Brand Name Justification - 2025-CIO-0193 - SAM Mac Hardware Refresh_Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval For Other than Full and Open Competition

Plan ID Number: 2025-CIO-0193

Form Updated 4/14/2023

Justification & Approval

As a legislative branch agency, the Library is subject to the competition and advertising requirements of 41 U.S.C. § 6101. Like the Competition in Contracting Act and the FAR, 41 U.S.C. § 6101 does not require competition when a contracting officer certifies that only one source or brand-name item is available, when dictated by public exigency, or when otherwise authorized by law.

This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a contract or order by means providing for other than full and open competition per 41 U.S.C. § 6101, LCR 7-210, and, as applicable, FAR 6.302, FAR 13.106-1, FAR 8.405, and FAR 16.505. Contracting without competition shall not be justified on the basis of a lack of advance planning or concerns related to availability of funds.

This form shall be used to support instances where competition will be limited to a single source, a limited number of sources, including where a brand name product is required.

Part 1 – Identification

1. Contracting Agency and Activity: Library of Congress, OCIO/FM/CAC

2. Nature of Action Being Approved

Contract LoC or Leg Branch Order (or modification) NASA SEWP Order: Contract TBD Other: Open Market

Plan ID Number: 2025-CIO-0193 Brand Name: Apple Inc.

Estimated Value (Base and all options):

Period of Performance: Deliver by May 1, 2025

3. Description of Supplies or Services Required to Meet Library Needs

The Library requires the following supplies or services:

SOW Paragraph Ref. Deliverable Description Deliverable Quantity

C.3.1.

Apple M4 MacBook Pro 14-inch Notebook

• MFG Part No.: Z1FE****

• SPACE BLACK

• 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display²

• Standard display

• Apple M4 Pro chip with 12‑core

CPU, 16‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine

• 24GB unified memory

• 1TB SSD storage

• 70W USB-C Power Adapter

• Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port

• Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID - US English

• US English Accessory Kit Software

C.3.2.

AppleCare – 3 Year Extended Service Agreement

• AppleCare+ for 14-in MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max)

Justification and Approval

Plan ID Number: 2025-CIO-0193

Form Updated 4/14/2023

0BPART 3 – CONTRACTING OFFICER DETERMINATIONS & CERTIFICATION

8. Efforts to Solicit from As Many Potential Sources As Practicable Unless a justification is based on FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and compelling urgency, contracting officers shall post justifications for other than full and open competition, including brand name justifications, to the Contract Opportunities website on sam.gov (or eBuy for Brand Name Justifications under FAR Part 8) prior to requesting a proposal or otherwise entering into negotiations.

Advance notice will be published in sam.gov for 15 days before a contract is awarded. FAR 5.203(a).

Advance or concurrent notice will be published in sam.gov for a reasonable time for commercial items FAR 5.203(a) and 12.204(b).

Advance notice will not be published because the action meets the following FAR exception:

Notice would compromise national security. FAR 5.202(a)(1).

Unusual and compelling urgency; notice period would seriously injure Government. FAR 5.202(a)(2).

Expressly authorized or required to be made through another Government agency. FAR 5.202(a)(4).

Order will be placed against an IDIQ contract awarded under FAR 16.5. FAR 5.202(a)(6).

Order will be placed against GSA schedule or other competitively-awarded contract. FAR 5.202(a)(11).

Brand Name Justification shall be included with the solicitation posting. FAR 13.105(c); FAR 5.102(a)(6)

Advance notice will not be published per 41 U.S.C. § 6101; see attached deviation from the FAR per LCR 7-210 § 3.A.

We made the following efforts to interest potential sources in this award: N/A

9. Listing of Sources That Expressed Interest in Writing

The following sources expressed interest in this award: Market research quotes were received from the offerors stated above.

10. Additional Information

The following additional information is relevant to this justification and approval: This brand name justification will be posted along with the solicitation on SAM.gov.

11. Contracting Officer Determination that Price Is Fair and Reasonable As explained in detail below, I have determined that the prices for this contracting action are fair and reasonable based on comparison of the prices to the following (see FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)):

Historical prices paid by the Government Published competitive price lists Library’s Independent Government Estimate Prices obtained through market research Other: Prices obtained through competitive proposals

The following analysis (based on attached pricing information) supports my determination: The Library previously competed this action on NASA SEWP and received 17 quotes. It is anticipated that competing on SAM.gov will result in just as many quotes, and that accordingly, competition will ensure price reasonableness.

12. Contracting Officer Determination of Responsibility Checked System for Award Management (or will check in the case of competitive proposals for a brand name product)

13. Contracting Officer Determination of Best Value I have determined that this action represents the best value to the Government because: Awarding a contract for Apple computers ensures the Library can continue to maintain and develop its Mac-native applications used by both the public, members of Congress, and Library staff. Accordingly, awarding a contract for Apple computers is determined to provide the best value to the Government.