21-20-440PCZ768 - BNJ - RFQ.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Sole Source Justification

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

SOLICITATIONS MAY BE LIMITED TO ONE SOURCE ONLY IF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER DETERMINES THAT ONLY ONE SOURCE IS REASONABLY AVAILABLE. THIS DETERMINATION MUST BE SUPPORTED WITH FULL JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE FROM THE CUSTOMER.

WHEN THE CUSTOMER DESCRIBES AN ITEM WITH A PURCHASE DESCRIPTION WHICH LIMITS THE AVAILABILITY TO ONE SOURCE, THE JUSTIFICATION MUST EXPLAIN WHY THE ITEM IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL MEET THE GOVERNMENT’S REQUIREMENT. STATEMENTS SUCH AS "ONLY KNOWN SOURCE" OR "ONLY SOURCE WHICH CAN MEET THE REQUIRED DELIVERY DATE" ARE INADEQUATE TO SUPPORT A SOLE

SOURCE PURCHASE.

PURCHASE REQUEST OR REQUISITION

NUMBER

PROJECT TASK NUMBER

ESTIMATED AMOUNT (Over Micro-Purchase Threshold, but up to the SAT)

21-20-440PCZ768 $160,355.00

IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING OFFICE, AND SPECIFIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE DOCUMENT AS A “JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.” PLEASE CITE THE AUTHORITY AND TYPE OF JUSTIFICATION.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Coast Guard (USCG), Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber and Intelligence Service Center (C5ISC), CPD, Alexandria, VA.

The Contracting Office is the CG-9142 - C5I Contract Operations Division 2 – Kearneysville.

This is a justification for other than full and open competition.

This is a Sole Source requirement being procured in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED, AND THE INTENDED USE.

The U.S. Coast Guard C5ISC ESD ERF has a requirement, on a sole source basis, for continued warranty coverage for U.S. Coast Guard owned PXI based Automated Testing Equipment (ATE) manufactured by National Instruments (NI). The PXI based ATE by NI is used in support of centralized depot testing and fault finding analysis on a wide array of U.S. Coast Guard owned electronic circuit cards used in Navigation, Communications, and Propulsion Control systems. The intent is to award a contract for a base year and four optional one-year terms to NI for continued warranty coverage. This purchase provides repair, replacement, and calibration for both past and recently purchased NI PXI hardware, as well as for the hardware we obtained from LSU via property transfer.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT LIMIT AVAILABILITY TO ONLY ONE MANUFACTURER, WITH THE REASON NO OTHER SUPPLIES OR

SERVICES CAN BE USED.

National Instruments is the OEM for CG owned PXI equipment. The schematics, diagnostic procedures, imbedded firmware, and the software required to access imbedded firmware for diagnoses is extremely complex, encrypted, and proprietary to NI. No other vendor can provide the required PXI warranty coverage, therefore only NI can meet the Government’s requirement.

A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT QUOTATIONS OR OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS

PRACTICABLE (INCLUDE YOUR MARKET RESEARCH EFFORTS HERE).

The material technical specifications and supplementary data are proprietary to the OEM and cannot be provided to other manufacturers, which eliminates any opportunities for full and open competition. The PXI based ATE System is critical to U.S. Coast Guard depot level electronics repair. Changes in design could lead to system malfunctions and negative impact to centralized depot repair operations. This purchase reduces the “downtime” of our state of the art, automated electronics test system to the lowest level possible while ensuring that all components of this system are in current calibration. This service agreement is the only available means to provide the U.S. Coast Guard fleet with high quality circuit card testing in a smooth, uninterrupted manner.

REASON THAT SUGGESTED SOURCE IS THE ONLY SOURCE WHICH CAN PROVIDE THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

Market research as prescribed in FAR Part 10 was conducted by the Program Office. National Instruments is the only known proprietor that owns the rights to their manufactured PXI systems and diagnostic equipment. The Coast Guard does not have the rights to share this information with other commercial entities. Because of this, only NI can meet the Government’s requirement.

EXPLAIN WHY AN ADEQUATE PURCHASE DESCRIPTION OR OTHER INFORMATION SUITABLE TO SOLICIT BY FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

HAS NOT BEEN DEVELOPED OR ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

An adequate purchase description that would allow for full and open competition is not available because only NI can meet the Government’s requirement for continued warranty coverage for U.S. Coast Guard owned PXI based Automated Testing Equipment (ATE). NI is the OEM for CG owned PXI equipment.

The schematics, diagnostic procedures, imbedded firmware, and the software required to access imbedded firmware for diagnoses is extremely complex, encrypted, and proprietary to NI. No other vendor can provide the required PXI warranty coverage.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Sole Source Justification

PROVIDE A STATEMENT OF ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

BEFORE FUTURE ACQUISITIONS ARE REQUIRED.

No actions can currently be taken to overcome barriers barring full and open competition because NI is the OEM for CG owned PXI equipment. The schematics, diagnostic procedures, imbedded firmware, and the software required to access imbedded firmware for diagnoses is extremely complex, encrypted, and proprietary to NI. No other vendor can provide the required PXI warranty coverage, therefore only NI can meet the Government’s requirement.

SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CUSTOMER CODE TELEPHONE NUMBER DATE

X Technical Represenative

SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER CODE TELEPHONE NUMBER DATE

X Contracting Officer