ATTACHMENT 20 - Brand Name Justification.pdf

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The CCTV system devices that are to be installed as part of this project represent an extension of the existing CCTV System at our facility. As such, each new device must tie into and communicate with the existing Facility CCTV System, which is manufactured by Avigilon. The system is designed to provide unified interface, recording, archiving, and management of all CCTV system cameras from a single software platform throughout the CINVAMC campus.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

The Avigilon system which has been established on the Cincinnati VAMC campus is available to multiple integrators and contractors which serve the area.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

Determination of fair and reasonableness of cost will be based upon a complete price analysis and Independent Government Cost Estimate. The anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable. Tradeoffs and Evaluation Factors are not applicable for this project.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market research has been conducted for prior projects, concerning this subject. The Avigilon system is currently located throughout the entire hospital. The cost for services will be compared with commercially published price lists and catalogs for similar products.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

The use of the common Avigilon platform allows for the live and recorded video to all be stored and processed through a single user management platform. Maintenance and system familiarity are other important factors to consider. VA Police is charged with maintaining this system and responding appropriately. Attempting to introduce a different CCTV system manufacturer with different software would no doubt compromise the ability of VA Police to respond to their tasks efficiently.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

Avigilon

11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required:

Solicitations for future requirements will utilize “brand name or equal” language, if it is in the Government’s best interest to do so. The current requirement must be solicited using a brand name description because the Government needs to create an exact copy of a system/item that is currently in use.

1/17/2023

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

(X) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per FAR 6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7;

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

To meet needs stated above the medical center currently utilizes a “Corbin-Russwin HO Keyway Great Grand Master Key System”, single master key system is essential to the Governments requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company. In addition the core system is a requirement of VA engineering policy MP–3. As the Cincinnati VA medical center continues to move toward consolidation, patient and staff safety concerns remain at the forefront of design decisions when selecting systems. Accordingly, Corbin-Russwin is the only manufacture capable of providing the lock cylinders described in section 3 above without the Veteran’s Health Administration experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition. To change to a different locking system would require numerous master keys potentially causing delays in accessing all area of the campus in event of emergencies. The lock set requested allows the facility to expand and renovate as required and maintain the ability to meet patient and staff safety requirements.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

VA plans specifically mention the continued use of Corbin Russwin Door Lock Sets.

Efforts were not made to solicit from other lock lift manufacturers, because it is the VA’s expert opinion that utilizing other lock manufacturer’s locksets would decrease the consistency and reliability of the facility’s operations. This in turn would cause the patient care provided to our veterans to suffer.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

Determination of fair and reasonableness of cost will be based upon a complete price analysis and Independent Government Cost Estimate. The anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable. Tradeoffs and Evaluation Factors are not applicable for this project.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market research has been previously conducted for prior projects, concerning this subject. The Corbin Russwin Door Lock Sets have been in place and maintained here at the Cincinnati VAMC. This facility has standardized these locksets throughout the hospital in order to function properly for patient safety. The medical center has investigated the ability of other lock manufactures to operate within the requirement to have the ability to open all doors with one single grand master key and have not found this to be a possibility. Corbin Russwin locks are a national known manufacturer with numerous distributors available.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

All door lock manufacturers have propriatary keyways on their lock cylinders, which by their very nature are designed to be operable only by a key of the same cut and shape. Because the keyways are propriatary, only that manufacturer can create a key which will fit it’s own lock cylinder. The reason(s) for propriatary keyways is the very same reason door locks are needed – it’s one of security. Also for reasons of security, it is not desirable to have mulitple lock manufacturers for mulitple doors – not only is it inefficient to try and keep track which lock is manufactured by which manufacturer , it is also critical for Police Service to have a master key at it’s disposal which can operate any lockset at the factilty. The presence of multiple manufactured keyways would not allow this critical need to happen. Since the Cincinnati VA Medical Center currently has locksets manufactured by Corbin Russwin, then all additional locksets must match the Corbin Russwin keyway – and only locksets manfactured by Corbin Russwin can do thatDoor lock sets play a critical role in maintaining the security of the facility. In addition, the necessity of providing a lock set which has a cylinder that can be operated by the facility master key, a single source manufacturer of the door lock sets allows the VA locksmith shop to respond to all key request and maintenance issues quickly and efficiently. A single source manufacturer also allows for prompt technical support whenever problems are encountered.

Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The fire alarm devices that are to be installed as part of this project represent an extension of the existing Fire Alarm System at our facility. As such, each new device must tie into and communicate with the existing Facility Fire Alarm System, which is manufactured by Honeywell. Each device in a fire alarm system, whether it’s a smoke detector or supervisory switch, constantly communicates with the front end of the fire alarm system. This allows the system to monitor every device, so that it cannot only receive alarms, but also can detect failures of the device as well – which is a critical element in any fire alarm system. In addition, the software allows for a graphics package, which displays the floor plans of the entire facility depicting every fire alarm device. This allows for fast response in any alarm situation, as the system can tell Fire Fighters and VA Police the exact location of the device in alarm. Besides the fact that software conflicts would make it difficult to impossible for devices by another manufacturer to communicate with the existing Honeywell System, it would void the warranty and the UL Listing of the fire alarm system. A UL Listed Fire Alarm System is a Life Safety Code requirement. Maintaining the warranty and UL Listing of the Fire Alarm System is critical and cannot be jeopardized.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

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. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

Determination of fair and reasonableness of cost will be based upon a complete price analysis and Independent Government Cost Estimate. The anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable. Tradeoffs and Evaluation Factors are not applicable for this project.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market research has been conducted for prior projects, concerning this subject. The Honeywell system is currently located throughout the entire hospital. The cost for services will be compared with commercially published price lists and catalogs for similar products.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

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.

( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7;

Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The PACS devices that are to be installed as part of this project represent an extension of the existing Johnson Controls PACS at our facility. As such, each new device must tie into and communicate with the existing Facility PACS, which is manufactured by Johnson. Each device in a PACS, whether it’s a card reader or control panel, constantly communicates with the front end of the PACS. This allows the system to monitor each and every device, so that it cannot only receive alarms, but also can detect failures of the device as well – which is a critical element in any PACS. Software conflicts would make it difficult to impossible for devices by another manufacturer to communicate with the existing Johnson System, and could result in circumventing the Physical Security of the Medical Center.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

Research has shown that in the industry, it is standard for each PACS to have their own proprietary software which prohibits communication between different manufacturers.

There is just too much at risk from a Security Standpoint to attempt to intermingle manufacturers on a PACS; this facility has a Johnson PACS, and we should only add devices to it that are manufactured by Johnson.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

Determination of fair and reasonableness of cost will be based upon a complete price analysis and Independent Government Cost Estimate. The anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable. Tradeoffs and Evaluation Factors are not applicable for this project.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market research has been previously conducted for prior projects, concerning this subject.

The Corbin Russwin Door Lock Sets have been in place and maintained here at the Cincinnati VAMC. This facility has standardized these locksets throughout the hospital in order to function properly for patient safety. The medical center has investigated the ability of other lock manufactures to operate within the requirement to have the ability to open all doors with one single grand master key and have not found this to be a possibility. Corbin Russwin locks are a national known manufacturer with numerous distributors available.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

All door lock manufacturers have proprietary keyways on their lock cylinders, which by their very nature are designed to be operable only by a key of the same cut and shape. Because the keyways are proprietary, only that manufacturer can create a key which will fit its own lock cylinder. The reason(s) for proprietary keyways is the very same reason door locks are needed – it’s one of security. Also, for reasons of security, it is not desirable to have multiple lock manufacturers for multiple doors – not only is it inefficient to try and keep track which