2016-00191_J_and_A__8.22.16_Redacted.pdf

NCH 53.6-2 (MAR 2013)

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

N A V AL U N D E R S E A W A R F A R E C E N T E R D I V I S I O N

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I N R E P L Y R E F E R T O :

J&A Number: 16022.0 Control#: 161035 P.R. Number: 1300538508

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION

The following facts support contracting for commercial items without full and open competition, using the procedures in FAR 13.5-Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901.

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Code 02, Newport, RI.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

Request approval to solicit a competitive, 100% small business set-aside, for brand name products with no substitutions allowed for Dell brand virtualization hardware, software, and services from a Certified Dell Letter Supply Holder and Service Provider, in support of NUWC’s Sensor and SONAR Systems Department’s Continuous Active SONAR Analysis (CASA) classified computer laboratory.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

Estimated Dollar Value Fund Type FY16

Total

The requirement is for procurement of a single set of Dell brand virtual appliance hardware, software and support for the CASA lab. This includes Three (3) independent, fully configured Dell PowerEdge R730xd Servers; Two (2) fully configured Dell Force10 network switches; Ten (10) Dell Wyse zero clients; as well as

J&A Number: 16022.0 the applicable operating system, software, licenses and technical support.

The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5): Brand-Name Commercial Item for Authorized Resale.

5. Supporting Rationale

The CASA classified laboratory has an extensive inventory of Information Technology (IT) hardware that is used for data replay, pre- and post-test analysis, and data processing. This hardware includes a domain controller, used to administer the remaining hardware, software and user attributes, a switch to provide network backbone for the Dell brand infrastructure, multiple high performance work stations, utilized by engineers to create tools and conduct data analysis, and multiple network attached storage (NAS) devices that serve as data and backup repositories. The CASA laboratory recently received an Authority to Operate (ATO). The ATO’s Information Security guidelines and procedures for mitigating risk for disaster recovery in case of fire or flood require all system backups to be stored offsite. An offsite location for backups allows systems to be re-built in a timely manner. Therefore, the virtual appliance solution being procured must allow for system backups to be stored on a non-virtual system. This requires that the virtual system backups be saved to existing Dell brand lab hardware.

It is imperative that the virtual system procured be compatible with existing laboratory infrastructure. The current NAS device that will be used for storing the virtual system’s backup is a Dell system. Both hardware and software that make up the Dell virtual appliances are the only solution that will ensure 100% compatibility with the existing Dell brand laboratory infrastructure and a seamless integration into the existing network. Purchase of any other hardware and software would require purchasing of new hardware, re-architecting laboratory network design and re-training system administrator personnel.

Use of any other equipment for the backup would require that the existing infrastructure be re-procured as well. Thereby resulting in extensive costs and would also adversely affect the laboratory as a whole.

Considering the current CASA laboratory infrastructure consists of Dell hardware and software, procuring items from another manufacturer would result in substantial duplication of costs.

The cost of the existing storage system that would need to be replaced if a non-Dell brand virtual solution is purchased is estimated at This figure does not include the additional costs to install and test the equipment and software, which is estimated at This figure is based on the historical cost incurred when the existing storage system was procured. Additionally, having to re-procure, install and test a new system would cause unacceptable schedule delays of at least four months, due to the time it takes to get a new order in place, delivered, installed, and tested, as well as the time it would take to train personnel on a new system. These unacceptable schedule delays would negatively affect NUWC’s mission. To use any other brand would require additional substantial and unrecoverable costs, even when considering any potential savings from full and open competition, to the government in both time and money.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable

For the reasons set forth in paragraph 5, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Code 02, Newport, RI will purchase the supplies and services through an authorized and certified Dell reseller. The proposed brand name contract action will be advertised via a combined synopsis/solicitation posted to the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) website in an effort to solicit offers from as many offerors as possible.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The contracting officer will determine the order placed pursuant to this Justification is fair and reasonable based on a comparison of the competitive pricing from the potential vendors in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(i).

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

The Governments requirement for Dell brand hardware, software and services does not allow for substitution of another manufacturer’s products for the Dell items listed in Section 3, above. Therefore, in the event that any future acquisition of these brand name supplies is required, and the information in section 5 above remains true, the procurement will again be competed to the maximum extent practicable amongst Dell’s authorized resellers. However, at the time of preparation of any future requirements packages the information contained in section 5 will be validated to confirm a brand name requirement still exists. Consideration will be given to moving this requirement to full and open competition if feasible in the future.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

CONTRACTING NEGOTIATOR IDENTIFICATION:

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12))

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

Signature and Date

Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No.

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(b))

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

COMBINED TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS COGNIZANCE:

Signature and Date

Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No.

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW (NMCARS 5206.303(90))

I have determined this justification is legally sufficient.

Signature and Date

Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No.

Date: 2016.05.05 15:21:54 -04'00'

Date: 2016.05.10 09:43:10 -04'00'

APPROVAL BLOCK (FAR 6.304 for Approving Official)

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve, as Competition Officer for the Procuring Activity the solicitation of the proposed procurement(s) described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901.