Brand Name Justification Redacted.pdf

11/20/12

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Limited Sources Justification and Approval

Naval Medical Center San Diego

1. Organization/Line Office:

2. Description of Action being approved:

Firm fixed price contract for ophthalmic equipment for approved CAN to replace malfunctioning equipment.

3. Description of Product, Supplies or Services required to meet the Agencies needs

RT-6100-M: Digitial Refractor w/ Membox (x3) 6060R: SC-1600 LCD Acuity Chart w/ Remote (x3) TONOREFII: AutoRefractor/Keratometer/Tonometry (1) LM-1800PD: Lensometer (1) TRS-25-0707: RB to CP cable 7x7, 25 ft (x3) IC CARD: Reader/Writer (1) CARD IC: Eye Card Kit (1)

The clinic is fully equipped to provide complete eye exams as required by the Navy.

Currently, about 8,000 visual exams are performed annually, making the clinic one of the busiest in the San Diego area. One of the main tools required to accomplish this mission is the digital refracting system.

The refracting system is an all-in-one system built for assessing refractive error during every vision exam.

The clinic has three refractive systems currently and each are used on over 2500 patients annually. All three were procured in 2003 and have exceeded their 10-year life expectancy by 60%. Technology has advanced in the last 17 years with improved optics and diagnostic capabilities. Technically, some of the components do not work every day and greatly impact patient care. Materially, the current systems show signs of their advanced age with cosmetic signs of worn and peeled coatings, stripped screws which prevent the system from staying in proper position during examination. These issues have elicited negative verbal comments from patients about the trustworthiness of the equipment and the examination.

has a robust externship program, training over 25 Optometry students annually. The externs have negatively commented on the age, appearance, and optics of the refractive systems and their inferiority compared to other equipment they have used. The replacement of these systems will improve diagnostic capabilities and patient and extern satisfaction.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. (Requesting Office completes with assistance of Contract Specialist)

The Statutory Authority for this action is 11.105(a)(1) The particular brand name, Marco Ophthalmic, and their products and features are essential to the Government’s requirements. Market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs

5. Identification of the Justification Rationale:

Since 2008, the Marco NIDEK refractive system has been the only system that have been used in Navy, Army, and Air Force Optometry clinics DoD-wide and globally. This equipment standardization initiated by NAVMEDLOGCOM has improved the consistency of exam data regardless of clinic/exam location, and has reduced training requirements for providers, corpsmen, and student interns. 10 other Navy optometry clinics have already upgraded to the same equipment we are asking for in this package, with the rest of the Navy Optometry enterprise in discussion via the optometry specialty leader to do the same for their respective equipment updates when the time comes. Additionally, new equipment for this optometry clinic has already been approved and is the same Marco brand. These systems are all integrated and can only work with each other. No other source or brand of equipment will integrate. Specific components of this equipment has to be set up in certain positions and locations from each other. This has already been done with the current equipment and would greatly ease installation of the new equipment in the existing places.

6. Best Value Determination:

Orders issued under this Brand Name Justification represent the best value for the Government as the agreed to prices will be based upon competitive quotes received from authorized retailers of the brand in a competitive environment. Therefore the price paid will represent the best value and result in the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the needs of

7. Market Research conducted

A search of similar products was conducted by . A review of catalogs, periodicals, and online vendors was performed. The NIDEK refraction system is an innovative way to measure refractions and can increase patient volume while maintaining standard of care. Topcon, Reichart, and Essilor offer similar automated systems to the NIDEK 6100. The Topcon CV-5000, Reichert VRX, and Essilor APH550 are all similar automatic phoropters. Research was conducted with those three similar products. It was found that they require separate components for mounting and electrically wiring and might not fit on the current stands and equipment chairs in place. The current NIDEK system that is past life expectancy has the same mounting and wiring structures. All of these systems require precise placement to all of their pieces. For example, the automated phoropter must be exactly 20 feet from the LCD screen charts they come with or they must be calibrated by their equipment representatives. Therefore, no additional products or services would be required to purchase in order to fully set up the new NIDEK system and would be most cost beneficial to the Government. The NIDEK system can be acquired from Innova Medical, NIDEK Inc., Marco Ophthalmic Inc., and Santinelli International were contacted. All of these vendors can supply the NIDEK refractive system and its components. Therefore, any other brand does not meet the needs of the integrated and automated system already installed and also approved for purchase. None of the other manufacturer's products have been used in any clinic and would result in our clinic being different than every other Navy Clinic worldwide.

8. Statement of actions, if any to remove barriers to competition in the future.

Previously approved equipment for Government’s need require Marco brand to be installed to work with existing equipment and supplies. Requirement will be competed as a small business set-aside, as there are small business suppliers of this item.

9. Any other facts supporting justification:

As the technical or requirement personnel, I certify that the evidence of the supporting data that forms the basis of this justification is complete and accurate.

Technical/Requirements Personnel Printed Name Date

Contracting Officer Date