FAR_Part_6_Infrastructure_Obama_Library.doc

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FAR 6.302-1 (c) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

National Archives and Records Administration

8601 Adelphi Road

College Park, MD 20740-6001

FY 2016 BHO Library Infrastructure

Technical Requirements Certification:

I hereby certify that this justification for other than full and open competition is made in good faith, that the supporting data and information are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I would not be making this request if it were feasible to fully compete this requirement. I further certify this request is not the result of lack of advanced planning or a desire to expend funds while those funds are still available.

(IOO)

Date

IT Operations and Infrastructure

Contracting Officer Concurrence:

I have reviewed this justification and conclude it meets all FAR requirements.

Date

Contracting Officer Acquisitions Branch (BCN) General Counsel Concurrence:

I have reviewed this justification and consider it legally sufficient.

(NGC)

Procurement Counsel Office of the General Counsel

NARA Competition Advocate Approval:

In accordance with FAR Subpart 6.304(a) (1) and NARA 501, I have reviewed this justification and hereby certify that it is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

(B)

NARA Competition Advocate

Senior Acquisition Concurrence:

In accordance with FAR Subpart 6.304(a) (1) and NARA 501, I have reviewed this justification and hereby certify that it is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Director, Acquisitions Branch (BCN) I. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY, AND SPECIFIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE DOCUMENT AS A “JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION”

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II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

This justification for other than full and open competition is designed to limit the competition to vendors authorized by Cisco to provide sales and support for Cisco products (hardware, software and support). These brand name items are the only items that can meet NARA 's needs.

III.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED VALUE) The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has at the end of every United States President’s term assisted in building of a temporary and permanent site. These sites require the new facilities to be able to access and communicate with the key components to the NARANet infrastructure, be compliant to the current security controls and be capable of being supported with the NARANet framework and contract support. To that end NARA has prepared a proposal identifying the needs for the site infrastructure, storage and server needs. This document highlights the fact that the components identified in this procurement comply with these requirements but require specific names components to ensure interoperability. Due to the named components NARA needs to ensure that no deviation from these known components occurs or it will introduce unexpected and unpredictable costs. It should be noted that this is being done working with several entities that are unpredictable in their assessments and expectations given the lack of experience working with government entities. Since this is a joint effort between government and foundation staff NARA is moving forward to complete its tasks given lack of complete information. We are however very confident in the architecture we have prepared to meet the immediate needs.

The estimated value of the award is $337,203.33.

III. AN IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) – Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

IV. A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED This acquisition meets the authority of FAR 6.302-1 which states that this authority may be used when " Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, there is only one source, (Cisco) which is the original source and in the case of production of a major system, including major components it is likely that award to any other source would be impossible.

V. A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS OR WILL BE PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY SUBPART 5.2 AND, IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER 5.202 APPLIES.

Market research was conducted utilizing Cisco's web site and GSA Advantage (even though this is open market, GSA Advantage provides a list of authorized vendors). It was found that Cisco offers their products through several authorized vendors: EC America; Westdon Group North America, Inc and Promark Technology, Inc, to name a few. From this it was determined that there are sufficient vendors,that supply Cisco equipment, firmware and software so this restriction does not severely limit potential supplier competition. The requirement will be advertised for at least one week allowing time for any vendor authorized by Cisco to quote; this will insure that as many as possible authorized resellers of Cisco products will get a chance to submit quotes.

VII.

A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE The requirement will be advertised for at least one week on FedBizOpps which will ensure that the maximum number of qualified vendors will be given the opportunity to submit quotes. The vendor with the lowest price technically acceptable will be selected to receive the order.

VIII.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED NARA has investigated the costs associated with these components and has already deployed the identical components in many of our sites. This order is to notify key personnel that we are not introducing new components but using what has a proven and validated with NARANet.

IX.

ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. SEE FAR 6.303-2(a)(9) The Cisco network strategy satisfies NARA’s requirement for building a scalable, manageable, and secure network infrastructure. The NARA enterprise architecture, which includes Cisco’s routing and switching technologies, has been approved by OMB. Using Cisco's technologies will enable NARA to comply with the approved NARAnet architecture. Cisco provides the ability to extend and integrate the network capability into the existing NARA network seamlessly which is of the utmost importance in a world where information technology shortcomings can incur exorbitant costs related to work stoppages, data loss, and other related issues. Of utmost importance is that the network be highly reliable and available, in that it provides the primary means of systems and applications communication within the Agency.

Selecting the Cisco brand can reduce the cost of installing and maintaining this equipment by leveraging existing skills of the Operations personnel and by reducing the number of spare parts needed. No additional training will be required to operate this equipment since Operations personnel already have the skills to manage the Cisco network infrastructure whereas a new brand of equipment would include ramp-up costs including training as well as configuration adjustment. Since ERA’S network is already built with Cisco hardware the hardware procured under this acquisition will be interchangeable and interoperable with current NARA network hardware and so minimize the number of spares that need to be kept on-hand.

This strategy of developing an Enterprise Architecture including a technology standards profile is mandated as part of the Federal Enterprise Architecture requirements of the Clinger-Cohen Act, the E-Government Act, and other Federal guidance.

Using non-Cisco equipment would risk interoperability problems during the automated fail-over process. Due to its advanced capabilities for network troubleshooting, NARA chose to use Cisco’s Enhanced Interior Gateway Protocol (EIGRP) over other routing protocols. For NARA to use other than Cisco’s technology, NARA’s infrastructure will not work as designed. This will result in higher costs associated with maintaining disparate systems (i.e. management software, personnel expertise, etc). Using architecturally non-standardized equipment could bring about audit issues associated with the OMB’s approved architecture. The Cisco equipment procures through this request will be used to test and enhance NARA’s network infrastructure.

Selecting another system would also give cause to procure other unique monitoring systems and software, requiring additional staffing, training and certification and accreditations. By choosing an alternative product line NARA would be unable to provide a fully integrated and interoperable solution thereby causing the Agency to support two disparate network infrastructures – this would diminish the reliability and availability of the Agency network.

X.

A LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION N/A

XI.

A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED NARA has used these components at many sites and have already overcome roadblocks or issues associated with these devices.

XII.

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION THAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF

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