Brand_Name_Justification_Redacted.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) Purchase Request # WX05269Y2019T

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The FEMA IMAT program in Washington, DC is procuring portable VSAT systems with warranty and training in support of the National and Regional IMAT team under GSA, FS Schedule # and #

, Delivery Order. This will allow the teams to quickly establish satellite communication necessary to complete the mission of setting up initial operating facilities and establishing communications when deployed to austere conditions. This system is portable and will allow the teams to accommodate smaller groups as needed to response to disasters, exercises, and training events all types. It is also an auto-acquire system that will replace the outdated, obsolete, manual, system that the teams currently have for disposal. The warranty and training for this system are consider open market but are required to be procured with this equipment to ensure continuity of system implementation.

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

Total USD:

(4) Identification of the brand name justification:

The equipment listed has been reviewed and validated with OCIO at Mt Weather. This system is capable of being operated on the FEMA network as well as capable of working with the Ground Entry Point at Mt Weather for Satellite Communications resulting in OCIO’s approval. An alternative system would require testing at an additional cost to determine if it could meet FIPs compliance required for the FEMA network.

(5) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Item Qty Part No. Description Unit Price Ext. Price

1 17 Panther II System, 96cm Ku-Band, 950mp, 25W, white in color

2 17 EW-PNTHll-YR3 Panther ll Extended Warranty - 3 Year Total

3 17 Panther II Auto-Acquire Kit, with kit case

4 17 EW-PNTHII-AK-YR3 Panther II AK Extended Warranty - 3 Year Total

5 4 3 Days Operators level Training CONUS (One Instructor- 12 students Max)

6 1 SHIPPING Shipping all hardware to any location CONUS

The Contracting Officer has compared the contractor’s pricing with the Federal Supply Service schedule award pricing. Since the anticipated cost is equal to the contractor’s FSS schedule pricing, which was previously determined to provide the best value to the government, the Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost represents the best value to the government.

(6) Any other facts supporting the justification.

It is the policy of this office to follow the requirements of FAR 8.405-1 and 8.405-2 when making FSS program procurements. However, the specific requirements can only be met in this situation by limiting sources in accordance with FAR 8.405-6.

(7) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

FEMA/OCD conducted market research to determine capable systems. FEMA looked at several systems and found this brand name system met requirements. Other systems were not portable or not compliant. Will continue to conduct market research as items are approved for operations with the FEMA network.

(8) TECHNICAL / REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL JUSTIFICATION: I certify that the above assertions are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Contracting Officer’s Representative Date Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency

(9) CONTRACTING OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date Office of Chief Procurement Office, Expeditionary Branch

(10) REVIEW FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:

Office of Chief Counsel Date