JA- BRAND NAME s.pdf

Project Title: OR Chiller Replacement

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 1 of 4 Revision: 03 Effective Date: 4/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C256-27-AP-0991

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Brand Name Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C256-27-AP-0991

1. Contracting Activity: Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA), NCO 16. The proposed procurement, Request for Proposal (RFP), is for the OR Chiller Replacement project at the VA Medical Center (VAMC), Pineville, Louisiana. This acquisition supports replacement of critical facility infrastructure necessary for continuity of medical center operations.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: This justification supports the use of a brand-name-only component within an otherwise competitive construction procurement. The Government requires a specific manufacturer and model chiller to maintain compatibility with existing facility infrastructure, support standardization of campus-wide building systems, and avoid substantial costs and operational risks associated with integrating alternate equipment

a. The brand name-only item is: Trane Air-Cooled Scroll Packaged Chiller

The overall procurement will be competed as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside. This justification applies only to the specific equipment identified herein.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: The

Government's minimum requirements include compatibility with the existing building automation system (BAS), controls architecture, monitoring infrastructure, maintenance program, and facility standardization requirements currently in place throughout the medical center.

The required equipment is:

Manufacturer: Trane Model: CGAM120 Description: 120-Ton Air-Cooled Scroll Packaged Chiller Quantity: One (1)

The Government's minimum needs require the chiller to:

Integrate seamlessly with the existing Trane building automation and controls infrastructure.

Maintain compatibility with current monitoring, alarm, trending, and operational control functions. Operate without requiring gateways, middleware, extensive software modifications, or replacement of existing control architecture. Support current maintenance procedures, technician training, spare parts inventories, and diagnostic practices. Maintain consistency with the facility's standardization strategy for mechanical systems. Be fully supported for integration into the existing campus-wide BAS environment. The Trane Model CGAM120 is the only known product capable of satisfying these requirements without substantial modification to existing systems and operational processes.

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 2 of 4 Revision: 03 Effective Date: 4/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C256-27-AP-0991

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

(X) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1;

( ) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by FAR 6.302-2;

( ) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3;

( ) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by FAR 6.302-4

( ) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by FAR 6.302-5;

( ) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by FAR 6.302-6;

( ) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by FAR 6.302-7;

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the

Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The Trane Model CGAM120 is required because it must integrate directly into the existing Trane building automation system, controls infrastructure, proprietary software environment, and operational architecture currently utilized throughout the medical center.

The Government determined that use of equipment manufactured by another company would likely require substantial modifications to existing software programming, communications interfaces, BAS integration, maintenance procedures, training programs, and lifecycle support processes.

Such modifications would result in duplication of costs that are not expected to be recovered through competition. Additionally, use of a non-standard chiller platform would:

• Increase maintenance complexity.

• Require additional technician training.

• Increase spare parts inventory requirements.

• Create additional lifecycle support costs.

• Introduce integration risks into critical medical center infrastructure.

• Increase the potential for operational disruptions affecting patient care environments.

Standardization with the existing Trane infrastructure preserves compatibility, maintains continuity of operations, minimizes lifecycle costs, and reduces technical and operational risk.

Accordingly, the Contracting Officer has determined that no other supplies will satisfy the Government's minimum requirements.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: The overall construction procurement will be competed as a 100-percent SDVOSB set-aside. Competition is not being restricted for the construction project as a whole. The restriction applies only to the specific chiller equipment identified in this justification. This Brand Name Justification and Approval will be publicly posted with the solicitation in accordance with FAR requirements. All responsible SDVOSB firms may submit

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 3 of 4 Revision: 03 Effective Date: 4/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C256-27-AP-0991 proposals for the overall project provided that the specified brand-name equipment is incorporated into their proposed solution.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: An Independent Government Estimate (IGE) was prepared by the VA project team and reviewed by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). The overall construction project will be competitively solicited. The Contracting Officer will evaluate all proposed pricing and make a determination of fair and reasonable pricing prior to award.

Competition among qualified offerors for the overall project is expected to ensure the Government receives a fair and reasonable price.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Market research was conducted by the Contracting Officer's Representative and reviewed by the Contracting Officer. The research confirmed the existence of multiple manufacturers capable of producing chillers with similar capacity and performance ratings. However, the Government's minimum requirement extends beyond cooling capacity and includes compatibility with the existing Trane building automation infrastructure, campus standardization requirements, maintenance support structure, and lifecycle management practices. Based upon the market research conducted, the Trane Model CGAM120 was identified as the only product capable of meeting the Government's minimum requirements without requiring substantial modifications to existing systems or creating significant duplication of costs. The Contracting Officer concurs that the identified brand-name equipment is necessary to ensure efficient and reliable operation of the completed project and surrounding facility infrastructure.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

The required equipment must interface with existing operational building systems serving a healthcare environment where reliable operation is essential to supporting patient care and facility functions. The Government determined that modifications necessary to accommodate alternative manufacturers would create increased technical, operational, maintenance, cybersecurity, and lifecycle management risks while increasing total ownership costs and reducing standardization throughout the facility. Offerors remain free to compete for the overall construction project. However, they must provide the specified chiller identified in this justification. Any interested source believing an alternate product can satisfy the Government's minimum requirements may submit supporting technical documentation for Government review. The offeror shall bear all costs associated with preparing, submitting, and supporting such documentation.

The Government will evaluate any submitted information solely to determine whether the proposed equipment satisfies all Government minimum requirements for:

• Compatibility

• Interoperability

• Performance

• Reliability

• Maintainability

• Lifecycle Support

• Integration with the Existing Building Automation System

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Failure to provide sufficient supporting documentation may result in a determination that the proposed product does not satisfy the Government's minimum requirements.

The Government is under no obligation to independently test, validate, modify, redesign, or otherwise alter existing facility systems to accommodate a proposed alternate product.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

Not Applicable.

This justification involves a specific brand-name component within a competitive construction acquisition. The responsibility for obtaining pricing and availability of information from authorized suppliers rests with prospective offerors.

11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any

Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: Competition will be obtained for the overall construction project. The Government will continue to evaluate future requirements and available technologies to determine whether facility infrastructure, operational requirements, and compatibility considerations permit broader competition in future acquisitions. At present, the Government's compatibility and standardization requirements support continued use of the identified brand-name equipment.

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP:

a. Contracting Officer Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer

NCO 16

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