Attachmetn 8. Class JA Fire Alarm Panel.pdf

This document is a Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition for the United States Air Force (USAF) facility fire alarm panel purchases. The J&A covers fire alarm panel acquisitions through September 30, 2026, with an estimated 20,864 units expected to be purchased across CONUS and OCONUS locations. The primary objectives are to standardize fire alarm panel procurement, reduce training requirements by an estimated $22M and 375K training hours over a 5-year cycle, and improve maintenance efficiency by limiting acquisitions to a select number of manufacturers.

The Air Force is utilizing a "brand name exception" to the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) to strategically acquire facility fire alarm panels. The acquisition aims to reduce training complexities, improve maintenance capabilities, and decrease cyber security risks by standardizing on a limited number of fire alarm panel manufacturers. A market research survey of small businesses was conducted in March 2021, and no vendors expressed interest in the published special notice. The J&A emphasizes that this approach will generate demand efficiencies by reducing equipment and parts inventories for Civil Engineering and allow more focused training for Air Force technicians.