36C25019R0057-019.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval

For

Other Than Full and Open Competition

Honeywell Fire Alarm System

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO)

10, 3140 Governor’s Place Blvd, Suite 210, Kettering, OH 45409.

The Requesting Agency is VISN 10, VAMC Medical Center, Engineering Service (138), 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220. The Solicitation Number is VA250-14-J-1622.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed:

Engineering Service is requesting approval to use other than full and open competition to solicit a Brand Name Only for an expansion of the Fire Alarm System, manufactured by Honeywell, for use on Project No. 539-326, Relocate Community Living Center, Phase 4.

This project will be awarded as a new Firm-Fixed Price contract. This Justification and Approval (J&A) is submitted pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C 2304 (c) (1) or 41 U.S.C.

253 (c) (1), which provides that full and open competition need not be obtained where there is “only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1(c) “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs:

The subject project involves the construction of a new Community Living Center with 16 new patient rooms. This includes an expansion of the existing fire alarm system involving smoke detectors, duct detectors, sprinkler supervisory switches, electromagnetic door holders, manual fire alarm stations, water flow and pressure switches, speakers, strobes and a voice annunciation system. The Estimated Value of the Fire Alarm System is $86,000. The Estimated Value of the Relocate Community Living Center, Phase 4 Project is $6,157,436.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

(X) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per FAR 6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7;

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The fire alarm devices that are to be installed under this project represent an extension of the existing Fire Alarm System at our facility. As such, each new device must tie into and communicate with the existing Facility Fire Alarm System, which is manufactured by Honeywell. Each device in a fire alarm system, whether it’s a smoke detector or supervisory switch, constantly communicates with the front end of the fire alarm system. This allows the system to monitor each and every device, so that it cannot only receive alarms, but also can detect failures of the device as well – which is a critical element in any fire alarm system. In addition, the software allows for a graphics package, which displays the floor plans of the entire facility depicting each and every fire alarm device. This allows for fast response in any alarm situation, as the system can tell Fire Fighters and VA Police the exact location of the device in alarm. Besides the fact that software conflicts would make it difficult to impossible for devices by another manufacturer to communicate with the existing Honeywell System, it would void the warranty and the UL Listing of the fire alarm system. A UL Listed Fire Alarm System is a Life Safety Code requirement. Maintaining the warranty and UL Listing of the Fire Alarm System is critical and cannot be jeopardized.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

Research has shown that in the industry, it is standard for each fire alarm system to have their own proprietary software which prohibits communication between different manufacturers.

There is just too much at risk from a Life Safety Code Standpoint to attempt to intermingle manufacturers on a Fire Alarm System; this facility has a Honeywell Fire Alarm System, and we should only add devices to it that are manufactured by Honeywell. This solicitation will be publicized via FedBizOpps.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

Determination of fair and reasonableness of cost will be based upon a complete price analysis and Independent Government Cost Estimate. The anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable. This project will be issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP).

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the

Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market research has been previously conducted for prior projects, concerning this subject.

The Honeywell Fire Alarm System is currently in use throughout the entire hospital.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

Maintenance and system familiarity, while secondary to the issues of warranty or UL Listing, are other important factors to consider. Engineering is charged with maintaining this system, and the rest of the facility is charged with responding appropriately. Attempting to introduce a fire alarm different manufacture with different software would no doubt compromise the ability of Staff respond to their tasks efficiently, let alone the issues of how it would be able to communicate with the existing fire alarm system.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

See Section 6 above.

11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required:

Solicitations for future requirements will utilize “brand name or equal” language, if it is in the Government’s best interest to do so. The current requirement must be solicited using a brand name description because the Government needs to create an exact copy of a system/item that is currently in use.

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a

Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_____________________________ 08/05/2018 Jeb Bower Date Project Engineer, Engineering Service VAMC – Cincinnati, OH

13. Approvals in accordance with FAR 6.304

Contracting Officer's Certification: I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Julie Stout Date Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office (NCO) 10

VHAINDStoutJ Typewritten Text 9/6/2018