Brand Name Justification 09162020 MasterCare_Review 9-18-20.pdf

1.

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

RFQ # 91003120R0015

1. Agency and contracting activity. Federal Student Aid. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid and Technology Directorate

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

The purpose of this acquisition is to acquire a continuance of maintenance services and support for existing hardware (tablet), and associated software within FSA’s SOC team/environment.

The overall business driver is that the FSA SOC’s mission is, in part, to augment FSA’s Governance and Oversight (G&O) capability at the NGDC in Clarksville, VA. Among the capabilities necessary to fulfill this role is the FSA SOC’s need to ensure that FSA and Department of Education Information Resource Management (IRM), and Security Policies are followed. As the CISO’s primary eyes and ears in the NGDC, the SOC is also required to advise Management as to “vulnerabilities and issues that may cause a loss of credibility with the public.”

The NVS support is for the Vision One products that provide FSA SOC with the ability to connect all security and monitoring tools, including the OptiView tablets. OptiView monitors the performance of Vision One system so all security/monitoring tools can remain safely connected to the network. These hardware and software products work together to resolve outages so systems can continue to run. Without this maintenance renewal, FSA SOC will be unable to resolve outages and respond to network-based cyber security threats to FSA systems and data.

(Fluke) Vision One NVS Essential Technical Support provides FSA SOC with assurance to respond to network-based cyber security threats within our systems and data. These hardware and software products work to resolve outages so systems can continue to run. Without this maintenance renewal, FSA SOC will be unable to resolve outages and respond to network-based cyber security threats to FSA systems and data.

2. The contract type planned and provide the total estimated value, including all options.

This will be a firm fixed price award. The estimated value of this acquisition, if all options are exercised, is $283,812.48.

3. Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited.

Manufacturer: Fluke Networks Vision One Product: Optiview XG Network Analysis Tablet Master Care Support

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

The Vision ONE system and OptiView tablets (2) are used at the NGDC.

RFQ# 91003120R0015

Any replacements with Vision One would require professional services to be hired in order to decommission/wipe/remove the current system while standing up a new system. Additional support would also be required in order to configure the OptiView tablets to the new security tool connectivity system. For brand new hardware and the required professional services, costs would be a minimum of $500,000.

□ Brand Name – This particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs.

The Master Care subscription and support package for the OptiView tablets that FSA currently uses includes:

• Access to live 24 X 7 technical support

• On call technical experts 24 hours a day including weekends and nights to help with product installation, configuration, and troubleshooting

• Multilingual technical support team

• Free software updates and/or upgrades when available

• Hardware support, repair and replacement, including a loaner unit during repair

• Front of the line technical service

Since FSA currently uses OptiView tablets, if the software support and subscription is not purchased, FSA would no longer have access to technical support, upgrades or ability to use the tablets.

Currently, there are no other alternatives as it would require FSA SOC to replace a substantial amount of hardware. Any replacements with Vision One would require professional services to be hired in order to decommission/wipe/remove the current system while standing up a new system. Additional support would also be required in order to configure the OptiView tablets to the new security tool connectivity system. For brand new hardware and the required professional services, costs would be a minimum of $500,000.

□ Compatibility to existing systems or equipment - The required supplies or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems or equipment and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement.

□ Exclusive Licensing Agreement/Restrictive Rights/Authorized Reseller - The source has one or more of the following: an established exclusive licensing agreement, proprietary data, limited rights in data, patent rights, OEM required certifications or OEM authorized reseller, copyrights or secret processes with regard to the supplies or services required.

□ Urgency – The nature of the requirement has been deemed urgent due to unusual and compelling circumstances. Following competitive procedures would result in unacceptable delays resulting in serious injury to the Government.

□ Other - Only one source is capable

RFQ# 91003120R0015

5. Determination

I hereby determine that the circumstances of this action deem only one source is reasonably available. This determination is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Marlon Holland / Contracting Officer Date