539-CSI-204_Brand Name Justification Honeywell Fire Alarm -1851.docx

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Engineering (138) 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220

Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 10 Network Contracting Activity 260 E. University Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45219

2. Nature and/or description of the action:

Request approval to use other than full and open competition to solicit on a Brand Name Only Fire Alarm Devices manufactured by Honeywell for use on project no. 539-CSI-204, Prepare Site for PET-CT.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs Fire alarm devices consisting of a duct smoke detector and associated programming to integrate the device into the existing campus fire alarm system.

Estimated Value: $2653

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

This request is submitted pursuant to the authority of 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”. FAR Part 6.302-1(c) “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized.

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. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

An Independent Government Cost Estimate was done using cost estimating software to determine that the anticipated cost was fair and reasonable. The portion of the cost estimating software showing the Fire Detection System is shown below:

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was not conducted. The entire facility is currently protected with the Honeywell Fire Alarm System. If any other vendor modifies, adds and reprograms devices into the existing Honeywell Fire Alarm System, this will void the UL listings of the current system. The VA is required to have UL listed Fire Alarm Systems.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as:

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.

12. Certification requirement:

I certify the supporting data, including the statement of the Government’s minimum needs and other rationale for other than full and open competition is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. (FAR Subpart 6.303-1(b))

The assertions and recommendations in support of the justification have been prepared by:

COTR Name

Technical Representative Date Phone

Contracting Officers Certification

The Contracting Officer has determined that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the Contracting Officer's knowledge and belief.

Concur/Non-concur:

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