JA-006-25 CAC MSEC - 31 Jan 25 signedJF sDL -_Redacted.pdf

Control No. 006-25

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

REVIEW

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FOR:

Hirsch Card Access Control (CAC) System Building 606 - MSEC Renovation

West Point, NY

31 January 2025

1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York District (NAN), Contracting (CT), 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

This Justification and Approval (J&A) supports the use of brand name components for the Building 606 - MSEC renovation project. The government will not purchase the components directly, but rather will require that offerors include the Hirsch Card Access Control Systems as part of proposals submitted in response to the solicitation to comply with the Contract specifications that will lead to the award of a new firm-fixed-price (FFP) construction contract. The United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for the acquisition and administration of the construction contract. Funding for this acquisition will be Sustainment, Renovation & Modernization (SRM).

The project will be solicited and awarded as a Best Value Trade Off (BVTO) procurement in accordance with FAR Part 15.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

Hirsch Mx Controllers enables an installation to start small and expand as needed, from a single controller system to a larger, multi-site enterprise. The Mx Controller is fully firmware, function, and communication protocol compatible with all of Hirsch controllers. The Hirsch Mx Controller is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing systems, so that existing credentials, readers, and user databases can be retained. The controller is the core of Hirsch physical access control system (PACS) and is designed for use with Hirsch Velocity™ Software security management system, uTrust TS Readers, Hirsch ScramblePad®, ScrambleProx®, ScrambleSmartProx®, and secure keypads.

A range of models and expansion options Hirsch product lines provide a variety of access control, high-security alarm monitoring, relay control outputs, and programmable logic configurations to fit most applications. As an access control system, the Mx Controller includes extensive onboard firmware for control sequences as basic as “who goes where and when” to sophisticated functions like the two-person rule, occupancy counting, individual user tagging, door interlocking, and anti-pass back. Full functionality is maintained even when Hirsch Velocity is not available (i.e., during a network outage). Access may be restricted based on time of day, day of week, and door.

Access may be granted when the user presents the correct PIN code, card, or both. The user may be granted temporary access based on the following: use count limits, temporary day limits, and absentee rule limits, with auto-disable or auto-delete on expiration of temporary users. Additional functions include unlock/relock, alarm mask/unmask, and lock down/lock down release. The associated door may be monitored for door forced open and door open too long, while providing auto relock control. While the standard Mx Controller has an extensive array of options, there are many custom features that are available through Hirsch Global Services. These options range from integration with time and attendance systems to PKI certificate authentication services.

Readers and keypads supported include uTrust TS Readers, Hirsch ScramblePad, ScrambleProx, Scramble SmartProx, and many other technologies, including magnetic stripe, smart card (i.e., DESFire, MIFARE, PIV, or PIV-I), proximity, bar code, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), and biometric. Technologies may be combined on the same controller or the same door in many different combinations.

The implementation of the Hirsch proprietary system is critical to the overall mission success and security at West Point, NY due to the compatibility requirement with the existing installed system used campus wide. The general contractor will be required to hire the West Point certified installer, Redtop Group LLC - as they are the only installer registered and certified to perform all the card access work at US Army Garrison West Point. West Point uses the Hirsch Velocity management system software campus-wide. This action is an extension of the existing proprietary Hirsch system used campus-wide. In addition, Redtop Group has the O&M service agreement to provide campus-wide installation and maintenance on the Hirsch Velocity system and thus is the only authorized installer so long as the campus-wide agreement is in place.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(c), Application for Brand Name Descriptions. In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c), the Contracting Officer will specify that all offerors be required to procure an item peculiar to one supplier (brand-name item).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

A. Background

Due to post wide security and compatibility issues and based on the capabilities described below of the Hirsch Card Access Control system is required on all new construction and renovation projects at the United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point. Additionally, this system is DoD certified and West point has the Authority to Operate as per cybersecurity regulations. The system will be installed by the Redtop Group LLC, are registered and certified to perform all the card access work at USMA.

B. Justification

The implementation of the Hirsch proprietary system is critical to the overall mission success at West Point, NY due to the existing Hirsch system used campus wide to maintain current security infrastructure.

The need to provide continuity of existing systems is critical to mission success at the United States Military Academy. United States Military Academy, West Point Command and other authorized personnel require access to all buildings with card key access. The existing card keys are only compatible with the proprietary Hirsch card access system. Card access systems need to be Hirsch brand-name to ensure compatibility and interoperability with all existing card keys at United States Military Academy facilities. Additionally, this will maintain the efficiency of maintenance and other operational personnel and eliminate confusion regarding the authority to access any particular area of Building 606, especially during periods of emergency. Hirsch card access system is the only responsible source for efficiency and access for United States Military Academy personnel and facility managers across the campus.

Additionally, as explained in section C – Alternatives, to meet the specific United States Military Academy mission other alternatives have been assessed in the past and implemented only to be replaced at a premium to the end user.

C. Alternatives

There are no viable alternatives that meet the mission requirements. Any number of manufacturers would be able to provide card access systems to prevent entry. However, no other brand-name can provide a card access system compatible with the existing United States Military Academy Command existing card access keys.

The alternative actions would be to ensure compatibility of a different manufacturer’s card access system with existing card keys made throughout the entirety of the United States Military Academy, West Point.

Then if compatibility could not be met with the existing card keys, facilities would need to remove and replace existing card access systems in every facility at United States Military Academy with card access systems from a single manufacturer. This would be a very cost prohibitive effort.

D. Impact

If the J&A is not approved and a different card access brand-name is selected instead of Hirsch mission requirements would not be met because new card access keys would be required. This would undermine the operational efficiency of the existing United States Military Academy Command card access system.

In addition to failing to meet the mission requirement, this alternate scenario would create confusion for card key holders and disrupt the efficient operation and maintenance of Building 606 and other facilities at United States Military Academy. Additionally, the need to be mission ready is paramount for the facilities engineers and grounds keepers who maintain and operate the facilities at West Point. In addition, if this J&A is not approved and a different card access system is to be introduced, the overall efficiency of operations and maintenance will be impacted severely.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

The brand name product has been published as required by FAR 5.201, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to determine sources for this system was synopsized 13 December 2024. No responses were received for the Notice of Intent. The brand name justification and approval will be posted with the solicitation. As stated in paragraph 5 above, Hirsch Card Access Control systems are the only brand available to ensure compatibility with existing Hirsch Card Access Control infrastructure.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

This J&A supports a discrete requirement that will end when the project is complete. Therefore, there are no planned actions to increase competition for the requirement covered by this J&A.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

A Notice of Intent (NOI) to determine sources for this system was synopsized on 13 December 2024. The NOI was published for the required 15 days in betaSAM. There were no responses to the NOI. No additional research was done besides the NOI.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

There were no responses to the NOI posting. The solicitation will be synopsized in accordance with FAR

5.201 and responses will be evaluated per FAR Part 15.

10. OTHER FACTS:

All pertinent facts are included above.