JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.docx

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific West Area; 800 Buchanan Street; Albany, CA 98710. POC: Louise L. Snitz, (510)559-6022.

2. Nature/Description of Action. A solicitation is issued for anticipated award of a firm-fixed price contract for the construction of a new fire standpipe system to serve existing stairways of the Main Building Annex Building at the USDA, ARS, PWA, Western Regional Research Center, in Albany, CA. Within this construction project, a specified brand name product is required.

3. Description of Supplies/Services. Provide construction services for a new fire standpipe system to serve existing stairways of the Main Building and West Annex Building as shown on the attached documents. Provide core drilling for pipe penetrations through existing construction. Replace existing fire department connection with new. Connect new piping systems to the existing fire protection systems and the existing pump discharge mains. Connect new tamper switches to the existing Simplex-Grinnell addressable fire alarm control panel signal initiation circuits for all new alarm devices, all in accordance with the attached specifications and drawings.

4. Statutory Authority. 6.302-1(c) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Application for brand name descriptions.

5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications. The existing fire alarm control panel is manufactured by Simplex-Grinnell and only their parts will function in this panel. The use of any other fire alarm company parts in the existing panel will cause the panel to malfunction and it may not read any alarm signals. Simplex-Grinnell is the sole distributor of these parts. The parts may be purchased by any qualified electrical contractor and installed by them. Also, the alarm wiring and conduit may be installed by any electrical contractor. However, only a Simplex-Grinnell technician may “land” the wiring onto the Simplex-Grinnell devices. Also, only Simplex-Grinnell may program the panel with their proprietary fire alarm panel software which works only with their equipment. Only Simplex-Grinnell can test and repair any equipment on their panel. The only option is to replace the entire fire alarm system with a new system at an estimated cost of $100,000 or more.

6. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. The A-E estimate of the product has been provided and the Contracting Officer will ensure that a fair and reasonable price is awarded in comparison to that A-E estimate.

7. Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) Announcement/Potential Sources. Due to propriety nature of existing equipment to which the instant equipment will interface, there will be no FedBizOps announcement for additional potential sources for the specified brand name product. The entire construction project, however, is announced in FedBizOps as 100% HUBZone concern set-aside.

8. Market Survey. Due to propriety nature of existing equipment with which the instant equipment will interface, there will be no FedBizOps announcement for additional potential sources for the specified brand name products. However, since there is a reasonable expectation, based on market survey, that offers will be received from two or more HUBZone small business concerns and at a fair market price, the entire consstruction project is 100% set-aside for HUBZone small business concerns.

9. Additional Support. No additional information is available.

10. Other Interested Sources. No responses have been received.

11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Future Competition. No additional future competition is planned because this JOFOC covers all known requirements.