JOFOC_Admin_MLR_Radios_solicitation.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

https://www.blm.gov

SOLE SOURCE (INCLUDING BRAND NAME) JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR ACQUISITIONS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by 13.106-1(b)(1) &(2).

1. Contracting agency and activity.

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), UT914200 Utah State Office Radio Team in Salt Lake City, requests the Utah State Office to contract on a sole source (including brand name) basis.

2. Nature and/or description of action being approved.

Acquire mobile radios from a single manufacturer, Kenwood Communications, to replace aging Midland mobile radios currently in use by administrative staff across the state. This is a new contract for the purchase of 75 mobile units. Kenwood defers to the local radio vendors in their dealer network.

3. Description of supplies or services.

Procurement of Kenwood mobile radio with Handheld Controller (HHC) option, Model NX-5700 to include all mounting hardware, brackets and wiring as needed. To be provided by Kenwood Communications to the DOI-BLM UTSO at the earliest opportunity to replace the aging fleet of Midland mobile radios currently in use.

4. Estimated dollar value.

Seventy-five (75) mobiles at $1,950.90 each along with programming software = $138,722.50 estimated. This includes the HHC option and P25 option

5. Statutory authority.

_X__41 U.S.C. 1901 – Simplified acquisition procedures (use when the simplified procedures for purchases of property and services for amounts (1) not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold https://www.blm.gov/

____41 U.S.C 1903 – Special emergency procurement authority (applies when in support of a contingency operation as defined in section 101(a) of title 10 or to facilitate the defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack against the United States).

6. Rationale supporting use of the authority stated in paragraph 5.

The reason for choosing the Kenwood mobile was due to several factors. As the BLM fleet continues to move towards a more fuel-efficient model, this downsizes the available space in the vehicle that can be used to mount the radio. We are seeing more compact SUV’s, pickups and Jeep style of vehicles that offer very limited radio mounting real-estate.

None of the current market of radio’s allow for the ease of configuration that the Midland mobiles offered. That is the ability to convert from a remote mount to dash mount radio easily. The Kenwood NX series of radio is very close, but not quite as conveniently done. Due to this we have decided to move to a Hand Held Controller (HHC) for all administrative radio installations. Having one configuration style will aid in simplicity of operation for the users as well as the technician installing the radio. This configuration will work in all cases and there will be no need to reconfigure. This will greatly simplify the radio installation process and time involved.

Going this route does limit the available radios to choose from. Many of the manufacturers do not offer a HHC option. Some do offer this option, but it is only in addition to purchasing the conventionally mounted control head which will drive up the cost of the radio significantly. In our many hours of online research as well as meeting with the manufacturers at IWCE we have found that the Kenwood NX series is best suited to offer us all the options and configurations we require at the best possible price. We have compared the following brands before arriving at this conclusion: Motorola, Tait, L3-Harris, Icom, Kenwood, BK Technologies (Relm), Maxon and EF Johnson which is now part of Kenwood.

Of these the Kenwood NX radio is the only one that offers a standalone HHC option with all the features that we require. It also has one of the smallest footprints regarding the area needed to mount the radio. Installation is as simple as it gets with this radio and offers the best value for our dollar in getting the options that we are seeking. The Kenwood mobile also offers a unique feature in that a micro-SD card slot allows for voice recording of radio traffic. This is feature that is useful for possible investigations for a variety of incidents that may occur. To our knowledge only Kenwood offers this feature on the mobile radio.

Another issue that has plagued BLM radio program has been the constant turn over and change of radio brands and models. This has been due to manufacturers going out of business and models being rendered obsolete due to various factors. Kenwood has a long-standing track record of keeping with a radio model for many more years than most manufacturers typically do.

They are one of the top radio manufacturers that should serve us well into the future. This will aid in familiarity with the radio for the administrative staff that sometimes struggle with the having to learn new radio functionality constantly.

7. Other information.

Any follow-on acquisitions would not cause a cost for duplication that can be foreseen. Currently with the supply chain issues worldwide, we do not anticipate more than 100-day delays in delivery of goods. But some delay is to be expected.

8. The efforts to identify additional sources including the market research conducted.

The following table shows a list of features that we are looking for and the manufacturers that were contacted about these features.

Motorola Tait L3-

Harris Icom Kenwood

BK

Tech.

Maxon

Ease of installation GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD

VERY

BAD N/A

Configurable for Y Y Y Y Y Y N/A conventional / remote

Size / Form factor GOOD GOOD TOO BIG GOOD GOOD

TOO

BIG N/A

Wiring requirements N N N N N Y N/A (Does power have to be ran to multiple locations in HHC installs)

HHC option available Y Y Y Y Y Y N/A

HHC stand alone option available Y Y Y N Y Y N/A

HHC have an integrated speaker N N N Y Y Y N/A

Field programmable N N N Y Y Y N/A

Clone portable to mobile N N N Y Y Y N/A

P25 capable Y Y Y Y Y Y N

Memory card- voice recorder N N N Y Y N N/A

9. Future plans to permit competition.

We have made it known to the manufacturers what options and features we require for our radio program and have requested that they offer these in future products. Any future acquisitions will include a follow-up with other manufacturers to see what products meet our needs for options and features.

10. Certifications.

The ordering activity Contracting Officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the Contracting Officer’s knowledge and belief and evidence that the supporting data that form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by technical/program personnel.

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

__//Signature on File//_____________________ _______________________ Daniel Walker, Contract Specialist Date Utah State Office

__//Signature on File//_____________________ _______________________ Temujene H. Makua, Contracting Officer Date Utah State Office