XQPZ160154_Sole_Source_Notifier_Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

NOTE: If a Justification and Approval was approved for the preceding acquisition, a copy of the approved J&A for the predecessor action must be included in the staff package for approval of the instant J&A. This applies to J&A staff packages that are submitted for review and approval at a level above the contracting officer. The predecessor J&A will be used as a reference document by the approving official.

Contracting Activity:

10 CONS/PKA

8110 Industrial Drive, Suite 200 U. S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840

Purchase Request / Local ID Number:

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable):

Sust/Rpr AHUs - E Fairchild Hall Project XQPZ 160154 Building 2354 Fairchild Hall U. S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting):

Authority (include full title):

FAR 6.302-1, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements"

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): J&A Type: Class Individual

COORDINATION (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

30 Mar 2018

Deputy Commander

KEITH L. BUTALA, PE

10th Civil Engineer Squadron/719-333-3463

Signature

APPROVAL (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

30 Mar 2018

Contracting Officer

AARON VOLLBRACHT

10 CONS/PKA/719-333-4761

Signature

BUTALA.KEITH.L.123

1191158

Digitally signed by

BUTALA.KEITH.L.1231191158

Date: 2018.03.30 08:02:27 -06'00'

VOLLBRACHT.AARON.F

REDERICK.1381405733

Digitally signed by

VOLLBRACHT.AARON.FREDERICK.13814

05733 Date: 2018.03.30 13:15:42 -06'00'

I. Contracting Activity.

10 CONS/PKA

8110 Industrial Drive, Suite 200 U. S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

This is a brand name requirement for the fire alarm system brand named Notifier to be used to update the fire alarm systems for this project at USAFA.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The use of Notifier is required to match existing communication protocol. The communication protocol being the unique and proprietary aspect of each individual manufacturer, by definition, makes them incompatible with each other. The project cost to upgrade the fire alarm systems is approximately

, a minor subcontracted portion of the estimated total project cost.

IV. Statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition.

10 USC 2304 (c) (1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements" for Notifier fire alarm system.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

Facility renovation projects USAFA-wide, over the last 25 years, have introduced a variety of fire alarm systems with no common denominator for standardizing the fire alarm reporting equipment. Due to the ongoing difficulty of maintaining a wide array of facility fire alarm detection and reporting systems, the Base Civil Engineer team has requested a "Notifier" brand name requirement into this project. Systems that exist today in multiple buildings at USAFA cannot have programming changed since they are propriety systems of a manufacturer other than Notifier. This would add a second propriety brand on this base and require contracting a manufacturer's representative to make programming changes for system alterations.

USAFA has successfully used the Notifier product for many other projects across the installation. It is desired to use the same product so the proposed construction will match the existing fire alarm installation.

By using the same supplier, the Government saves money through the efficiencies attained by using the same maintenance products and equipment at multiple building locations. If a different fire alarm system is installed, the Government will incur additional expense due to the requirement to train individuals on multiple maintenance procedures as well as purchasing additional maintenance equipment based on differing fire alarm requirements. Standardizing the fire panels on USAFA also contributes to less confusion at the scene of an emergency and saves time and effort when gaining access to the fire panels and determining how to reset the panels to their full operational capabilities. Lastly, reducing the varieties of fire alarm panels increases efficiency for fire alarm technicians in the areas troubleshooting and maintaining as well as eliminating the need to stock additional parts necessary to support another product.

Modernizing USAFA's fire alarm/life safety systems are configured on, and report to, the central dispatch across a base-wide Fire Alarm Network. Notifier was introduced onto USAFA in 1998 with the singular intention to having a base-wide network and was advertised this way. The base-wide network is proprietary to Notifier equipment, meaning only Notifier equipment can properly communicate, be compatible and integrate over the network with full functions and features. Full functions are described as:

(1) the ability to report device by device, (2) provide control functions such as silence, acknowledge, reset from control workstations located at BDOC and EMCS at Vandenberg Hall, and (3) allow software and firmware upgrades across the network to all Notifier systems without the need to visit each location and many other features.

The communication protocol makes addressable fire alarm systems proprietary. Communication protocol is the digital language exchanged between the central processing unit and the fire alarm devices (smoke detectors, heat detectors, input/output modules etc.). While a rudimentary interface may be made to systems of other manufacturers, it is reduced primarily to general alarm, general trouble and general integrated and compatible with Notifier. This system cannot afford to have USAFA life safety requirements compromised in order to provide full and open competition.

The base-wide Noti-Fire-Net Network is currently being upgraded to accommodate the ability to perform mass notification messages from central command to all buildings with mass notification capability. Mass notification is described as the ability to broadcast predetermined emergency voice messages (stored on digital chips) or live voice messages throughout an entire facility. This feature takes advantage of the existing base-wide Noti-Fire-Net and simply adds function and ability to interface to the existing Falcon Voice. Incorporating other manufacturer's brands into the mass notification mix will lose the ability to broadcast messages simultaneously to all buildings with mass notification without separate head end control equipment for each respective manufacturer's equipment.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

This system is a proprietary, custom-trademarked system and no other systems are available that can communicate with the Notifier alarm system.

This project will be competed among multiple prime contractors to ensure competitive pricing.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Competition will be achieved at the prime contractor level, ensuring fair and reasonable pricing for the overall project. This product has been used at many other buildings across USAFA. Since the product has been extensively used throughout USAFA, the Government has sufficient cost data to evaluate costs provided under this action. Multiple dealers can provide Notifier systems therefore pricing will be fair and reasonable based on competition.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

10th Civil Engineer Squadron considered other brand names to provide this product. However, standardization of fire protection equipment provided by Notifier eliminated the need to train individuals in troubleshooting and maintaining another brand of equipment, as well as eliminates the need to stock additional parts necessary to support another brand. If the current fire protection system, which has been installed and upgraded over the past 15+ years at a cost in excess of , is disbanded, the spent would not be expected to be recovered by the Government through competition. Therefore, the Notifier systems are the only components compatible with the existing fire protection.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None

X. List of sources, if any, that expressed interest in the acquisition.

None

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

Recommend the installation of Notifier fire alarm equipment. The technical data provided as of this date and USAFA's experience with this fire alarm system has demonstrated the reliability for this region. I certify the technical data contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our)responsibility, is both accurate and complete.