1.5.1-SSJ_Redacted.pdf

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

ICE Acquisition Manual 3006.301-90

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITON THRESHOLD

(INCLUDING BRAND-NAME)

J&A-23-00227

Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Acquisition Management (OAQ), proposes to enter into a contract on behalf of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) SAC San Antonio on a basis of other than full and open competition.

Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and anticipated cost.

Type of action: New, firm-fixed price (FFP) purchase order

Amount the current J&A is justifying (must be $250,000 or less):

Brief Description: OAQ intends to procure, on a sole source basis, public safety radio network service which will immediately and significantly enhance the safety and effectiveness of HSI operations by improving the quality and availability of communications. The vendor listed below is the only company that can provide the required services in the required region of south Texas and allow for a seamless interface with other public safety entities.

Rio Grande Valley Communications Group (RGVCG) PO Box 220 McAllen, TX 78505

Sole Source Justification Rationale in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and (ii).

(Check one and provide rationale below):

Only one source reasonably available Urgent and compelling circumstances exists Exclusive licensing agreement exists Brand name - If the brand name requirement applies to a portion of the procurement, please identify that portion.

Industrial Mobilization Other

Rationale:

After the events of September 11, 2001, a nationwide effort was made to centralize public safety communications so that, in the event of a major disaster, multiple disparate entities would be able to communicate directly with each other to coordinate the emergency response

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITON THRESHOLD

(INCLUDING BRAND-NAME)

to the event. As a result, it is common for one radio network infrastructure, such as the RGVCG in south Texas, to handle all emergency communications in a particular region.

The RGVCG was established in 2011 and is governed by a local board made up of representatives from various public safety agencies across the Rio Grande Valley geographic area. According to the Mission Statement, RGVCG was founded in order to establish a region-wide public safety radio network, operating under shared standards, allowing for communications interoperability between contracted entities. The network infrastructure currently contains at least fourteen (14) radio repeater sites using one-hundred fifty (150) repeater locations servicing seven Texas counties including Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Starr, Brooks, Jim Hogg and Kenedy. These counties are included in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) for multiple Rio Grande Valley HSI offices directed by SAC San Antonio.

The procurement of this radio service will provide HSI personnel authorization to connect to the Rio Grande Valley Communications Group (RGVCG) public safety radio network. Once connected, usage of the RGVCG network will significantly expand HSI’s tactical communications ability resulting in increased operational capabilities and safety. This radio service will allow HSI users to access public safety radio networks utilizing existing HSI-owned radio equipment.

The RGVCG radio network is the only non-Federal radio communications network currently capable of transmission over the expansive south Texas geographic area. If another vendor and/or entity were to attempt to replicate this system, it would take years of work and likely cost tens of millions of dollars to mirror the significant infrastructure and connectivity that RGVCG possesses. Additionally, due to the lack of vendor integration, users on the competing system would be unable to utilize the interoperability channels available to the regional public safety agencies. RGVCG is the primary radio network utilized by the vast majority of local and county police, sheriff, EMS, fire department, and other public safety agencies in the Rio Grande Valley.

HSI currently issues its Special Agents, Officers, and Task Force Officers, Motorola handheld radios for use in the course of law enforcement duties. These radios, commonly made up of XTS 5000, APX 7000, and APX 8000 models, are capable of both point-to-point and repeater transmission. In the point-to-point setting, each radio unit transmits and receives signals directly from another handheld radio. While not requiring extra equipment (radio network infrastructure), the point-to-point system has significant range limitations and does not allow users to reliably communicate over distances more than one-half mile to one mile apart depending upon terrain and signal interference. A digital repeater system significantly enhances range by allowing the handheld radio to broadcast to the nearest repeater which then amplifies the signal and simultaneously broadcasts the transmission to numerous other repeater stations across the network. In the case of RGVCG, their robust and existing repeater network is capable of receiving a handheld transmission from one location and delivering it to other radios in the entire seven county coverage area. The RGVCG radio

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITON THRESHOLD

(INCLUDING BRAND-NAME)

network infrastructure specifically allows for the usage of the APX 7000 and 8000 models utilized by HSI via the P25 trunking technology.

Safe and successful HSI law enforcement operations rely heavily on the agents’ ability to communicate with each other via radio. HSI utilizes radios to conduct high-risk enforcement operations, surveillance of targets of investigation, and to facilitate disaster response during catastrophic events. If communications were to fail or become unavailable, both the integrity of the operation and the safety of the personnel involved, and the public, could be at risk.

Current ICE radio infrastructure historically utilized by HSI has proven unreliable and has therefore left HSI in frequent need of alternative communication methods. This capability vacuum often results in agents utilizing cell phones to disseminate information which is inefficient and cumbersome.

The procurement of this contract will allow HSI personnel immediate access to RGVCG, the only reliable regional radio communications network available, which will dramatically enhance operational capabilities and safety during enforcement actions and disaster responses. Additionally, the interoperability channels provided by RGVCG will allow HSI users to contact the various local law enforcement agencies and hospital systems in the event that immediate assistance is needed during operations.

4. The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable based on one or more of the price analysis techniques described below in accordance with FAR Part 13.106- 3(a)(2). (Check one and provide short description of action taken.)

Market Research.

Comparison of the proposed price with prices found reasonable on previous purchases.

Current price List.

Comparison with similar items in a related industry.

Comparison to IGCE.

Contracting Officer’s personal knowledge.

Other.

Fair and reasonable pricing will be determined based on historical pricing found on previous purchases of the same/similar services. The last option period, Option Period 2, on previous purchase70CMSD20P00000125, was per radio per month, and an activation fee of per radio. The current purchase fee per radio per month increased by , and the activation fee remains per radio. It is estimated that the fee per radio per month and the activation fee of per radio will remain the same for Option Periods 1 and 2.

5. Approval of the Contracting Officer:

Michelle Levine

Date

MICHELLE E LEVINE

Digitally signed by MICHELLE E

LEVINE

Date: 2023.07.18 09:03:29 -05'00'