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition to procure Places and Spend Commercial Data from SafeGraph, LLC on a sole-source basis. This action is justified by "Unusual and compelling urgency" and statutory authority (41 U.S.C. 1901 and 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2)). The estimated contract value is $442,900.00 for a period from January 2, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
Purpose and Background
The USCB requires this critical data to support its economic indicators and statistical products, including Advanced Monthly Retail Sales Reports, Monthly State Retail Sales Reports, Annual Integrated Economic Surveys, and the Economic Census. The timely acquisition of high-value alternative data is essential for producing these key economic indicators.
Justification for Sole Source
The decision to award to SafeGraph, LLC without full and open competition is based on several factors:
- Urgency due to Government Shutdown: A lapse in appropriations and subsequent government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 13, 2025, created an urgent need to rapidly reestablish accurate business frames, making immediate access to SafeGraph's data imperative.
- Unique Qualifications: SafeGraph, LLC possesses unique qualifications, including historical coverage, consistency, and a proven ability to deliver timely data that meets the USCB's specific requirements.
- Operational Impact: Without this data, the USCB would face significant financial and operational injury, including a potential 6-month lag in production and degradation of survey sample accuracy, severely impacting its ability to produce vital economic statistics.
- Market Research: Market research confirmed SafeGraph, LLC's capability and valid SAM registration, with no other businesses identified as capable of supporting the requirement at this time.
Contract Details
- Type: Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition
- Estimated Value: $442,900.00
- Period of Performance: January 2, 2026 – December 31, 2026
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Product/Service Code: R707 (Contract, Procurement, And Acquisition Support Services)
- Place of Performance: Suitland, MD, United States
Implications for Industry
This justification explains the specific circumstances (government shutdown, urgency, unique vendor capabilities) that led to this sole-source procurement. Potential bidders interested in providing similar data services should note these factors, as they may inform future procurement strategies or opportunities with the USCB.