A5 SS Justification.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 16.505

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA APHIS VS NBAF

1200 Kretschmer Dr Suite 100 Manhattan KS 66502

USDA APHIS MRPBS AAMD

250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401-2329

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This requirement is for reliable wireless communications capability within the NBAF in Manhattan KS, utilizing a carrier neutral distributed antenna system (DAS). The cellular signals are not strong enough to sufficiently penetrate the structure, thus severely limiting their use when trying to conduct mission-critical operations from inside the USDA APHIS VS NCAH facility. The facility consists of 8 buildings with an estimated 709,133 total sq footage. The Main Lab is 574,000 sq ft, NBAF Central 87,000 sq ft, Transshipping is 32,985 sq ft, Visitor Center 10,520 sq ft, Kimball entry control point 181 sq ft, DENISON entry control point, 193 sq ft, Pump house 2,400 sq ft and the Wastewater pretreatment is 1,854 sq ft. Cellular subscribers require reliable communication connectivity internal and external of the facility. Reliable and stable communications are essential to support daily and contingency telecommunications services. RF Connect owns the DAS equipment at NBAF and is the only vendor capable of providing DAS management, maintenance, hardware replacement, and backhaul cell services for Verizon and AT&T at NBAF. If a new vendor were to take over the DAS services at NBAF, RF Connect would need to remove all their equipment. The new vendor would then install their own equipment and provide backhaul LTE services. This transition would result in a temporary loss of LTE services throughout NBAF, delaying the facility’s full operational capabilities.

Any new Competitor would have to purchase the existing system from RF Connect, lease out the equipment, or remove the equipment and install a new system.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including estimated value).

DAS Management & Maintenance Platinum Plan DAS Hardware Replacement Greenlight LTE signal Source, services for AT&T and Verizon Estimated Cost: $57,857.00

4. Identification of the exception to fair opportunity and supporting rationale.

Identification of Statutory Authority. FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1).

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Since the DAS equipment is not owned by NBAF, reinstalling and integrating ISP services from another firm would take a considerable amount of money and up to service years. Without the DAS system, areas like the office, basement, and penthouse will lack cell coverage, affecting government phones on the Verizon network. In emergencies, communication will rely on VoIP phones over the network.

6. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The following market research has been conducted:

• Reviewed the cost and time of installing a new contractors equipment.

• Historic data on previous wireless services purchases

• Ongoing contact with knowledgeable individuals in the Government and industry regarding market capabilities.

• Reviewed online catalogs and other available product literature published by manufacturers distributors and dealers

• Quarrying Government databases that provide information for agency acquisitions such

SAM.gov

• Reviewing contractor website to ascertain available products and services

A synopsis of the pending action will be publicized. All future requirements will also be synopsized via the SAM.gov website to promote competition and industry interest.

7. Any other facts to support the justification.

RF Connect is the company that engineered and installed the system initially, as such they have intimate knowledge of the entire system. They retain ownership of the system.

8. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

Upon life expiration of the equipment or advances in technology renders the existing equipment no longer acceptable a fully competitive acquisition will be used to replace or upgrade the equipment.

Certifications & Approval

Supporting data that form the basis for and included in this justification is certified accurate and complete.

Eliam Xavier Vazquez Network Engineer

The information contained in this justification is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer