JA FAR 16.5 CNVAMC HCI Backup Systems Redacted.pdf

HCI Back up System Control Number VA-21-00052997

JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a firm-fixed price delivery order to be issued under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement (SEWP) V Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for brand name Cisco Servers, Cisco Nexus switches, VMware vSphere virtualization software and CommVault SolutionsPlus Software for the procurement of a hyper-converged virtual server and backup (HCI Backup) environment for the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (CNVAMC).

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: The proposed action supports the CNVAMC campus, one at the Downtown Campus and one at the Uptown Campus by acquiring brand name Cisco Servers, Cisco Nexus Switches, VMware vSphere virtualization and CommVault SolutionsPlus Software. The Cisco Hyperflex Servers and Cisco Nexus Switches are required for the HCI and Backup Servers project, which is planned for modernizing medical applications infrastructure for improved reliability, efficiency, optimization, and redundancy. Specifically, this will allow the CNVAMC to host virtual servers as opposed to utilizing individual physical servers for each. The VMware vSphere virtualization software allows for more than one server to work on just one machine, instead of operating on several machines, thus helping VA become more efficient by minimizing operating costs, deploying workloads more quickly, improving overall performance and removing unnecessary server complexity and sprawl. The backup solution needs to utilize CommVault SolutionsPlus Software, which is a backup and data protection software that will allow CNVAMC to backup and protect medical servers hosted within the HCI Backup systems. This effort also includes training classes for CNVAMC Biomedical Engineering personnel in order for them to learn how to manage the newly provided HCI Backup system. The effort will include all preparation and planning, labor, travel, and parts required in order to install and implement the redundant HCI Backup systems. The Contractor is also required to install and implement the required HCI Backup system that includes VMware vSphere virtualization Software and CommVault SolutionsPlus Software. VM vSphere virtualization Software will allow CNVAMC Biomedical Engineering to spin-up and manage a multitude of medical servers and applications on a consolidated hardware system. Final system design proposals should be developed and provided 60 days after award. Hardware should be shipped 120 days after award. Hardware and software installation, configuration and implementation should be completed 60 days after delivery of hardware. The total estimated value of the proposed action is

4. Statutory Authority: Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.505(a)(4), the following brand name requirement is being justified and approved as an exception to fair opportunity is Section 41 U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), entitled “Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized.”

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Based on market research, as described in section 8 of this justification, it was determined that limited competition is viable among resellers for the brand name Cisco hardware, VMware vSphere virtualization Software and CommVault SolutionsPlus Software. CNVAMC requires the following brand name hardware and softwares for the HCI Backup Systems (these hardware and software systems will together comprise the fully functional HCI Backup systems).

i. Cisco hardware (switches, servers, and backup appliances).

ii. VMware vSphere virtualization software.

iii. Commvault backup and data protection software.

Cisco is the only networking hardware that seamlessly integrates into the existing CNVAMC network architecture. All existing network switches at CNVAMC (managed by Office of Information Technology (OIT) are Cisco brand name switches and VA requires support compatible with the existing infrastructure protocols and functionality for continued operational availability. The HCI Backup solution will require top of rack switches; they must be Cisco switches as they will need to integrate with the existing Cisco 6509 Core switches. In order to expand this server infrastructure, only Hyperflex servers can be used due to the compatibility requirement for failover redundancy. This infrastructure is programmed and managed using software, code and service tools that are proprietary to Cisco. As such, due to compatibility and integration requirements, only Cisco is interoperable and compatible with the existing VA network infrastructure.

Only Cisco, or a reseller can provide the proprietary information to meet the Government’s needs and ensure the infrastructure is operational. Use of other brand name servers or switches would not be interoperable in the currently fielded Cisco equipment and would necessitate a complete replacement of the Cisco infrastructure in place. There are no other products that are compatible and interoperable with the existing VA Cisco hardware.

VMware vSphere virtualization Software is required for the HCI Backup systems.

vSphere is currently used by OIT for the existing virtual server farms and environments.

CNVAMC Biomedical Engineering owns the HCI Backup systems and VA is responsible for the management of the vSphere virtualization software (for spinning up new servers). Use of any other brand name software would not be able to communicate with this existing infrastructure due to the proprietary constraints within the VMware software. Utilizing any other brand name software would result in a redesign, reengineering and redevelopment effort that would require replacement of most of this existing infrastructure. Any other virtualization software is not compatible and would prevent support. VMware or an authorized re-seller of VMware services are the only known sources with access to proprietary VMware software code and are capable of providing the level of support and professional services required under this action to ensure mission critical requirements are handled in a timely manner. Any other source must have access to the proprietary VMware code in order to ensure all services are properly configured. In addition, access to this code is needed to develop and deploy any upgrades and updates to the software due to the proprietary constraints. The proprietary VMware software code allows only VMware or an authorized re-seller of VMware services the ability to alter or modify the VMware software source code, utilized in enterprise production software by VA, which no other source can do. For the same proprietary reasons, the professional services required by VA can only be provided by VMware or an authorized re-seller. The Government does not possess the proprietary technical data or source code for the VMware software.

A software solution is required as part of this procurement to protect the data that will be stored on these Cisco servers. CommVault is currently used by OIT for existing backup solutions. The Backup solution will be used to make daily copies of the physical servers and the virtual server files contained on them. It is necessary to have the backup solution and Hyperconverged Infrastructure deployed in a single project to ensure the overall system is fully integrated, functional, and available for operation upon completion of the contract. The Backup solution will be used to make daily copies of the physical servers and the virtual server files contained on them. Due to the proprietary nature of the software, use of a software other than CommVault may cause a complete loss of all current historical data. The procurement of other available software does not contain the proprietary source code necessary that would allow the VA’s historical data currently stored in VA’s existing CommVault licenses to be transferred over to the new software.

The current infrastructure communicates through source code that is based on CommVault’s proprietary data and only CommVault or a reseller must have access to this proprietary code necessary to expand the existing backup solution in order to ensure that the software is operational. Access to this code is also needed to develop updates and push them to the existing software as well as allow CommVault’s historical data to be transferred over. VA requires access to this media and cannot replace or replicate the media without a significant administrative burden and risk of data corruption when migrating. The Government does not possess the proprietary technical data or source code for the CommVault Software.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in section 8 of this justification. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government's requirements. However, limited competition is available among resellers for brand name Cisco, VMware vSphere virtualization and CommVault. In accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)(1), this justification will be provided with the solicitation to all appropriate NASA SEWP V GWAC holders. Furthermore, in accordance with FAR 5.301, 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D), and 16.505(a)(4)(iii), the award notice for this action will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website and this justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted in April 2021 by the requiring activity to determine what network infrastructure can meet the requirements for space and configuration integration with the existing infrastructure. Subject Matter Experts conducted online research, which consisted of a review of similar solutions, such as Nutanix to determine requirement compatibility with space and configuration integration.

It was determined that Nutanix could not support VA’s infrastructure requirements.

Market research was also conducted in May 2021 in coordination with VA’s Backup and Storage team to determine if any other sources can meet VA’s backup solution need.

Subject Matter Experts conducted online research, which consisted of a review of similar solutions. Specifically, the technical expert reviewed similar applications from Veeam and Arconis and determined that these products cannot meet the technical and interoperability requirements because they do not have the functionality to access and manipulate VA’s existing content. Additionally, ongoing market research efforts were conducted through regular reviews of trade publications, discussions with VA data managers and researchers, and a provider search on NASA SEWP to determine if other brand name products can meet this requirement. Based on this market research and due to the proprietary nature of the source code, it was concluded that there are no other service providers capable of performing the service, without the proprietary source codes for both VMware vSphere virtualization Software and CommVault SolutionsPlus Software.

Finally, the NASA SEWP IV Manufacturer Lookup tool was used to determine that there are several resellers of the required Cisco Servers, Cisco Nexus switches, VMware vSphere virtualization software and CommVault SolutionsPlus Software. Based on the results of the market research, resellers were found capable for meeting the full requirement. As a result, there is reasonable expectation that limited competition exists among verified SDVOSB contract holders under the NASA SEWP GWAC

9. Other Facts: N/A

10. Technical and Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: ________________________________

Title: Biomedical Engineer/COR Signature: ____________________________

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this action will be fair and reasonable because NASA SEWP V GWAC prices have previously been determined fair and reasonable.

Additionally, the successful quote will be compared to the published price lists on the NASA SEWP V GWAC price catalog of the successful offeror. Finally, the successful quote will be compared with the Independent Government Cost Estimate.

Procuring Contracting Officer Signature: ____________________________

12. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Procuring Contracting Officer Signature: ____________________________

Approval

In my role as Procurement Service Director, One Level Above the Contracting Officer, based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the acquisition of brand name Cisco Servers, Cisco Nexus Switches, VMware vSphere virtualization software and CommVault SolutionsPlus Software, in accordance with VAAM M816.505(b)(2)(ii)(C)(1), on an other than fair opportunity basis pursuant to the authority cited in Section 4 above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the property and services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Date: ____________ Signature: _________________________________

Director, Procurement Service F Technology Acquisition Center

Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics