Brand Name or Equal Water Fountain V2_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

187TH FIGHTER WING

5187 SELMA HIGHWAY

MONTGOMERY, AL 36108-4824

21 August 2026

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

FROM: 187 CE/BCE

SUBJECT: Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (Brand Name or Equal)

Agency and Contracting Activity: Department of the Air Force, National Guard Bureau, 187th Civil Engineer Squadron (187 CE), . This document constitutes a "Justification for other than full and open competition." Contracting activity is W50S6N.

Nature/Description of Action: Approval is requested to procure brand name or equal Elkay versatile bi-level ADA water coolers with integrated bottle filling stations for installation in Building 1502.

Description of Supplies/Services (Estimated Value):

Brand Name Item: Elkay LZSTL8WSLK EZH2O Filling Station and Versatile Bi-Level ADA Cooler (or Equal).

Statutory Authority: Brand name or equal justification is authorized pursuant to RFO DFARS 206.103-170(d).

Demonstration of Unique Qualifications / Nature of Acquisition:

The unit must possess an integrated visual LED filter status indicator to alert facility managers when a filter change is required. The bottle filler must be touchless (sensor-activated with a 20-second automatic shut-off) to ensure sanitary operation.

The 187 CE standardizes drinking water infrastructure installation-wide to minimize logistical overhead. The Elkay LZSTL8WSLK utilizes the standard Elkay 51300C WaterSentry® Plus replacement filter.

The squadron currently maintains a dedicated inventory of these specific replacement filters to service existing water stations base-wide. Procuring an alternative brand would require the base to establish a secondary supply chain, manage a separate filter inventory, and train technicians on different maintenance protocols.

6. Efforts to Ensure Competition / Solicitation: Quotes will be solicited from multiple commercial distributors. The request will be publicized as part of the overall construction solicitation on the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) in accordance with RFO FAR Part

5. Any vendor capable of providing the brand name product or a technically equal alternative meeting the exact texture, color matching, and backing compatibility will be considered.

7. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: The Contracting Officer will determine that the anticipated cost to the Government is fair and reasonable by comparing competitive quotes received in response to the solicitation against commercial price lists, the independent government estimate, and historical procurement data for similar textile finishes.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted in August 2026. Research confirmed that while other commercial brands (e.g., Oasis, Halsey Taylor) manufacture bi-level stations, they utilize proprietary filters that are incompatible with the stocked Elkay WaterSentry filters, which would complicate base logistics.

9. Interested Sources: Multiple construction vendors have expressed interest that are capable of providing this solution. This listing can be found in the market research document for the Building 1502 renovation project.

10. Barriers to Competition: The 187 CE will review future civil engineering design guidelines to determine if universal inline filtration systems can be installed, which would allow for broader competition among fountain manufacturers

11. Technical and Requiring Activity Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Under the authority cited, this justification is hereby approved.

STEPHEN A. SHANKS, Civ, AL ANG Contracting Officer