3.3_1301326141_JA Template Limited Source_REDACTED_Redacted.pdf

Enclosure FAR Part 8 GSA Order LSJ

Rev 8 dtd 22 Sep 2023

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

DIRECTOR STRATEGIC SYSTEMS PROGRAMS

1250 10TH STREET SE, SUITE 3600

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, DC 20374-5127

IN REPLY REFER TO

SPJA26-46

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION FAR PART 13.106-1(b)(1)(i)

1. Agency and Contracting Activity

The agency and contracting activity for this effort is the United States Department Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) located on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, at 6401 Skipjack Circle, Silverdale, WA 98315-6499.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

The acquisition of the supplies/services is peculiar to one manufacturer where the particular

Name Justification.

3. Description of Supplies/Services and Estimated Value

SWFPAC requires Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) authorized training for the VMware vSphere 7 product suite. This five-day, intensive hands-on course is required to provide system administrators and engineers with the specific skills needed to install, configure, manage, and troubleshoot the agency's virtualized server infrastructure, which is standardized on the VMware platform.

The training must cover proprietary VMware components and features including, but not limited to: VMware ESXi 7, VMware vCenter Server® 7, VMware vSphere® Client , vSphere standard and distributed switches, VMware vSphere® VMFS datastores, VMware vSphere® vMotion®, VMware vSphere® Storage vMotion®, VMware vSphere® High Availability (HA), VMware vSphere® Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), and VMware vSphere® Lifecycle Manager .

The total estimated dollar value is

4. Statutory Ordering Authority and Limited Source Justification

The justification authority for this limited source action is 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and FAR 8.405-6(b) (Brand Name).

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Cited Statutory Authority The agency's mission-critical server infrastructure and software-defined data center (SDDC) are standardized on the VMware vSphere 7 platform, making operational readiness dependent on

Enclosure FAR Part 8 GSA Order LSJ

Rev 8 dtd 22 Sep 2023 this specific technology. Consequently, it is essential for agency personnel to receive training on the unique, proprietary features of this exact product suite to ensure system uptime, security, and mission continuity. The required training course, "VMWARE VSPHERE: INSTALL, CONFIGURE, MANAGE [V7]," is proprietary intellectual property created and controlled by the OEM VMware, Inc. As such, only the OEM or a VMware Authorized Training Partner has the license and authority to deliver this specific, copyrighted training course content.

Training on any other virtualization platform or from an unauthorized source would not cover the essential, brand-specific functions unique to deployed environment, introducing significant operational risk and an inability to effectively manage the SWFPAC owned and operated system. Therefore, these factors require a brand name or authorized distributor brand name training course to meet the agency's mission-essential need.

6. Market Research Conducted

In summary, market research was conducted to ascertain if other sources could meet the government's requirement. This research confirmed that while multiple vendors offer training in the general field of server virtualization, no other brand name is authorized or capable of providing the official brand-name "VMWARE VSPHERE: INSTALL, CONFIGURE, MANAGE [V7]" training course. This requirement is to train personnel on the specific software platform specifically used by the agency. As such, training on alternative, non-compatible platforms like Microsoft Hyper-V or Citrix Hypervisor is deemed insufficient as it would not provide the necessary skills to manage the agency's existing VMware infrastructure.

Competition for this requirement is limited to the OEM (VMware) and its authorized training partners.

7. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Potential Sources as Practicable

In addition to the market research described in Section 6 above, this requirement will be posted to SAM.gov allowing for as many potential sources as practicable to review the requirement and submit a quote or offer.

8. Fair and Reasonable Determination

All quotations or offers will be evaluated in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 and award will not be made unless the Contracting Officer can find the price fair and reasonable.

9. Actions to Remove or Overcome Barriers to Competition

Based upon the aforementioned facts and details identified in Paragraphs 5 and 6 above, the Government does not foresee a feasible alternative to the selected brand.

SWFPAC will continue to monitor the marketplace for viable, cost-effective options to meet this requirement.