JA - Lynx - Redacted.pdf

CONTROL NUMBER VA-26-00063346

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 to issue a firm-fixed-price contract on System for Award Management (SAM.gov) for brand name Lynx Keyboard Panic alarm system to enhance staff safety and emergency response capabilities. The Lynx keyboard alarm system must be installed on every Veterans Health Administration (VHA) workstation computer at the Charles George Veterans Affairs Medical Center (CGVAMC), Franklin Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), Hickory (CBOC), and Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic.

3. Description of Supplies or Services: VA, Western North Carolina VA Healthcare System, requires brand name Lynx Keyboard Panic Solution that meets the operational, safety, and standardization needs of its Police Department, and Staff, to support real-time emergency communication. This procurement includes deployment of the Lynx Dispatcher, allowing alerts and notifications to be transmitted via existing VA Police dispatch radio systems, to maintain continuity of operations and ensure compatibility with the existing system. This requirement shall include the installation and configuration of Lynx software with licensing to support up to 4,000 keyboard panic buttons (3,843 units requested). The system shall have the ability to integrate with the existing CCURE-9000 Access Control System, as installed currently, at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina. The period of performance will be June 30, 2026, through June 29, 2027. The total estimated value for this requirement is

4. Statutory Authority: This brand name requirement is being justified and approved as an exception to fair opportunity under the statutory authority of Section 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul VA Deviation 12.102 (a), “For acquisitions valued at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), document the decision that only one source is available and the basis for the decision.”

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: VA’s minimum need is for a panic alarm system that provides immediate emergency notification while seamlessly interacting with existing security and communications systems. The Lynx system meets these requirements without the need for additional middleware, custom software development, hardware modifications, or extensive reconfiguration of existing systems. The Western North Carolina VA Healthcare System Police Service currently operates the Ocularis Security Surveillance Television (SSTV) camera system. The proposed Lynx Keyboard Panic alarm system is fully compatible with and capable of seamless integration into the existing SSTV infrastructure. VA requires this integration to enhance overall situational awareness and improve the safety of patients, staff, and visitors.

Additionally, the Lynx Keyboard Panic alarm system integrates directly with the facility’s existing Motorola/Cynergy radio system, enabling its use as an effective mass notification platform. This capability aligns with the VA Police Service’s strategic objective to achieve full interoperability among critical security systems, including SSTV, burglar alarms, panic alarms, Personnel Access Control Systems, and mass notification systems.

The Lynx system meets all of VA’s Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) security and safety requirements, allowing it to be hosted on VA servers. This on-premises capability ensures that VA retains full operational control over system functionality, data security, and system administration. Furthermore, the Lynx system is currently deployed at all other VA Medical Centers within VISN 6, as well as at multiple VA facilities nationwide. Because the Lynx Keyboard Panic Alarm System is already compatible with the facilities existing security infrastructure and satisfies the Government’s minimum requirements without the need for extension integration efforts, it represents the only solution capable of meeting the agency’s needs in a timely and cost-effective manner. The adoption of a system other than Lynx would require comprehensive realignment and reengineering of existing operational workflows, resulting in significant logistical disruption and procedural inefficiencies. Another alternative panic alarm system would require additional hardware, software, interfaces, programming, testing, certification, and training to achieve compatibility with the existing SSTV and Motorola Radio Systems. Such modifications would result in substantial duplication of costs that cannot be reasonably recovered through competition and would introduce implementation delays that would adversely affect facility security operations. Such a transition would also necessitate the development and execution of new training programs for VA Police personnel assigned to the Asheville Regional Office, tailored specifically to the architecture and functionality of the replacement system. This process would introduce a period of non-continuity in operations, thereby increasing the risk of degraded performance and potential compromise to mission effectiveness.

The introduction of a non-Lynx system would elevate operational and security risks by increasing the likelihood of integration challenges, user error, and system incompatibilities. These factors could adversely affect the safety, security, and confidentiality of Veteran beneficiaries and staff, undermining established safeguards and protocols currently supported by the Lynx system. From a cost perspective, failure to implement or maintain the Lynx system would result in substantial and measurable financial impacts. These include, but are not limited to, increased training and transition costs, reduced operational efficiency, duplication of effort, and potential revenue losses. Collectively, these impacts represent significant opportunity costs and reinforce the rationale that continued use of the Lynx system is the most prudent and cost-effective course of action in support of mission requirements.

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 resources that could meet the Government's requirements. However, the undersigned VA technical representative determined that limited competition is available among authorized resellers for brand name Lynx Keyboard Panic Solution.

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 completed.

8. Market Research: Market research conducted by the Government identified several vendors capable of providing personnel security enhancement systems, including Lynx, Avigilon, Status Solutions, and Verkada.

Among the identified vendors, Lynx is the most widely deployed system within VA. Interviews with VA Police Physical Security Specialists within VISN 6 indicate that Lynx demonstrates a high level of reliability and integrates effectively with existing security infrastructure, including SSTV camera systems and radio communications. Additionally, Lynx is recognized by the OI&T as a compatible solution for installation and maintenance within the VA secure intranet, and Technology Reference Model approvals are already established. Comparable approvals and compatibility have not been confirmed for competing products.

Alternative systems offered by vendors such as Verkada and Avigilon are cloud-based and do not meet current OI&T requirements for VA server hosting, thereby limiting end-user control and introducing potential compliance concerns.

Avigilon is currently utilized at several VA facilities; however, it has demonstrated more limited interoperability with other security systems when compared to Lynx.

Verkada is relatively new to the market and, to date, has not been deployed within VA facilities. Verkada’s reliance on a cloud-based architecture for server and storage functions presents challenges in meeting the VA’s stringent information security requirements.

Status Solutions’ eMessenger product was pilot tested at the Charles George VA Medical Center with unsatisfactory results. The system could not be fully integrated into the local secure intranet environment and required direct, in-person support from OI&T personnel to perform monthly updates on individual workstations, which proved operationally inefficient. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns regarding the company’s customer service performance.

The Contract Specialist issued a Request for Information (RFI) on May 13, 2026, via SAM.gov and the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) website to identify potential sources capable of meeting the Government’s requirements. An additional notice was posted on General Services Administration (GSA) on May 27, 2026. Five (5) vendors responded: Citizen Contracting Group, LLC; Cluster Technology Group, LLC; Johnson Controls Building Solutions, LLC; scDataCom, LLC; and ZigTech, LLC.

Based on the customer’s review of the RFI responses, Citizen Contracting Group, LLC; Johnson Controls Building Solutions, LLC; and scDataCom, LLC were determined capable of meeting the Government’s requirements. Cluster Technology Group, LLC and ZigTech, LLC were found not capable due to a lack of documented experience working within VA’s infrastructure and limited familiarity with key functions and systems associated with the facilities, which presents a potential performance risk.

Based on this market research, the Government’s technical experts have concluded that brand name Lynx is the only source capable of meeting the stated requirements.

9. Other Facts: None

10. Technical/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.

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on anticipated competition. Finally, the successful quote will be compared to the Independent Government Cost Estimate.

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