3_JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (BRAND NAME}

1. Agency and Contracting Activity

118th Mission Support Contracting , Nashville, TN.

2. Description of Action

This is a request for a Brand Name justification for the procurement of specific Clear-Com communication headsets to support operations within Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities

(SCIF). The proposed contract action is for a firm-fixed-price purchase order.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The requested procurement includes the following Clear-Com equipment based on Quotation CCQ-

000007238:

Product ID Description Subtotal

CCC-802065-66- Monaural Low Crosstalk VOX Headset, Cable

Qty Unit Price

31 --------------

M 5.SFT (66in) extended boom, 1/4" TRS & Nexus

TP-120 Plugs with Leatherette Ear Pads; Cotton

Ear Socks and Tension Band

CC-300-X4 Headset: Single Ear, Medium weight, XLR (F) 4 15 pin with Dynamic Mic, Boom switch

Total Estimated Value:

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open

Competition

The statutory authority for this action is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(l) or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(l), as implemented by

FAR 6.302-l(c) - Application for brand-name descriptions. The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cann_ot be modified to meet, the agency's needs.

Justification and Approval (J&A) I Clear-Com Headsets

5. Reason for Authority Cited (Justification}

The justification for limiting competition to the Clear-Com brand is based on the following operational and technical requirements:

a. Existing Equipment and Compatibility: The end-user currently operates the proprietary Clear

Com Audio Multi-level Security (AMLS) Solution. The requested headsets {CCC-802065-66-M) are specifically engineered to connect directly and seamlessly function with the existing AMLSv4

Microphone and Speaker Units. Using any alternative brand would necessitate extensive, costly modifications, and would disrupt mission-critical communications.

b. Proprietary Technology and SCIF Accreditation: The Clear-Com AMLSv4 Low Crosstalk VOX

Headsets are specifically designed to enable high-isolation operation within SCIF environments where communication across multiple security classifications is mandatory. They provide an accredited level of acoustical, electrical, and mechanical crosstalk isolation. A headset from another manufacturer lacks this specific accreditation within the existing Clear-Com ecosystem and would fail to meet the stringent security mandates required for SCIF operations.

c. Essential Functionality: The requested headsets enable operators to deterministically listen to audio originating from hundreds of sources across various security classification levels while simultaneously and selectively speaking to any one classification. This proprietary functionality is fully reliant on integration with the existing Clear-Com AMLS setup. Alternate systems cannot achieve this without a total system replacement.

6. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

The Contracting Officer will determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on historical pricing, market research, or comparison to an independent government estimate.

7. Market Research

Market research was conducted and determined that only Clear-Com headsets possess the proprietary technology required to interface with the currently fielded Clear-Com AMLSv4 systems without compromising SCIF accreditations or requiring a total system overhaul.

8. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and

Open Competition

Procuring a different brand of headsets would require replacing the entire AMLS communication infrastructure at a significant cost to the Government, causing unacceptable mission delays and requiring new security accreditations for the facility.