ID40140095_-_OPEN_MARKETJUSTIFICATION_Redacted.pdf

GSA FAS – Open Market JOFOC Page 1 Order Number: ID40140095

Open Market –Brand Name Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service Southeast Sunbelt Region

1. Requiring and Contracting Activity

a. Requiring Activity: Department of Commerce (DOC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA)

4231 Suitland Road, Room 1609 Suitland, MD 20746

b. Contracting Activity General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service National IT Commodity Division 401 West Peachtree St., NW, Suite 820 Atlanta, GA 30308

c. Contracting Officer: Joyce Mayberry

d. Task ID: ID40140095

e. Estimated Value of This Action:

2. Description of Action:

This justification and approval is for the purchase of VMS Software and Technical Support for the Department of Commerce, NOAA at Suitland, MD. The requested VMS support is required to maintain the NOAA Jason Ground System compliance with the Office of Satellite Products and Operations’ (OSPO) existing security infrastructure, which is used throughout the organization. The items will be procured under FAR Subpart 12 and FAR 13.

3.Description of Supplies or Services:

This is a requirement for VMS software and technical support. See separately attached Bill of Materials (BOM) and Attachment A for full descriptions, specifications, part numbers, and quantities.

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4. Authority:

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

5. Applicability of Authority:

The Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 is a United Stated federal law enacted in 2002 as Title III of the E-Government Act of 2002. The act recognized the importance of information security to the economic and national security interests of the United States. The act requires each federal agency to develop, document, and implement an agency-wide program to provide information security for the information and information systems that support the operations and assets of the agency, including those provided or managed by another agency, contractor, or other source. The VMS software product has been approved by DOC and is in compliance with FISMA.

This justification and approval is for VMS and Tru64 software and technical support for NOAA. The use of a brand name description is essential to the Government’s requirements, for OSPO infrastructure connectivity requirements, thereby precluding consideration of the products of another company.

The Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) is responsible for the management and operations of the Satellite Operation Control Center (SOCC) and the Environmental Satellite Product Center (ESPC). The SOCC manages and directs the operation of NOAA's satellites and the acquisition of remotely sensed data. The Office has operational responsibility for the Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC) at Suitland, MD and Command and Data Acquisition (CDA) facilities at Wallops, VA and Fairbanks, AK to command and control the satellites, to track the satellites, and to acquire their data. GOES satellites provide the kind of continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. The POES satellite system offers the advantage of daily global coverage, by making nearly polar orbits roughly 14.1 times daily. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), low, earth-orbiting satellites have provided the military with important environmental information. DMSP satellites "see" such environmental features as clouds, bodies of water, snow, fire, and pollution in the visual and infrared spectra.

Computer systems which are used to execute custom Telemetry and Command application programs are based upon the OpenVMS and Tru64 operating systems, products of the Hewlett-Packard Company (HP). While the OSPO Systems Branch does maintain a high level of expertise on these systems, there are instances where more detailed knowledge is necessary to resolve unusual operating system and/or VMS Layer Product behaviors and /or problems. These services are currently being performed at the

GSA FAS – Open Market JOFOC Page 3 client’s site and will expire on 9/12/2014. It is critical that these licenses be renewed to insure the agency’s information is secure. At this time, DOC does not have a qualified replacement that can fit into their customized environment. An acquisition of non compliant equipment would cause an unacceptable degradation in network functionality.

In addition it would be costly to the Government for reconfigurations of the network and additional training for technical support staff. DOC does not have the fiscal resources to repeatedly change server brand standards and configurations; therefore, no other manufacturer, brand name or current model is acceptable to fulfill this requirement for the DOC.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

A combined synopsis/solicitation will be issued in Fedbizopps to all small business vendors to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

7. Contracting Officer Determination – Fair and Reasonable Cost:

The Independent Government was developed on January 14, 2014 by the GSA Contract Specialist in conjunction with information received from the client and market research conducted on GSA Advantage. The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for this acquisition will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer will use various price analysis techniques and procedures to ensure a fair and reasonable price.

Examples of such techniques may include, but are not limited to: comparison of competitive published price lists, comparison of the proposed prices with the independent Government cost estimate, and comparison of proposed prices received in response to the request for proposal, or any other reasonable bases.

8. Market Research:

First consideration was given to the NITCP BPA and GSA Schedule 70. Market research determined that the items were not available under either vehicle; therefore, the NITCP BPA and GSA Schedule 70 were no longer considered. In order to maximize competition and solicit from as many offerors as possible, an open market combined/synopsis will be issued in Fedbizopps as a Total Small Business Set-aside. The brand name justification will be posted in Fedbizopps in accordance with FAR requirements.

9. Other Supporting Facts:

This requirement will be set aside as a Total Small Business Set-aside.

10. Listing of Sources:

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An open market combined synopsis/solicitation will be issued in Fedbizopps to all small business vendors to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

A request for Information was issued in Fedbizopps on 6/12/2014, and the following vendors have expressed an interest.

1. Parsec Group

2. Software Concepts International LLC

3. Systems Services International

11. Statement of Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition:

In an effort to remove or overcome barriers to competition in the future, the market will be scanned frequently for new companies and products that could satisfy the Government’s requirements. The DOC staff meets regularly with equipment manufacturers and vendors and attends manufacturer and industry training to keep current on technology. Vendor and trade magazines are scanned for new, open technologies that can satisfy future infrastructure requirements. As an integration lab, the agency will continually revisit the brand name equipment currently being used and will research for the manufacturers and products that will be in the Government’s best interest as best value for future replacement equipment at the agency’s site and at sites the agency supports. The current situation requires VMS Software and support as it is the only brand currently certified to run in the agency’s network that can provide the level of security needed for the system to be fully accredited. Since there is a continual revisit to the brand names currently being used by the agency for the present equipment, if/when alternatives to the requested equipment become available, they will be reviewed for approval to use.

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.

Client Signature Marilene Kazior Date

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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.

Contracting Officer Signature Date Joyce Mayberry