C01 - JA Plum Case Hardware.pdf

PLUM Antenna Array Hardware Control Number: VA-25-00064806

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

Description of Action: This proposed action is for a Firm-Fixed-Price delivery order to be issued under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), for Plum Antennas Array hardware for the VA Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

Description of the Supplies or Services: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Information and Technology (OI&T), OEM requires the purchase of 66 brand-name Plum antenna array cases, with options to buy up to 178 additional cases over the next three years. VA requires cases that provide signal coverage from distant cellular networks in regions where emergencies occur, ensuring reliable connectivity during disasters that cause normal network disruptions. In addition, technology capable of delivering connectivity in remote or temporary locations without service agreements that offers compatibility with the existing antenna arrays deployed due to proprietary constraints. This purchase aims to increase and update the currently deployed system.

The cases must be compatible with the existing Plum equipment at all VA locations. The modems and routers included in these cases will ensure that the OEM does not experience degraded cellular network functionality during natural or human-caused disasters, as VA requires network connectivity without requiring contracted managed services. The requirement includes options that can be exercised for up to three years, permitting additional quantities of up to 60 cases in the first year, and up to 5 cases in both the second and third years. Delivery must occur within 30 days after receipt of order or exercise of option. The total estimated price for this proposed action, inclusive of all optional quantities, is

Statutory Authority: Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.505(a)(4), the following brand name requirement is being justified and approved as an exception to fair opportunity under the statutory authority of Section 41 U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), entitled “Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized”.

Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: PLUM Laboratories, Inc. Antenna Array cases are the sole proprietary technology capable of delivering connectivity in remote or temporary locations without service agreements. Additionally, only the Plum Laboratory, Inc. Antenna Array offers compatibility with the existing antenna arrays deployed due to proprietary constraints. Currently, the PLUM Antenna Array is installed and operational within OI&T and OEM departments, serving as a critical component for disaster recovery response operations. The PLUM Antenna Array is a fundamental network building block that ensures connectivity, which is essential to avoid major patient safety issues during disaster recovery operations. If a different brand were selected, the VA would lose the capability to follow the existing disaster recovery operational plan and maintain cellular network connectivity during such operations.

PLUM Laboratories, Inc. is the only provider of highly sensitive antennas that can offer signal coverage from distant cellular networks, ensuring reliable cellular connections across all VA locations. Even if another brand were available, the cost to procure and replace all necessary infrastructure and equipment is estimated to be

These costs would not be recovered through competition.

Additionally, the deployment of an alternative solution would require an estimated 3-5 years, based on previous acquisition history and prior lifecycle impact assessments.

Thus, the sole source procurement of PLUM Antenna Array cases is justified to maintain the current disaster recovery capabilities and avoid significant financial and operational disruptions.

Failure to award this contract would affect Veteran care where and when network connectivity has been degraded or destroyed. Network connectivity is crucial for VA facilities for several reasons. With electronic health records (EHRs) becoming the standard, reliable network connectivity ensures that patient information can be accessed quickly and securely by healthcare providers. This enables more accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. Doctors and nurses need immediate access to up-to-date patient information, lab results, imaging, and other critical data. Network connectivity facilitates this real-time access, which can be lifesaving in emergency situations. As telehealth services grow, robust network connectivity is needed to provide remote consultations, diagnoses, and treatments. This has become especially important in rural areas where access to specialist care can be limited. Modern hospitals use various interconnected medical devices that monitor and manage patient health.

Reliable network connectivity ensures that these devices can communicate with each other and with centralized monitoring systems for better patient care. Clinicians often need to collaborate with other healthcare professionals within the hospital and with external specialists. Network connectivity supports secure, efficient communication tools like email, instant messaging, and video conferencing. Network connectivity allows for efficient management of medications and medical supplies, ensuring that inventory levels are maintained and that prescriptions can be filled promptly. The objective is to ensure that VA facilities do not experience degraded network functionality during natural or human-caused disasters, as VA requires network connectivity without requiring contracted managed services and avoid major patient safety issues during disaster recovery operations.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in Section 8 of this justification. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements. However, the undersigned VA technical representative determined that limited competition is available among authorized resellers for brand name PLUM Antenna Array hardware. In accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)(1), this justification will be provided with the solicitation to all appropriate NASA SEWP V GWAC holders. Furthermore, in accordance with FAR 5.301, 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D), and 16.505(a)(4)(iii), the award notice for this action will be synopsized on the Contract Opportunities website and this justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: The Government’s technical experts conducted market research by testing other antennas. This market research is an ongoing process and was most recently conducted in March 2025. The Government’s technical experts reviewed similar antenna arrays such as Dell, Ansys, and Altium, and determined that these brands cannot meet the Government’s interoperability and compatibility requirements as previously discussed in section 5. Additionally, other antennas array products cannot offer the network connectivity, which is critical in disaster recovery and continuity of operations. Furthermore, VA OI&T and OEM Subject Matter Experts regularly review industry trade publications and conduct Internet research to ascertain if any other brand name 5G antennas are available. Based on all these market research efforts, the Government’s technical experts have determined that only PLUM Laboratories, Inc.

brand name 5G PLUM Antenna Array can meet all of VA’s needs.

The Contract Specialist (CS) conducted market research in May 2025 by using the NASA SEWP V GWAC market research tools. Based on this market research and looking at previous contracts history, the CS found three Service-Disabled Veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) resellers under NASA SEWP V GWAC that can provide PLUM Antenna Array Hardware. Based upon market research efforts it has been determined that competition amongst SDVOSB contract-holders through NASA SEWP V GWAC is a viable acquisition strategy.

9. Other Facts: N/A

10. Technical/Requirements 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.

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on a comparison of the successful quote to the Independent Government Cost Estimate.

Additionally, pricing for products awarded on NASA SEWP V GWAC have already been determined to be fair and reasonable and more competitive pricing may result from competition.

12. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Advocate for Competition Approval

In my role as procuring activity Advocate for Competition, based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the acquisition of brand name Plum Antenna Arrays on an other than fair opportunity basis pursuant to the authority cited in Section 4 above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the property and services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition