B08_-_BNJ_0001.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, DC 20240-0001

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

(IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i)

This acquisition is being executed by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Office of Administration (OA), Acquisition Management Division (AMD), Acquisition Operations Branch, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166 for requirements developed by the Technology Services Division (TSD).

In accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), only one source, Schneider Electric maintenance, is reasonably available to meet BSEE’s requirements. Schneider Electric is the manufacturer of the Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) units that the BSEE currently has installed at their Sterling, Virginia facility. Schneider Electric does not authorize third parties to provide installations, repair, or warranty services for their products. Schneider Electric only authorizes third parties to sell their products and services as authorized resellers whom must also schedule a Schneider Electric technician(s) to install, repair, or warranty the products.

The BSEE procured their Schneider Electric APC Symmetra PX 250/500kw UPS and PDU in February 2015 during the initial build out of the Sterling facility. The current extended warranty period expires February 9, 2024, for the following products, PX 250/500kw IO Frame with Right Mounted Maintenance Bypass and Dis, and the 120 V Type PDU, each product has the following services, Preventative Maintenance Visit 5x8, PM scheduling, Upgrade 7x24, On Site Warranty Extension with Site Inspection PM (ITB-WW).

The installed products have a lifecycle expectancy of ten (10) years, currently this equipment is in year eight (8) of its lifecycle. In order to keep within manufacturer recommendations and to keep the hardware working in the most efficient and effective manner only Schneider Electric Technicians can perform the maintenance including any hardware installation or software configuration of the UPS units and or peripherals.

The UPS has a ten-year lifecycle, although it is common practice to extend the lifecycle up to five years. At that time, the technician can perform a "revitalization", which is a process where the UPS unit itself will remain and some of the UPS peripherals will be replaced. (ex. power modules, batteries). This will allow the UPS unit to expect another ten years of lifecycle therefore, the cost for maintenance would extend the life of the unit and save time and money on procurement of another unit. Furthermore, by adding option years BSEE will save costs annually on maintenance by locking in the price for yearly maintenance in case the prices were to rise in the future.

To recompete for new equipment would be extremely costly and wasteful of Government funds, and highly ineffective to the BSEEs mission goals.

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted IAW FAR § 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) for the brand name procurement of the requested Schneider Electric maintenance.

Rebecca Hayes Date Contracting Officer