AV_Brand_Name_ClearOne.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR ACQUISITIONS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by 13.106-1(b)(1) &(2).

1. Contracting agency and activity.

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), DIRM at the National Operations Center, requests the National Operations Center, IT Acquisitions, to contract on a sole brand name basis.

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

DIRM has effectively set standards for Audio/Visual installations across the Bureau to ensure Return-on-Investment as well as IT Network Security. A unified set of requirements has been set for new BLM facilities as well as renovations to BLM facilities moving forward.

DIRM has selected the Audio/Visual equipment manufacturer ClearOne Inc. to best satisfy the requirements set forth.

3. Description of supplies or services.

ClearOne Inc. is a manufacturer of Professional Audio-Conferencing equipment that will be used in a wide range of installations. The typical installation will include the following equipment:

• Audio Mixers

• VoIP Audio Conference Codecs

• Wired and/or Wireless microphones

• Speakers

Each site is different, and some additional hardware may be required to satisfy the needs of a particular site. These installations will allow the operation of 21st-century conference and collaboration areas while ensuring that what is purchased today, is not obsolete tomorrow.

These purchases will be outlined in the Statement of Work for each site and will include specific model numbers to be installed by contracted installers, or the BLM.

4. Estimated dollar value.

Depending on the site-specific needs of a particular installation, these ClearOne equipment purchases could range from $1,000 to $12,000 per installation.

5. Statutory authority.

_X _41 U.S.C. 1901 – Simplified acquisition procedures (use when the simplified procedures for purchases of property and services for amounts (1) not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold

____41 U.S.C 1903 – Special emergency procurement authority (applies when in support of a contingency operation as defined in section 101(a) of title 10 or to facilitate the defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack against the United States).

6. Rationale supporting use of the authority stated in paragraph 5.

ClearOne enhances communication and collaboration for organizations worldwide, from the Fortune 500 to small and medium businesses and institutions. They design, develop, and sell conferencing, collaboration, network streaming & signage solutions through a global network of expert AV and IT practitioners who specify, install, and support their advanced hardware, software, apps, and cloud solutions.

From ad-hoc work spaces and mobile conferences to the largest meeting venues and boardrooms, ClearOne is the best-in-class option for any industry or organization that relies on teamwork and collaboration to be successful. By focusing on a particular brand:

• We will not only ensure commonality across the Bureau, but will also have a singular training curve.

• We will achieve a higher level of reliability and uptime of the equipment.

• We can perform all of the intricate programming, in-house. ClearOne does not charge for training, nor do they consider the programming to be their intellectual property.

• Add, moves and changes to the equipment can be performed in-house.

• Security updates can be delivered in-house.

• Ensure that none of the equipment jeopardizes BLM Network Security and is completely isolated from any interconnection.

• Ensure technological “headroom”, so that products have a path to grow with advances in technology and connectivity.

There is no other manufacturer of Professional Commercial conferencing equipment which provides free training for support personnel. There is no other manufacturer of Professional Audio/Visual equipment that allows the customer to retain and own the programming of the devices.

This will allow the BLM to enjoy several aspects of truly modern Audio/Visual at a greatly reduced overall cost and much higher reliability.

Other information.

ClearOne is Utah based company. Inventory is also US stocked and purchases can be made directly from ClearOne or a number of third-party vendors. Shipping is immediate in most cases.

RMA policy allows for cross-shipment of equipment to minimize downtime in the event of a hardware failure. Other vendors will only ship to their authorized distributors and then. Then it is on the BLM to arrange for the delivery and pay the service call fee to the agent.

7. The efforts to identify additional sources including the market research conducted.

There has been a concerted effort in the past three years by DIRM to find a solution for issues plaguing out conference facilities.

We have vast experience with ClearOne equipment. It is currently installed at several BLM locations across the Bureau, including the National Operations Center and the Las Vegas District office. Not only is the BLM network robustly protected by use of their innovative design elements, but also ClearOne equipment has provided the Bureau with 100% trouble-free operation. The very few times that the Bureau has enlisted their Tech Support, the results have been outstanding. ClearOne offers some of the longest warranties in the business.

At this time, ClearOne is the ONLY full-range manufacturer of Audio-Conferencing equipment that provides free training and unlimited technical support, that enjoys a 100% success rate in operation within the BLM.

8. Future plans to permit competition.

As technology advances, and more and more entities demand open-source hardware and software, we should see an increased presence of companies who are filling the need.

We will take all efforts to ensure that any new player in the market or an existing manufacturer, that expands into the Audio-Conferencing market, is given full opportunity to compete for the equipment purchases. Likewise, if the BLM template for Audio/Visual changes in respect to the requirements as they exist today, we will give full opportunity to those manufacturers filling the new requirements.

9. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a brand name basis.

BLM Audio/Visual Paul Hansen Signature Date Audio/Visual Systems Specialist

10. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals

< Contracting Officer Name> Signature Date Contracting Officer