IA02_W9124D25QA055_Redacted JEFO.pdf

Control Number: MICC 2025-54

Justification Review Document for an Exception to Fair Opportunity � FAR Part 16

Equipment: United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) requests the purchase of Cisco switches and software licensing to replace End of Lifecycle (EOL) hardware and software at Battalion and Brigade locations that are part of the Recruiting Services Network (RSN).

Authority: FAR 16.505(a)(4) � Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer.

Amount:

Prepared by: Phone:

Date: 05 MAR 2025

Contracting Officer: Deborah R. Davis-Maxwell Phone:

Contracting Officer Date: 03 APR 2025 Email: deborah.r.davis-maxwell.civ@army.mil

Technical: Phone:

Date: 28 MAR 2025

Requirements: Phone:

Date: 28 MAR 2025

Control Number: MICC 2025-54 implementation as a �complete system�. The complete system is currently composed of Cisco proprietary hardware and requires Cisco switches to function.

b. Alternatives. The IT system, of which these switches are a part, is composed of Cisco brand equipment. The newly purchased switches must also be Cisco brand equipment to fulfil the complete system intent of the RSN architecture design. The RSN as a complete system uses Cisco proprietary software and protocols. Non-Cisco equipment will not integrate seamlessly into the system and could create operational failures and system vulnerabilities. Due to these factors, only Cisco brand equipment can meet operational requirements.

c. Impact if justification is not approved: The Army Chief Information Office (CIO) recommends that hardware be life-cycled every 5-7 years in accordance with Army Regulation 25-1. The current in-place equipment was procured in May 2014. The official End of Life (EOL13603) for software maintenance on this equipment occurred on 31 October 2023. After this date, the Cisco Engineering Team will no longer develop, repair, maintain, or test the product. All equipment on Army networks must be kept up to date to maintain the security and reliability of the network. Failure to maintain updated equipment poses a significant security risk and could place the RSN Authority to Operate in jeopardy unless outdated devices are removed from the network, which would remove all network connectivity for recruiting Battalion and Brigade sites.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: This switches in this lifecycle are components of a complete IT system. Cisco brand equipment is currently installed and operational across the RSN, including Battalion and Brigade offices, remote recruiting stations, Fort Knox campus, Military Entrance Processing Stations, and the RSN datacenter. This equipment uses Cisco proprietary hardware, connections, software, and protocols to operate. Installing non-Cisco equipment in one area of the network would compromise the technical integrity of the system, potentially leading to operational failures and system vulnerabilities. Mitigation of these risks would require replacement of all network hardware across the entire RSN and a complete re-design of the RSN architecture;

therefore, no other brands were considered.

7. Market Research: Per AFARS 5139, the Army�s Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) is the mandatory source for commercial information technology hardware and software. The required hardware is available through the ITES-3H suite of contracts in CHESS. The requiring activity and the contracting activity have conducted market research in accordance with the ITES-3H Ordering Guide. A Request for Quote was submitted through CHESS RFQ# 514223, and 6 vendors (5 large and 1 small) indicated that they are capable of providing hardware and software for this requirement.

8. Other Facts:

Procurement history. New Purchase