BNJ for 18 Developer Laptops

FHFA Dell Equipment Brand Name Justification

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

41 U.S.C. 3304 (a) (1)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), as implemented by FAR Subpart 6.3, and in accordance with the requirements of FAR 6.303-1, the justification for the use of the statutory authority under FAR Subpart 6.3 is justified by the following facts and rationale required under FAR 6.303-2 as follows:

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Office of Budget and Financial Management (OBFM), proposes to enter into a contract on the basis other than full and open competition for a brand name purchase.

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

FHFA’s Office of Technology and Information Management (OTIM) has a requirement to procure brand name equipment specifically manufactured by Dell, Inc. for use by OTIM developers. The OTIM developer laptops need additional memory and processing power to accomplish advanced systems development activities. The total estimated cost is [REDACTED], including the NASA SEWP fee.

3. DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT

FHFA will purchase Dell and equipment as follows:

Function Device Model Quantity Laptop Dell E6530 18

4. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER

THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.

3304(a)(1) implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

5. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION

REQUIRES THE USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED

FHFA Dell Equipment Brand Name Justification Purchase

The following key points are some of the considerations in justifying the acquisition of Dell equipment:

• If FHFA procures different brand beyond those specified within this justification, FHFA will sustain duplication of cost to the Government, because such duplication within the network environment must be supported by additional personnel. Furthermore, a change in brand name requires establishing new Enterprise Architecture and Standard Operating Procedures that would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

• FHFA currently uses Dell manufactured laptops with a minimum 3 year gold support contract. Consequently, Dell manufactured equipment specific to those laptops are required. OTIM has a limited number of desktop support staff. The current desktop support staff is trained and has significant experience with the Dell product line. Also, in order to minimize service interruptions to FHFA, support staff can swap computers, components and parts without compatibility and functionality issues, because FHFA is currently standardized on the Dell brand.

• As with using anything other than Dell equipment, the introduction of additional models would be counterproductive by failing to leverage FHFA’s current training and significant experience with these products.

• The incorporation of additional brand names and devices would likely increase

FHFA’s administrative burden. Retaining a standard, uniform line of equipment allows FHFA the ability to substitute malfunctioning equipment with identical functioning equipment to avoid issues related to compatibility and functionality.

The standardization of equipment also improves FHFA’s ability to provide support as it promotes an experience base familiar with supporting these items.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise- Wide Procurement (SEWP) Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) provides a broad base of vendors that can compete for award of the required Dell equipment.

6. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE

SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICAL

A solicitation will be sent to fourteen (14) Groups B, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business vendors, and C, Small Business vendors, under the NASA SEWP Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This contract vehicle has already been synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.201.

7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND

REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated price will be fair and reasonable by obtaining competition among the NASA SEWP vendors.

8. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED

OTIM performed web-based market research to determine if there were non-Dell alternatives. FHFA believes that award to any other brand would result in substantial duplication of cost that is not expected to be recovered through competition and would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling agency objectives. As a result, while comparable products may exist, FHFA market research focused on available sources to fulfill our requirements. The market research concluded that the requirements could be fulfilled by soliciting from Groups B, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business vendors, and C, Small Business vendors under the NASA SEWP IDIQ contract. These vendors appear to be capable of providing the required Dell equipment.

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL

AND OPEN COMPETITION

To maintain continuity of the mission at FHFA, Dell equipment is required; adding equipment from different manufacturers will introduce additional operational and maintenance requirements for the staff supporting the equipment as well as increased manufacturer cross compatibility risks. Introduction of another vendor’s product would also require a second network management platform to properly monitor the different manufacturer’s equipment.

10. A LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT HAVE EXPRESSED AN

INTEREST IN THIS ACQUISITION

The following vendors under Groups B, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business vendors, and C, Small Business, under the NASA SEWP IDIQ contract, will be given the opportunity to submit a quote. The vendors are as follows:

Alvarez & Associates Affigent, LLC iGov.com FedStore Corporation Blue Tech, Inc. Merlin International i3 Federal CounterTrade Products Red River Three Wire Systems FCN Technology Sword & Shield ThunderCat Technology GC Micro

11. A STATEMENT OF ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO

EITHER REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

If FHFA has a need to replace all Dell equipment, the Agency will conduct an extensive market research effort in attempts to identify additional manufacturers with products compatible with FHFA’s IT infrastructure and environment.

12. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S CERTIFICATION

I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

[REDACTED] Date Contracting Officer

13. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION:

I certify this requirement meets the Government's minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

[REDACTED] Date Technical Representative

14. LEGAL REVIEW:

This justification is: ( ) Legally Sufficient ( ) Not Legally Sufficient

Office of General Counsel Date