4293 JASoleS13_RAVE Server_Final Redacted.pdf

Department of the Army Sole Source Justification for Purchases under the SAT

(Using FAR Part 13)

Purchase Request #:

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA) is the procuring activity responsible for this action.

2. Description of Action: This action is to support the Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) for the procurement of two (2) RAVE 4U High Performance Industrial Server Chassis. ACC-DTA proposes to award a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract.

Suggested Vendor:

RAVE Computer Association, Inc.

7171 Sterling Ponds Court Sterling Heights, MI 48312 Cage Code: 0KYY5 Unique Entity ID: MSH7ZEHMG531

3. Dollar Amount: The estimated dollar value for this action is $39,000.00. Fiscal Year

2022 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army (RDT&E) funds will be used for this effort.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1): Sole source (including brand name) acquisitions.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: RAVE Computer Association, Inc. (RAVE Computer) is the sole provider of the RAVE Servers. The Detroit Arsenal and GVSC’s current IT environment consists of computer servers, and the acquisition of RAVE servers is essential to standardize the organization’s computer servers. Utilizing equipment other than the RAVE server would cause GVSC to incur additional cost in the following areas:

1. Army approved Army Gold Masters (AGM) images would have to be built and maintained.

2. New system would have to be checked to insure it meets security requirements.

3. Disruptions due to incompatible system integration with unique Lab equipment could put modeling and simulation capabilities at risk.

In addition to standardization, by selecting a single manufacturer, Government costs are reduced because the supporting IT staff only requires certification by the single manufacturer to perform break-fix work without voiding the warranty. The amount of time to complete corrective actions is also reduced since the IT support personnel do not need to maintain current knowledge and expertise regarding the operation, use and repair of additional computer brands. If multiple server platforms are used, it would be necessary to provide additional training to the IT support personnel and require them to be certified by each computer manufacturer in order not to void warranties at an annual cost of $15k per year per brand.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: At this time, RAVE is the sole provider of the 4U High Performance Industrial Server Chassis; therefore, competition is not currently available to provide this server. The Government will conduct market research on an annual basis, and will accept offers from any third-party RAVE 4U High Performance Industrial Server Chassis providers should RAVE allow such product to be provided through third-party vendors in the future.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: GVSC would be open to consider other brand names in the future, if they could effectively meet mission requirements, meet economic goals within budget constraints, and be compatible with their existing systems. Based on all of the foregoing, increasing competition within the current environment where all of GVSC’s IT equipment is Dell and RAVE servers, and uniformity is being sought, is not presently desirable. GVSC will continue to periodically assess the marketplace for any changes in this information.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted in June of 2022 by GVSC’s technical expert who requested and received a quote from one vendor under the Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) ITES-3H contract. It was determined that the quote received did not meet the required specifications of the servers and as a result, CHESS Statement of Non-Availability request number 216788010 was completed and issued to GVSC’s technical expert. The Detroit Arsenal and GVSC's current IT environment consists of RAVE servers. The continued acquisition of these servers is essential to standardize the organization's fleet processing environment. Of the servers available through internet searches, RAVE is essential to the Government's requirement, and market research indicates other companies' similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet without considerable additional costs the Government's requirement for server standardization.

Required features include economies of scale and ability to use IT assets purchased in the past for parts and replacement.

Market research conducted by an IT Specialist during the month of March 2022 involving internet searches determined that switching hardware vendors (such as to HP or IBM) would incur additional costs of server cabinets, blade enclosures, networking switches, cabling, power and cooling, security packages, system management, virtualization and software all while maintaining the current server infrastructure at existing costs. GVSC and contracting reviewed FAR Part 8 Sources (AbilityOne, Federal Prison Industries, Federal Supply Schedule, GSA Schedules, and UNICOR) for the potential required supplies, and made the determination that the required supplies were not available through these platforms.

9. Interested Sources: There are currently no other sources capable of providing RAVE 4U High Performance Industrial Server Chassis. The Government will synopsize this action in accordance with FAR 5.201 and will consider any proposals received;

however, there are currently no third-party vendors that support the RAVE 4U High Performance Industrial Server Chassis.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History. N/A

b. Unusual and compelling urgency. N/A

c. Subcontracting competition: N/A

11. The POC for this action is Ms. Jessica Moody, Contract Specialist, jessica.r.moody.civ@army.mil, 614-965-0552.

12. Technical Certification: I certify 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.

Printed Name: Raymond A. Samul Electronic Signature: ///ras/// Title: IT Procurement Team Lead Date: 08/23/2022

13. Requirements Certification: I certify 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.

Printed Name: Raymond A. Samul Electronic Signature: ///ras/// Title: IT Procurement Team Lead Date: 08/23/2022

14. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the order represents the best value to the Government in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2).

Additionally, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. This determination is based on market research and price analysis to the current commercial list pricing. Certified cost or pricing data will not be required pursuant to the exception for commercial items provided at FAR 15.403-1(b)(3).

Printed Name: Jeffrey B. Yeager Electronic Signature: //jby// Title: Contracting Officer Date: 8/31/2022

15. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Printed Name: Jeffrey B. Yeager Electronic Signature: //jby// Title: Contracting Officer Date: 8/31/2022

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of acquisition of two (2) RAVE 4U High Performance Industrial Server Chassis for the estimated amount of $39,000.00 pursuant to the authority of FAR 16.505, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the supplies or services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Printed Name: Jeffrey B.

Electronic Signature: //jby// Title: Contracting Officer Date: 8/31/2022