B08_Solicitation_Attachment_7_JOFOC_Brand_Name_Justification.pdf

JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(Refer for FAR 6.3 – Other Than Full and Open Competition)

Agency: National Park Service Contracting Activity: Contracting Operations East, New England Major Acquisition Buying Office Date: _02/14/2025__________ PR Number: _0044011446___

1. Nature and/or description of the action being approved:

This justification and approval is to cover only the portion of the acquisition, which is brand-name or peculiar to one manufacturer, as described herein, for construction services to Replace the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System at Brush Gallery at the Lowell National Historical Park (LOWE), Lowell, MA. The covered portion of the requirement is the brand name requirement for the Trane Direct Digital Control system.

2. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value):

The Trane Direct Digital Control system is for controlling a HVAC system. This building automated electronic control system is a two-state signal product that helps process data in a decentralized layout where decisions are made at the subsystem level. Subsystems are capable of operating in a stand-alone manner, if communications are cut off. This specialized and proprietary microprocessor-based monitoring and control product uses digital control signals to control the air temperature, humidity, fresh air, air quality, and exhaust for the complex layout of open spaces and enclosed spaces. The use of the Trane Direct Digital Control System in a portion of this Acquisition is essential to the Government’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company. The Class C Independent Govt Estimate anticipates the total cost of the portion of this acquisition covered under this Brand Name Justification to be approximately $3,500.00 in supplies.

3. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition:

Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements (FAR 6.302-1).

All of the buildings in the Lowell National Historical Park, including this building, has their HVAC systems controllers manufactured by Trane. This project is to update this system to incorporate the new air handler unit. Trane’s proprietary computer hardware and software has shown the best performance and value to the Park over other manufactured systems, and thus is in use throughout all the owned and managed buildings. The park requires mechanical systems standardization, limiting the necessity of additional proprietary training of staff to repair, maintain, and operate this building, separately from all the others. Additionally, a manufacturer other than Trane would cause additional future costs for the Park in the replacement of parts, causing the hiring of outside contractors to maintain or repair the system, potentially causing delays in repair, at the detriment of staff and visitors to the visitor center, as well as impacting the visualization and comfort of users, sensing a park in disrepair, due to repair delays.

Currently, the Park maintains Trane replacement parts, and the staff is skilled to make necessary repairs.

The use of the Trane Direct Digital Control System in a portion of this Acquisition is essential to the Government’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company.

4. Efforts Made to Ensure Maximum Competition.

The portion of this requirement that is covered by this justification is a very small portion of the overall requirement. The requirement for the Trane Direct Digital Control System should not prevent any potential offerors from submitting offers which include the required system. This notice shall be posted to the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) via the internet at https://www.sam.gov.

5. Market Research.

Because of the specialized operation of the digital controllers, additional market research was not conducted. Trane is GSA Schedule 84 listed, for HVAC Equipment, controls, installation, turnkey projects, ancillary services, and comprehensive energy solutions.

6. The contracting officer certifies the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

7. Interested Sources.

No sources have expressed writing, in interest, to this acquisition.

8. National Park Service and Lowell National Historical Park will evaluate future requirements to determine whether a Brand Name Justification is still required, or whether another company can meet the requirements of the Park.

9. Any supporting data that is the responsibility of the technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

10. Contracting Officer certifies that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of the Contracting Officer’s knowledge and belief.

(Signature) _______________________________________

Type or Print Name: __George Little__________________ Title: Architect, Maintenance Division, Lowell National Historical Park

(Signature) _______________________________________

Type or Print Name: __Jason Albright_________________ Contracting Officer, Contracting Operations East, New England Major Acquisition Buying Office