Attachment_2_JOFOC_Brand_Name.pdf

United States Department of the Interior Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs

Washington, DC 20240

Brand Name Justification Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

Authority: FAR 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C. 1901 Control #: 23-0174

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Brand Name Justification.”

Contracting Activity: This document is a brand name justification for other than full and open competition for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Information Management Technology (OIMT)

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Requirement: Purchase Cisco Switch Replacement for OIMT for the software supported by Indian Affairs.

Pricing: Firm-Fixed price

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs

(including the estimated value).

BIA OIMT is responsible for providing information management and technology (IMT) for all of IA - Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs (AS-IA) and the Bureaus of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Education (BIE); and supports the IT infrastructure that facilitates the fulfillment of the highly complex IA mission. Accordingly, this requirement is to provide items necessary for core switch replacement, support and maintenance.

IA currently uses Cisco switches in every region. To introduce a different switch architecture will limit capabilities of IA current environment and possibly cause a loss of data. IA will have to develop a new integration portfolio which includes training, configuration, integration of existing and new switches, which will require engineering with multiple vendors, this is costly. The estimated value is $924,652.68.

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

FAR 13.501(a) For purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The requirements at 13.501(a) apply to sole-source (including brand-name) acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

IA currently uses Cisco switches in every region. To introduce a different switch architecture will limit capabilities of IA current environment and possibly cause a loss of data. IA will have to develop a new integration portfolio which includes training, configuration, integration of existing and new switches, which will require engineering with multiple vendors, this is costly.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offerors 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 requirement will be posted for solicitation as an Indian Economic Small Business Enterprise (ISBEE) set-aside.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. The contracting officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on adequate price competition expected to result from the solicitation.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market Research indicates that several ISBEE resellers are available to submit a competitive quote for this brand name equipment.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of justification for other than full and open competition.

N/A

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

11. A statement of any actions the agency may take to removed or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.