A04_REDACTED_JA_NETWORK_SUSTAINMENT.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (J&A)

19-CIFB Network Sustainment Capital

NITYU19AV375

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity and specific identification of the document as a “Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity.”

a. Requiring/Requesting Activity

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

8899 East 56th Street Indianapolis, IN 46249

b. Contracting Activity DFAS Columbus Contract Services Directorate Building 21, Room 2B218 3990 E. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43213-1152

2. Nature or Description of the action:

The purpose of this document is to obtain approval for a Items Peculiar to One Manufacturer (Brand Name) acquisition in accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(B). Competition is limited to the following brand names: Cisco.

The procurement strategy is to issue a request for quote (RFQ) on the NASA Solution for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP), and the fair opportunity procedures set up by the SEWP will be followed. An RFQ with a brand name requirement must include a justification and approval and be submitted through NASA SEWP. The order at issue includes brand name requirements. Therefore, the below justification and approval will be included with the RFQ, which will be submitted through NASA SEWP.

3. Description of Supplies/Service:

DFAS I&T Infrastructure & Production Support require the maintenance renewal of recently-acquired Local Area Network (LAN) backbone hardware components. DFAS has spent a great deal of money and resources in FY18 to replace end-of-life components with new components to ensure the Local Area Network (LAN) stays current and effective in meeting the mandated capabilities to defend and protect the data entrusted to DFAS. This maintenance renewal is necessary to ensure missions are able to maintain security protocols as well as the effective utilization of assets to facilitate current and future requirements.

The Local Area Network (LAN) backbone provides the primary network connectivity for computers and other network devices to communicate with each other across the LAN, site-to-site, and to the NIPRNet/Internet. It must be continually sustained and re-engineered to:

Support mission workload requirements Support the Nexus series platform Provide performance and capacity enhancements Provide WAN optimization Provide power redundancy Support virtual Port Channel Increase security and conform to FIPS 140-2 mandates Reduce the cost of operations

Support Web Cache Communication Protocol (WCCP) Support Layer-3 routing protocols and Dynamic Multipoint VPN Support up to 10GB unified fabric (copper and fiber) connectivity

Based on the average of the quotes received, the estimated cost of this requirement is XXXXXXXX, which includes only a base year.

4. Identification of the exception to fair opportunity (see 16.505(b)(2)) and the supporting rationale, including a demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the exception cited. If the contracting officer uses the logical follow-on exception, the rationale shall describe why the relationship between the initial order and the follow-on is logical.

The purpose of this Justification is to obtain approval to proceed with a limited source acquisition of brand name product: Cisco.

For the purposes of this requirement, the brands are limited to Cisco. DFAS Network Engineering has performed extensive research on alternative products. In all cases, Cisco is the only manufacturers that met our stringent interoperability, security, performance and redundancy requirements. Introducing new network infrastructure hardware into our network that is not manufactured by Cisco would cause a complete network redesign, forcing us to change interior routing protocols, first-hop redundancy protocols and eliminate efficiencies provided by some Cisco protocols altogether. Furthermore, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) specifically target products manufactured by Cisco. Other manufacturers were examined and found to be insufficient to meet the needs of DFAS. Morever, very few DFAS personnel have familiarity with network device configurations outside of Cisco. A new product brand would force formal training for all network engineering and operations personnel. Man-hours required to complete the actions needed to change resellers would drastically exceed man-hours available and render DFAS network personnel incapable of meeting operational mission objectives

DFAS lacks the expertise and man power necessary to implement a complete network redesign and such a task is too complex that providing a reasonable estimate for a complete network redesign would be too difficult. As such, this procurement is for brand name manufacturers and includes hardware, software, licenses and support and is intended to integrate with the existing agency-deployed backbone components (Cisco). Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that renewal of device maintenance already established as part of the current environment at a projected cost of XXXXXXXX is in the best interest of DFAS.

A Request for Quote (RFQ) will be issued through NASA SEWP to Contract Holders in accordance with NASA SEWPs Fair Opportunity Procedures. Accordingly, the exception in FAR 5.202(a)(6) applies.

5. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

In determining a fair and reasonable price, the Contracting Officer will evaluate the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). Based on an RFQ issued against the NASA SEWP IDIQ vehicle, it is anticipated the pricing will be fair and reasonable, as determined under the terms and conditions of the RFQ to be submitted to all SEWP contract holders. Price comparisons will also be obtained from as many other sources as possible, including commercially as well as any Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) and the GSA Federal Supply Schedules.

These items are available from multiple Value Added Resellers on the NASA SEWP schedule. Based on market research, it is anticipated that NASA SEWP pricing will be lower than open market pricing.

Leveraging DFAS’ current use of Cisco, along with open market price comparison, the contracting officer is confident in obtaining the best value for DFAS.

NOTE: Based on additional market research there may be other interested sources as well.

Market research was conducted for the purpose of seeking as many potential sources as possible. Although Cisco is the sole manufacturers and providers of these products, there are multiple distributors with the required software maintenance and support available on the NASA SEWP Contracts. An RFQ will be posted on NASA SEWP. Competition will be sought among all authorized resellers for the best possible pricing. Market research has shown that Cisco is available in a competitive environment under NASA

SEWP.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification.

Below is a listing of the sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Market research was conducted via NASA SEWP: RFI110431. XXXX estimates were received via resellers under the SEWP contract; XXXX estimates were received via GSA.

Based on the average of the quotes received, the estimated cost of this requirement is XXXXXXXXX.

Nothing to add to this section that has not already been articulated within this justification document.

7. A Statement of actions, if any, the agency may take or remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made:

In order to remove or overcome barriers to competition in future acquisitions for this requirement, the agency will work with the program office to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the market place that would enable future actions to be competed on other than a name brand basis.

The procurement will be reviewed annually by the DFAS Contract Services Division to determine the most advantageous acquisition method for the Agency, taking into consideration all applicable regulations and statutes.

8. The contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief.

9. Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for an exception to fair opportunity) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

CERTIFICATIONS

As the technical and requirements subject matter expert, I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification are complete and accurate.

Technical Certification:

Printed Name: XXXXXXX

Title: Technical Reviewer Org. Code: XXXXX

Signature: _____XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX______________Phone: XXXXXXX

Requiring Activity/Program Management Office Certification:

Printed Name: XXXXXXXXX

Title: System Manager Org. Code: XXXXXXXX

Signature XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Phone: XXXXXXXXX Date:____________

Contracting Officer Certification:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. I certify that this J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Printed Name: XXXXXXXXXX

Title: Contracting Officer Organization Code XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Signature:___XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX____ Phone: XXXXXXXXXXX

Review For Legal Sufficiency:

Printed Name __XXXXXXXXX_______________________________

Title __________________________ Organization Code ___XXXXXXXX____

Signature: __XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX_______ Phone ____XXXXXXXXXX___

APPROVAL Activity Competition Advocate ($650,000 - $13,500,000):

Printed Name ___XXXXXXXXXXXXXX___

Title __________________________ Organization Code __XXXXXXXXXXX__

Signature___XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX____ Phone ___XXXXXXXX____Date_________