JA for VISN 7 PACS Switches_REDACTED.pdf

VISN 7 PACS Switches Control Number VA-21-00055302

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 brand name firm-fixed-price 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 Nexus Local Area Network (LAN) Switches.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: This proposed action supports the VA Office of Information and Technology (OlT), Service Delivery and Engineering, Infrastructure Operations (IO), by acquiring brand name Cisco Switches at each of the eight Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 7 VA Medical Centers (VAMC). The switches are required for the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) which is responsible for services provided to Veterans by the radiology department. All required hardware shall be delivered no later than 30 days after award. The total estimated value of the proposed action is $490,362.00

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 available for this procurement. Market research revealed that Cisco is the only manufacturer that creates network switches that are compatible with the existing VA infrastructure. VA’s current infrastructure at the VISN7 VAMCs is currently comprised of Cisco equipment. As such, due to due to compatibility and integration requirements, only Cisco Brand Name equipment is interoperable and compatible with the existing VA infrastructure. Cisco is the only manufacturer that creates the components compatible with the existing equipment. No other product will support VA's existing infrastructure protocols, interoperability, and compatibility requirements. Failure to procure interoperable/compatible switches increases the risk of device failure which would have an adverse impact on the Radiology services to Veterans at the VISN 7 VAMCs and would leave VA without the necessary medical services provided by the VISN 7 VAMCs. No other vendor with similar offerings can create, simulate or produce these unique integration requirements. Therefore, only Cisco or a verified Cisco reseller can provide the necessary Cisco Nexus series switches required by the Government.

VISN 7 PACS Switches VA-21-00055302

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, the undersigned VA technical representative determined that limited competition is available among authorized resellers for brand name Cisco Nexus switches. 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 March 2021 by OIT Network Operations Team and Solutions Delivery to determine a model that can meet the requirements for space and configuration integration with the existing network infrastructure. Market research was conducted by technical experts by conducting online research, which consisted of a review of similar LAN solutions, including products from Aruba, Arista, Extreme Networks, and Juniper Networks. As a result of the market research, the technical experts confirmed that although the other companies' products provide similar capabilities, no other product will support VA's existing infrastructure protocols, interoperability, and compatibility requirements.

Additionally, the NASA SEWP IV Manufacturer Lookup tool was used to determine authorized resellers of the required Cisco’s switches. Based on the results of the market research, there is reasonable expectation that limited competition exists among verified SDVOSB contract holders of the NASA SEWP GWAC.

9. Other Facts: N/A

VISN 7 PACS Switches VA-21-00055302

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.

Kirk Thibodeaux Date:________________________________

Solution Delivery Enterprise Network Engineer 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.

Juan Quinones Date: ________________________________

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.

Juan Quinones Date: ________________________________

Procuring Contracting Officer Signature: ____________________________