15-Q-X021 _Brand_Name_(RiverBed)_signed_Redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

Section A: General Contract Information

Contracting Activity:

39 Contracting Squadron

Purchase Request/ Identification Number:

Project/Program Name:

RiverBed SteelHead CX

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options):

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

This is a brand name justification IAW FAR 6.302-5 -- Authorized or Required by Statute. This action will be awarded as a new contract. This contract is to buy network equipment. The equipment purchase will be firm-fixed price. Riverbed is a network accelerator that allows for cached information. It specifically captures all websites that people on the system have gone to. If necessary, RiverBed will enable the to block certain websites that are not allowed on the network. The RiverBed can also cache files for access from various users across the network. Finally, the RiverBed acts as a proxy server, which enables a computer system with higher protection and higher capabilities to access an older legacy system and maintain security

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source

RiverBed is a critical system item that all operators have attended the military certification course for and received training on the RiverBed systems. The field support capability for the Army only supports the RiverBed systems. In the event that a different source of network accelerator was awarded, all training would need to be re-accomplished for the new system.

IAW 10 USC 234(c), as implemented by FAR 6.302, the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this acquisition is Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. The has performed market research and determined that RiverBed equipment is the only brand to meet this requirement.

The use of the brand name specifications in this acquisition is essential to the Government's requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by other companies. Riverbed brand name systems are required for interoperability for remote management, remote monitoring. This capability ensures continued network operation and security for Incirlik AB and geographically separated units connected to the Incirlik enterprise network.

Additionally, the Army has contract sustainment, software license, and technician training for the devices in this acquisition. Substituting other brands will not be acceptable since only devices that have been through the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) certification process can be installed on the Air Force network. The Riverbed system being requested is on the Defense Information Systems Agency approved product list.

Each system's configuration is captured and maintained in the Enterprise configuration management system. Changes to the configuration and/or hardware must go through a stringent testing process. The procedure is designed to test for compatibility with existing hardware and software within the system as well as interoperability with downstream and upstream hardware and software. The testing used for system interoperability allows us to use one system configuration file for all like systems throughout the enterprise. This reduces the cost of man hours for testing, system configuration management, change management as well as maintaining our troubleshooting knowledge management database. Each additional vendor that we introduce into the operational environment increases the cost of maintaining the Information System environment. The rise in cost is due to additional man hours for testing, maintaining configuration versions, change review boards and external training not included with the existing system.

The references provided list the organic software and hardware for each system. The purchase requested aligns to the native software and hardware in each system and the soldiers have received the required training for all the native hardware and software for each system as well. To avoid additional cost, time and resources we are requesting

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

Riverbed systems that align to our existing operational information systems. This has a secondary effect of allowing each requested item to quickly act as a backup to our current infrastructure; because in the interoperability and configuration compatibility there is no need for additional training.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

The RiverBed brand switches being requested are offered by many vendors in Turkey. The specific brand cannot be substituted due to the current enterprise configuration and only Riverbed models listed on the Defense Information Systems Agency Approved Product List can be offered as a model substitute from vendors. The contracting office will post this requirement of the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website (www.fbo.gov) and allow interested sources to respond electronically. Adequate competition should be obtained by soliciting this acquisition through the FBO website due to high number of vendors selling these items.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source Awards

Market research was based on network equipment listed on the DISA approved product list (https://aplits.disa.mil/ processAPList.do). Equipment listed on this site has gone through a rigorous certification process. Specific models and features were selected based on equipment life and current infrastructure.

Based on the above information and in accordance with FAR 13.501(2)(i) , our research has led us to the conclusion that the specific items required by brand name are the only ones capable of providing the requested service. This is a mass purchase to increase IT network switches across

Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date

20-Aug-2015

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

Thomas Harvey, SSgt USAF