Y16_Cisco_Hardware_Maint._Renewal_signed_AOP_5.pdf

ACQUISITION OPERATING PROCEDURE (AOP)

FROM: Scott C. Wolz /s/ Jan 19 2011

Acting Chief, Procurement Operations Division

SUBJECT: AOP No. 5: Justification and Approval: Limited Source and Other Than

Full and Open Competition

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Acquisition Operating Procedure (AOP) is to provide a standardized format for Justifications and Approvals prescribed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.603, Other Than Full and Open Competition and FAR 8.405-6, Limited Source.

REVISIONS: Changed the Approving Official’s offices and dollar thresholds;

changed Team Leads to Chief, Contracting Branch; and in Attachment 2, added text to Item #4, New Work. This AOP replaces AOP No. 5, dated July 11, 2008.

AUTHORITIES: FAR 6.3, 6.5, 8.405-6; Agriculture Acquisition Regulation 406.5 and “Delegation of Competition Advocate Authority” memo dated April 11, 2007, signed by Chief of the Procurement Operations Division (POD).

Approving Official Dollar Threshold OPPM Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) exceeding $62.5M OPPM, Chief Procurement Policy Division (PPD) over $12.5M, up to 62.5M MS/POD, Head Contracting Activity Designee (HCAD) over $1M, up to $12.5M MS/POD, Procurement Analyst/Competition Advocate over $650,000, up to $1M Contracting Officer (CO) up to $650,000*

*The CO may use AOP #10, Justification and Approval- Simplified Acquisition Procedures for proposed contract actions up to $150,000.

REVIEW PROCESS:

a). The CO will ensure the Program Official and Branch Chiefs have reviewed and approved the Justification. After the appropriate approvals are obtained, the CO will submit the form to the appropriate higher level Approving Official for review, if applicable, through the POD Procurement Analyst.

b). The SPE; OPPM, Chief of PPD; MS/POD HCAD or MS/POD Competition

Advocate will review the Justification and if approved, will returned it to the CO.

If the Justification is disapproved, comments will be provided. At the Approving Official’s discretion, discussions may be needed with the CO and/or Branch Chiefs to discuss the information submitted.

United States Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Departmental Management

Management Services

Procurement Operations Division

Reporters Building 300 7th Street, SW, Suite 353 Washington, DC 20024

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Attachment 2

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

(Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6, orders placed under FSS are exempt from FAR Part 6; however, acquisitions restricting FSS contractors to an item peculiar to one manufacturer, a justification must contain sufficient facts and rationale to justify the use of the authority)

1. Contracting Office: OPPM/POD

2. Nature of the Action: Purchase for renewal of support Cisco Smartnet

3. Description of the Cisco Hardware renewal

4. Supplies or Services: Network Switches Support

5. Estimated Cost and $26,268.84 Period of Performance: POP: October 29, 2015 to October 28, 2016

6. Supporting Rationale (Check the applicable authority and the provide details to support the rationale)

Item Peculiar to One Manufacturer (Brand Name) (A brand name item, product or feature of the product peculiar to one manufacturer, whether available from one or more FSS is an item peculiar to only one manufacturer)

a) Explain why the particular brand name, products or features of the product from one source can only satisfy the specialized nature of the Government’s requirement. Attach a list of the brand name products (Note:

Explaining the products capability or process is not adequate rationale).

There is a current requirement to renew vendor support for Cisco Network devices on the AGx network. This renewal meets the technical support requirements for the AGx Network, an infrastructure supported by Client Technology Services – National Capital Region (CTS-NCR). AGx currently implement Cisco network devices in order to meet the operating and security requirements that support the Local Area Network of the General Support System (GSS) needs for the benefit of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) agency.

b) If applicable, explain the contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the supplies or services.

Cisco Switches have been configured and currently being implemented on the Agx network.

The entire infrastructure requires these devices for internal and external communication for the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) agency.

c) List other companies’ similar products and explain why the products lacked the particular features, do not meet or cannot be modified to satisfy the Government’s requirement.

Other brands tested have not been compatible with the environment’s current configuration

� New Work (Logical Follow-on for continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment. The original FSS order was not issued under the limited source or sole source procedures)

a) Explain why the supplies are deemed available from only the original source for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components.

LIMITED SOURCE

b) If an award to any source other than the original source for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components:

1. Explain the substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition, OR

2. Explain the unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements

Urgent and Compelling Need

(Explain the extent of serious injury in financial, data or other effects to the Government if the award is delayed.

Note: Urgency is not the result of poor acquisition planning)

7. Best Value: The additional cost and time needed to competitively obtain a different type of network equipment brand would make it unlikely that a source other than the Cisco brand can provide the items at a lower cost within the OCIO/CTS/TSD/NCR required timeframe. Several distributing vendors were queried for quotes.

8. Market Research: After interviewing the network and infrastructure team, it was determined that no other source can provide the specified hardware.

9. Other Supporting Facts: (Explain or attach any other information to support the use of the authority)

10. Competition Barrier: OCIO/CTS/TSD/NCR continues to review and test products yearly to ensure current infrastructure and software are cost efficient and compatible with our systems.

CERTIFICATION:

I certify that the information for this requirement meets the Government’s minimum and the justification is accurate and complete to support the acquisition for the justification.

Program/Project Manager

OCIO/CTS/TSD/NCR___

Division Date

To the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the data supporting this justification is accurate and complete to support the acquisition for the justification.

Contracting Officer Date

Chief, Contracting Branch Date

DECISION OF THE APPROVING OFFICIAL:

Approved:

Disapproved:

Approved Subject to the listed conditions:

Conditions:

Approving Official Signature Date

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

CBragg Typewritten Text 8/12/2015

ACQUISITION OPERATING PROCEDURE (AOP)