# AFARS PART 5139

- Subpart 5139.1 – General

- 5139.101-90 Policy.

AFARS – PART 5139

ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Subpart 5139.1 – General

5139.101-90 Policy.

(a) Commercial information technology hardware and software.

(1) The Army’s Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) program, under the Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems, is the mandatory source for commercial information technology (IT) hardware and software purchases. CHESS contracts provide IT products and services that comply with U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, Army and DoD policy and standards. Purchasers of commercial hardware and software must satisfy their IT requirements by utilizing the CHESS contracts and DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) agreements first, regardless of dollar value. Additionally, purchasers of IT requirements through a third party such as a system integrator must ensure solicitations and contract vehicles include the requirement to purchase through the CHESS and the DoD ESI agreements.

(2) Any IT hardware or software purchase made outside of the CHESS contracts requires an Army Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G6 approved Goal 1 Waiver. The Goal 1 Waiver along with supporting documentation shall be part of the procurement package submitted to the contracting officer and shall also be part of the resulting solicitation and contract file(s). Supporting documentation must include documentation submitted with the Goal 1 Waiver request such as a CHESS Statement of Non-Availability (SONA) for items that are not available from CHESS or other rationale for not using CHESS. The CHESS website located at http://chess.army.mil provides a complete list of CHESS contracts as well as information concerning Goal 1 Waivers and CHESS SONAs. The Goal 1 Waiver website is located at https://adminapps.hqda.pentagon.mil/akmg1w/index.html, and the Army CIO/G6 policy page is located at http://ciog6.army.mil/PolicyLegislation/tabid/64/Default.aspx.

(b) Information technology services.

(1) When procuring IT services, contracting personnel must consider setting aside requirements for small businesses and other small business categories in accordance with FAR 13.003(b)(1) and FAR subpart 19.5. Contracting officers shall ensure that the procurement package contains sufficient supporting documentation to assist the contracting officer in determining whether to set aside the requirement for small businesses and other small business categories in accordance with FAR 13.003(b)(1) and FAR subpart 19.5. In order to assist the Army in achieving all small business statutory goals in prime and subcontract awards, personnel should consider use of non-DoD contract vehicles such as those stated in the Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy memorandum, dated 14 July 2011, subject: Use of Government-wide Acquisition Contracts Set Aside Exclusively for Small Businesses. If no small business capability exists, CHESS contract vehicles are the preferred source for acquisition of IT services.

(2) Goal 1 Waivers from the use of CHESS are not required when procuring IT services. However, if a services requirement includes any IT hardware and/or software, personnel must ensure solicitations and contract vehicles include the requirement to purchase through the CHESS and the DoD ESI agreements. If a services requirement includes non-CHESS IT hardware or software, personnel must secure an Army CIO/G6 approved Goal 1 Waiver for the non-CHESS IT hardware and software per paragraph (a)(2) in this section. The procurement package and contract file documentation requirements of paragraph (a)(2) apply to hardware and software purchased as part of IT services requirements.

(c) Training. Principal assistants responsible for contracting must ensure that contracting personnel receive appropriate CHESS training, and should ensure that contracting personnel document the training on their individual development plans. Personnel can request CHESS training and view the training slides at https://chess.army.mil/UserTrainingRequest.