Justification_Brand Name_Crestron_Redacted_RFQNIAID2102124.pdf

Justification and Approval for Brand-Name Creston Control System at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Project Title: Fishers Lane Conference Center and Bio-Visualization Lab Audiovisual Upgrades

I . Identification of the agency and contracting activity

DHHS, NIH, NIAID, OD, OSMO, OCICB, OEB

Requestors name:

Requestors phone number:

Requestors email address Address of the requesting lab/office: Rockville, MD

II. Description of the project, and supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value)

A. Type of action: (check the appropriate box):

New requirement Follow-on

Name of the previous contractor(s):

Sequence number, if available:

Was the initial and any subsequent awards competed? Yes No

B. AMBIS Sequence number for this requirement: 2102124 C. Total estimated dollar value of the requirement (including options, if applicable): of which is for the Brand Name Justification and approval.

D. Period of performance, inclusive of options: Estimated January 24, 2022 through September 20, 2022.

E. Project Background:

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAID) Operations and Engineering Branch (OEB) of the Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology (OCICB) manages and develops the technology infrastructure that supports Intramural research, Extramural investments and Administrative management. OEB services 4000+ end users in more than 20 locations throughout the United States. Infrastructure services provided by OEB are maintained and used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Services include applications hosting, audio/visual (AV) engineering, data base administration, data center operations, enterprise storage, high performance computing, platform management, networking and security, remote access, server development, unified communications, workstation configuration and management. NIAID OEB is required to provide support and replacement services for AV equipment to support mission-related activities. The current AV equipment in place at the Fishers Lane campus are End of Service/End of Life and are no longer supported by the manufacturers. Because of the age and limited capabilities of the existing systems, new equipment must be procured for these meeting rooms to meet NIAID’s technology needs. The Fishers Lane meeting rooms will be integrated into the existing Crestron Fusion server to facilitate remote management and monitoring of these spaces. Creston controllers have been utilized for several years in conference rooms across NIAID to provide a highly available and scalable AV meeting system to facilitate NIAID’s overall mission.

F. Description of Supplies/services to be purchased:

NIAID requires the following Crestron Control system hardware to support the Fishers Lane meeting rooms which will be updated under this acquisition.

Dual Technology Network Occupancy Sensor, POE Powered, 2,000 sq. ft coverage, Ceiling Mounted, Crestron, CEN-ODT-C-POE SKU #6510948

Control System Processor, Crestron, CP4 SKU #6511816 Control System Processor, Crestron, MC4 SKU #6510432 Portable 7" Touch Panel - White, Crestron, TS-770-W-S SKU #6510823 10" Wall Mounted Control System Network Touch Panel, POE+ Powered, Black Finish, Crestron, TSW-

1070-B-S SKU #6510814

Rack Mount for Above, Crestron, TSW-1070-RMK-2 SKU #651135 22" Table Top Control System Network Touch Panel, POE+ Powered, Black, Crestron, TSD-2200-B SKU

#6508152 Digital Graphics Engine for Above, Crestron, DGE-200-C SKU #6507102

SKU Description Quantity

6510948 Dual Technology Network Occupancy Sensor, POE Powered, 2,000 sq. ft coverage, Ceiling Mounted, Crestron, CEN-ODT-C-POE 17

6511816 Control System Processor, Crestron, CP4 7

6510432 Control System Processor, Crestron, MC4 2

6510823 Portable 7" Touch Panel - White, Crestron, TS-770-W-S 8

6510814 10" Wall Mounted Control System Network Touch Panel, POE+ Powered, Black Finish, Crestron, TSW- 1070-B-S 2

6511135 Rack Mount for Above, Crestron, TSW-1070-RMK-2 2

6508152 22" Table top Control System Network Touch Panel, POE+ Powered, Black, Crestron, TSD-2200-B 5

6507102 Digital Graphics Engine for Above, Crestron, DGE-200-C 6

III. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition (SELECT ONE)

41 USC 3304(a)(1) and FAR Part 13.106-1(b): Only one source / Brand Name F A R Part 8 . 4 0 5- 6: Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), limited competition / Brand Name

Important Note: The statutory authority listed below will rarely ever be used in NIH. Before selecting this authority, please ensure that you have read and understood the citation and discussed it with the cognizant Contracting Officer.

41 USC 3304(a)(5) and FAR Part 6.302-5: Authorized or required by statute / Brand Name

IV. Demonstration that the proposed brand name product’s salient characteristics (specific features, qualities and/or the nature of the acquisition) requires use of the authority cited.

Specific characteristics of the control system hardware limits the availability to Creston brand which is required for all meeting rooms across NIAID to use the same control system programming. The control processors serve as the “brain” of the room(s) and have control of each piece of equipment in those room(s). A custom-written program runs on the control processor and allows for both automated actions to be taken as well as user-controlled input via the control system touch panels. Examples of control processor functions would include powering on the room projector and displays, setting input and output selections, and adjusting volume, all with the touch of a single button. Because the custom programming must be written for the specific equipment in the room, it is imperative that equipment be consistent across NIAID for the same programming to be used. Custom programming costs can be tens of thousands of dollars for a single room configuration, so standardization is key to control costs of this implementation. By replacing NIAID’s existing Creston controllers with the same brand, NIAID is leveraging its resources while achieving costs savings and building system integrity. Switching to multiple vendor platforms and systems increases the risk of incompatibilities and requires additional resources and expertise to manage effectivity. The NIAID OEB AV Team has been utilizing Crestron control The Crestron brand processors an related are required for this purchase as another brand of control processors will not be supported by the event and meeting spaces we have in place.

V . Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Price reasonableness determination will be included in the acquisition file.

V I . Certification This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support my request and CO approval is accurate and complete.