RFQ_JOFOC.pdf

As of May 02, 2017

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Contracting Officer’s Statement Regarding

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Identification of Agency:

The Contracting Activity is the United States Forest Service, Chief Information Office (CIO) and the Washington Office Acquisition Management Information Technology (WO-AQM IT) Support Branch, Albuquerque Service Center, 101B Sun Ave NE, Suite 120, Albuquerque, NM 87109.

2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved:

This is a firm fixed price sole source procurement to Network Integration and Consulting Services (NICS) to provide necessary services to perform annual remote support for all channels, licenses, profiles, and configurations of all radio channels and users hosted by the existing Forest Service RAVIN systems.

3. Description of Supplies or Services Required to Meet Agency’s Need Including Estimated the

Value:

The Contractor shall provide hardware and software support for all RAVINs RCoIP solutions hosted by the Forest Service’s Enterprise RAVIN servers. The Contractor shall provide remote support, troubleshooting, test, and configuration services in support of the above-named systems and components. This support shall be available via telephone during normal business hours.

The term of this action shall include a base year plus three option years. The estimated cost is $151,200 for the Base year and a total estimated cost of $618,240.00 if all option years are included.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition:

41 USC 253 (c) (1) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Demonstration That the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the

Acquisition Requires use of the Authority Cited:

The desired software maintenance and configuration support services requested in this action relates to existing Radio Control over IP (RCoIP) systems in the Forest Service infrastructure.

These solutions are known as RAVIN systems. Both the hardware and software elements of the RAVIN solutions are proprietary products from Network Integration and Consulting Services, Inc. The Forest Service is not replacing the RAVIN solution, but is seeking support in software maintenance, configuration support, troubleshooting support, system expertise, and break-fix support. The RAVIN solutions provide a critical service related to safety and field operations.

The need for support and available expertise is critical. As the product owner and developer, Network Integration and Consulting Services is the only known source of this expertise. The proprietary nature of the RAVIN solution limits the availability of expertise to the original manufacturer.

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 as Required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, Which Exception Under 5.202 Applies:

The RAVIN solution is proprietary to NICS. Solutions moving away from RCoIP were investigated, but the ability to provide desktop-PC radio control is only available via RCoIP.

Migrating to Telex/Vega was considered, however, the Telex/Vega solution does not offer a unicast solution. A Telex/Vega solution would require multicasting which is not compatible with UTN. An RCoIP solution from Cisco was considered. It is capable of unicast and would meet the UTN technology requirements. That said, the solution from Cisco is not capable of encapsulating the IP traffic from our installed Telex/Vega. This is possible with the RAVIN solution. To implement the Cisco solution, all Telex/Vega installations would have to be replaced as well as our installed WAVE systems. The RAVIN solution is the only RCoIP system that is able to handle all of the current USFS WAVE radio control systems as well as all of the Telex/Vega radio control systems across the Enterprise. RAVIN is a licensed product of NICS and is not available from other vendors, partners or resellers.

6. Determination by the Contracting Officer That the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be

Fair and Reasonable:

This is a firm fixed price contract. Historical purchases have been assessed in order to gauge the expectation of reasonable pricing. Based on the review of this historical data, it is expected that proposed prices will be found to be fair and reasonable prior to contract award.

7. Description of Market Research Conducted:

This is a firm fixed price contract. Historical purchases have been assessed in order to gauge the expectation of reasonable pricing. Based on the review of this historical data, it is expected that proposed prices will be found to be fair and reasonable prior to contract award. Network Integration and Consulting Services owns all the intellectual property rights to the RAVIN product line. They have not extended authority to other business entities allowing for support.

8. Any Other Facts Supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition:

The Radio Team in conjunction with the CIO determined that RAVIN was the best fit for the government at the time, given cost, support, and other technical factors. The RAVIN Software and Hardware solution was selected and has become the current solution for the U.S. Forest Service Radio Control over IP (RCoIP) systems deployed on 13 National Forests.

9. A listing of the Sources, if any, That Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

The Forest Service has done due diligence to ensure that the actions they are taking are within the Federal Acquisition Regulations. It has been deemed that parts from other manufacturers are not compatible with the current RAVIN system. Network Integration & Consulting Services is the sole provider.

10. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency may Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition Before any Subsequent Acquisition for the Supplies or Services Required:

Paragraphs 7-10 above clearly demonstrates that the Governments intent not to limit competition but to encourage it.

11. Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

SUBMITTED:

DOUGLAS KING Date Program Manager

RECOMMENDED:

BRANDY KNOTTS Date Contract Specialist

JAMES GMC. Bailey Date Contracting Officer

APPROVED:

MICHAEL S. DESOUTO Date Contracting Officer bknotts Typewritten Text 05/03/2017 bknotts Typewritten Text 05/03/2017 bknotts Typewritten Text 05/03/2017 bknotts Typewritten Text 05/03/2017