OPM used the document to defend its decision to award the contract without a competition, saying, “This acquisition is not the result of poor planning, but rather a response to an unanticipated acceleration of operational crises and federally imposed deadlines. Workday is the only responsible source capable of delivering the required capabilities within the time available, and full and open competition with other vendors would result in unacceptable delays, noncompliance, and mission failure.”

At the end of the contract period, OPM said, it intended to conduct a “full and open competition,” although it added that this would only occur “if no justifiable sole-source condition exists.”

Rule of law

The contract award drew criticism from current and former employees of OPM, Reuters reported, as well as from the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council, which makes recommendations to improve federal IT contracting.