Dell_EFO_Redacted.pdf

Exception to Fair Opportunity (Dell)

1. Requiring and Contracting Activity

a. Requiring Activity: AF Life Cycle Management Center/WIIM

RPA-SOC Program Management Office 235 Byron Street, Ste 19A Robins AFB, GA 31098-1670

b. Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/WIIK

2. Description of Action:

The United States Air Force (USAF) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Squadron Operating Center (SOC) Program Integration Office (PIO), Robins AFB, GA has a requirement to procure Cisco Brand Name hardware to support the RPA SOC baseline for a new site in South Carolina. This requirement will be procured on a Firm Fixed Price basis under the NETCENTS-2 contract vehicle in accordance with AFI 63-101.

3. Description of Supplies or Services:

This is a requirement for the acquisition of Dell Brand Name hardware for Robins AFB, RPA SOC PIO. See Table 1 below for part number, description, unit and quantity.

TABLE 1

Item P/N Description Unit Qty 1 210-ALXM Dell Precision Rack 7920 XCTO Base ea 10

4. Authority: FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B)

As far as practicable, the Contracting Officer (CO) will use Competitive Acquisitions from Dell approved/authorized vendors to ensure brand name products that can be traced to ensure TAA Compliance and maintain Security Certifications required to use Classified Data Processing and transfer of Classified Data.

5. Applicability of Authority:

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Robins Air Force Base is a sustainment organization that is tasked with maintaining a mission critical information technology (IT) system that utilizes specific Brand Name hardware. This IT weapon system is comprised of hardware from multiple brand names. The Dell hardware is incorporated and installed at multiple Sites which support the RPA SOC PIO. The RPA SOC system requires a 99.99% system up-time requirement while distributing a heavy volume of audio, video and data via multiple mediums to multiple, dispersed locations. This IT weapon system hardware represents the material solution derived to meet the USAF MQ-1/MQ-9 SOC Baseline Description Document (BDD) capability requirements. The hardware solution from the multiple brand name sources was approved during the RPA SOC Preliminary Design Review in May 2013 and Critical Design Review in August 2013 and was updated by a Technical Interchange Meeting in July 2014 and a Configuration Control Board in July 2015 and March 2016.

The AFLCMC is responsible for maintaining a common hardware/software baseline to support the USAF RPA portfolio. By establishing an accreditation baseline, the USAF is able to maintain a distributed, homogenous network of exploitation workstations capable of receiving, processing, and disseminating intelligence products from a variety of sources. To do so, system of systems must meet strict technical specifications and requirements to simultaneously protect and distribute sensitive information. This required IT weapon system hardware for RPA SOC is part of a baseline which was approved in June 2014 under the Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 503 by the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency (AFISRA).

The ICD 503 is the most current security accreditation standard for information technology systems security risk management, certification and accreditation provided by the Office of The Director of National Intelligence. The ICD focuses on a more holistic and strategic process for the risk management of information technology systems, and on processes and procedures designed to develop trust across the intelligence community information technology enterprise.

This trust is developed through the use of common standards and reciprocally accepted certification and accreditation decisions. By receiving accreditation for the information system, an intelligence community element, AFISRA, approves the system for operation at a particular level of security in a particular environment. This approval of the system establishes the level of risk associated with operating the system and the associated implications for operations, assets or individuals. Approval occurs only after undergoing a compliance self-test and a third party analysis which includes extensive testing, operational reviews, and scans for vulnerabilities within the IT architecture per the ICD 503.

Due to the ever-changing lifecycle of technology and its constant advancement, and evolving mission needs, the SOC, in conjunction with the AFLCMC PIO continues to research and analyze its hardware requirements. Several new components have been identified due to configuration changes and have already begun the accreditation and approval process and could eventually replace current approved brand name components of the IT weapon system. This process can take up to 12 months for a new hardware to be incorporated into the existing baseline.

Dell is the only sources capable of the system processing real-time audio in a classified environment and they are the only ones approved for the AFISRA Certified, RPA SOC system with the unique specifications outlined in the BDD for the specific set of IT weapon components outlined above. Dell has been identified, approved, accredited and incorporated into the IT weapon system which requires the RPA SOC PIO to continue to utilize these specific brand names in support of critical missions.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

Efforts to obtain competition were conducted via Market Research which included internet scans, review of trade magazines, data calls with users in the field, and visits to various vendors to review and test their products capabilities. Vendors such Hewlett Packard, Clearcube and Amulet Hotkey were analyzed in addition to Dell for system support, however it was determined that their systems had capability shortfalls which precluded them from accreditation and incorporation into the weapon system.

Thru research and analysis, Dell products were identified as the only product to meet the unique technical specifications as outlined by the BDD in support of the RPA-SOCs and subsequently passed the accreditation and approval of the ICD 503.

7. Contracting Officer Determination – Fair and Reasonable Cost:

The CO has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable and in the Government's best interest. An Independent Government Estimate has been performed to validate the anticipated cost and is attached to the PR package. The CO will be primarily seeking competition from qualified vendors or whenever practical quantity discounts offered to the USAF and will conduct further price analysis to determine the prices fair and reasonable as necessary. The CO will ensure that the contract represents the best value (as defined in FAR 2.101) and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government's needs.

8. Market Research:

Market research was conducted via internet scans, review of trade magazines and contacting various vendors to review their products. Dell products were compared to Hewlett Packard, Clearcube and Amulet Hotkey. The RPA SOC system requires a rack-mounted workstations, servers and desktop zero-clients. Dell was chosen based on higher performance at a lower cost as well as better lifecycle support again at a lower cost. Changing to a new vendor would require development, test and certification would take up to 12 months to complete. The new generation of ClearCube products show promise and we are acquiring some for test and evaluation purposes for future sites. In summary, only Dell hardware met all the workstation, server and zero-client requirements of the RPA SOC program and the USAF.

9. Other Supporting Facts:

The IT system brand name hardware are a critical component of the RPA SOC and is part of the AFISRA accreditation package that is required at each SOC location to operate on the Air Force Network. With the criticality of these national security missions, negative impact and lapse in coverage cannot occur; as these would cause catastrophic national security issues, impeding the wellness of the United States and those areas and civilians in which it helps to protect.

10. Sources:

Dell Hardware Sterling Computers

Iron Bow

11. Statement of Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition:

In an effort to remove or overcome such a barrier to competition in the future and to keep abreast of a rapidly evolving technological environment, the RPA SOC hardware team continuously performs research on all hardware solutions to determine the relevancy and efficiency of the existing hardware installed at each site. This research includes scanning the internet and performing data calls from the users in the field. This ensures that the RPA SOC is providing the most efficient and effective material solution to the end user in the field. The AFLCMC RPA SOC program team regularly coordinates with the sites to determine what changes have occurred in regard to technology, both hardware and software, and research trade magazines and any known and new emerging hardware manufacturers that have the potential of satisfying existing and future infrastructure requirements and provide the best overall value to the Government.

12. Requiring Agency Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Contracting Officer Certification:

The undersigned has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for this acquisition will be fair and reasonable. Further, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.