Brand Name Justification_Vocal_signed.pdf

11/20/12

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Limited Sources Justification and Approval

NW-WG3401-23-00713

Office of Observations, Surface and Upper Air Division

1. Organization/Line Office National Weather Service, the Surface and Upper-Air Division/Program Management Branch

2. Description of Action being approved: This procurement action is for a new firm fixed price contract for a software license includes one year of priority support and 3 additional option years of support.

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

VOCAL Technologies, LTD. SlP-based analog modem server (SAMS) software

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

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of the Federal Supply Schedule Program (see 8.401) and FAR 8.405-6. This is a Limited Source Brand Name Class Justification

5. Identification of the Justification Rationale:

The NWS Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) has a requirement to be able to conduct long line dissemination of weather products with the use of analog modems via plain old telephone service (POTS). Due to increased costs and parts obsolescence of this operation the ASOS program is consolidating multiple receiving stations for these products into one server. The SlP-based analog modem server (SAMS) software will eliminate the need for the consolidated receiving station to use analog modems and in turn provide the same capability in a server software application and enable the use of modern IT and internet services to complete the mission objective. VOCAL Technologies, LTD. was the only source/brand that provides such software products and preliminary testing of this product was determined to meet the mission objectives.

6. Best Value Determination:

There is currently only one source/brand that provides the software product required. Therefore, the price paid represents the best value and result in the lowest overall cost to meet the needs of the NWS Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Program.

7. Market Research conducted

Extensive internet market research was conducted for companies offering analog telephone line products, analog modem and analog modem interface products. Only one company offered a server software application that utilizes modern internet and IT capabilities to call analog

11/20/12 modems that are connected to POTS circuits. Phone calls were also placed to modem and analog telephone adapter companies to inquire about services not listed on their websites.

www.cisco.com www.grandstream.com www.patton.com www.data-connect.com

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

This is a one-time procurement. Should the need arise for future procurement of the same type of products and services, additional market research will be conducted to ensure companies that have expanded their product offerings to include such items will receive equal consideration.

9. Any other facts supporting justification:

N/A

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 http://www.cisco.com/ http://www.grandstream.com/ http://www.patton.com/ http://www.data-connect.com/