BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION - 75H70725Q00067.pdf

Determination to solicit from a single source *Brand Name Justification*

Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501(a)(2)(i), for a proposed contract exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, but not exceeding $750,000, the contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief will serve as approval, unless a higher approval level is established in accordance with agency procedures.

The supply or service listed below requires brand name justification and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated below. Authority: FAR 6.302‐1 ‐ Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED

Brand Name: Dell Federal

Ute Mountain Ute Health Center has workstations and laptops that have reached end‐of‐life and requires an IT equipment refresh. This includes 60 Dell OptiPlex All‐in‐One Workstations, 60 Dell 24 Monitors, 15 Dell Latitude Laptops, and 75 Dell Wireless mice.

2. JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLICITING A BRAND NAME

The equipment in this acquisition has to integrate with existing equipment already installed within the network. Dell workstation equipment should be purchased as it can be installed within the existing network with fewer integration or compatibility issues. This will avoid common problems when mixing workstation hardware and software from different vendors. It will also avoid the Indian Health Service (IHS) incurring training costs for staff to provide support on new workstation equipment.

IHS can maintain a consistent set of operational processes and procedures when the equipment has a similar hardware and operating system and command syntax. This aids in conducting automated software installations over the network.

A common set of network equipment creates a number of advantages for IHS:

Staff have a fewer number of hardware types to learn and are subsequently able to build in‐ depth product knowledge which leads to faster problem resolution during issues.

Staff with Dell experience are readily available from the vendors providing contract staff to

IHS.

Multiple vendors re‐sell Dell equipment, which creates competition in the market place to enable IHS to receive the best discounts and have local support when required.

Minimizes the number of network management tools for network monitoring and have the capability to provide aggregated traffic statistics.

Individual hardware and NIC interface cards can be transferred between facilities to support a change in bandwidth requirements.

Common workstation equipment provides IHS with choices on how hardware maintenance support can be provided. For example, use an onsite sparing strategy or leverage volume discount pricing to purchase a support contract from a Dell re‐seller/partner.

It reduces the number of compatibility and integration issues that can arise when equipment from different vendors exchange information.

Training costs are reduced.

Having a network built with common workstation equipment allows IHS to operate the network with higher availability and lower overall cost of ownership. IHS can utilize staff resources with common technical skills sets, reduce the need for IHS contractors to bill for staff with different technical skills sets.

From market research, including the posting of a Sources Sought Notice, I am aware that there are numerous Dell Federal Authorized resellers of all socio‐economic sizes and scope. A combined synopsis/solicitation will be issued with the intent to request competitive quotations.

Contracting Officer, Division of Contracts & Grants Management Albuquerque Area IHS