P03 - J and A Alertus Notification System Final_Redacted.pdf

Alertus Notification System Control Number VA-23-00033714

SOLE SOURCE

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics

Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way

Eatontown, NJ 07724

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is a sole source firm-fixed price purchase order for a mass notification system from Alertus Technologies.

3. Description of Supplies or Services: The proposed action is for implementation of the Alertus Notification system with enhanced notification system for VA, Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Medical Center (JBVAMC) Police service. The Police Department Dispatch Operations Center houses many pieces of hardware and accompanying software license which require Alertus to integrate into the one-touch, multi-facet activation with panic alarms, desktop activators, and VoIP phones. The current panic alarm system LYNX cannot provide the essential equipment, licenses, and installation of the equipment to meet the VA needs. Alertus shall allow the VA to meet the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72) ANSI/NFPA-70 Fire Sealing/Safety standard, provide overhead mass alert integration, one-touch notification application, non-auditory alert, fire alarm control integration, installation of an outdoor notification alert, and VoIP duress incorporation. JBVAMC requires the Alertus notification system to integrate duress alarms into the VoIP system replacing obsolete current versions that are not capable of operating under national laptop device mandates. Alertus will also provide the VA with integrated text-to-talk speakers for areas not currently covered by mass overhead notification system and currently non-existent marquee notification hardware for specialty and high-volume areas. Alertus shall provide annual basic tier support which include self-training videos, access to Alertus community site, 8/5 access to technical support team, and annual customer assurance review for system health check. The period of performance for the proposed action is 12-month base and four 12-month option periods. The total estimate value of the proposed action is , inclusive of all option periods.

4. Statutory Authority: In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106- 1 (b)(2), for purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The requirements at 13.501 (a) apply to sole-source (including brand name) acquisitions of commercial items conducted pursuant to Subpart 13.5.

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Based on market research as described in section 8 of this document, Alertus is the only source capable of providing equipment, licenses, and installation for the replacement of the existing current LYNX panic alarm system which is limited and ineffective. Only Alertus has the proprietary system architecture, hardware and software intellectual properties required for this requirement. There is no other licensee or other commercially available systems with comparable functionality, features, and specifications of Alertus. Only Alertus can meet all VA’s requirements of the fire system which

Alertus Notification System Control Number VA-23-00033714 requires to conform to the NFPA 72 ANSI/NFPA-70 Fire Sealing/Safety standard, overhead mass alert integration, one-touch notification application, non-auditory alert, and VoIP duress incorporation.

Alertus initiates suite of product licenses and maintenance support with a unique solution to current issues surrounding the VA’s use of Lynx as a sole duress alarm system and Government’s increased usage of laptops that are not compatible with a current fixed duress system. Alertus proprietary system architecture and their use of network technology for facility emergency notification through tragedy is critical to meet the VA’s need to maintain the Alertus notification system. Several incidents have occurred while using the current LYNX alarm system, the VA cannot pivot to another notification system other than Alertus or risk additional incidents or possible casualties. In addition, there will be an extensive cost to the VA of approximately to outfit the buildings, purchase new equipment and licenses for a new system, and this does not include marquess screens and fire system integration which is required. Based on market research, there is no other solution available that can provide functionality and scalability of Alertus.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements for both an overhead system alternative, mass notification system, fire system integration, and alternate duress system in one. Additionally, the proposed action will be synopsized on the Contracting Opportunities Page in accordance with FAR 5.201.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: VA technical personnel conducted market research in January 2023 by researching products comparable to Alertus, including Motorola and Tech Electronics hardwired panic alarms and wireless emergency call system. The VA’s subject matter experts determined that only Alertus can meet the Government’s requirements. Motorola and Tech Electronics are for mass alerts only, they do not include overhead notification and alternate duress alarm system integration. Therefore, these products could not meet VA’s compatibility and operability requirements. Based on the above, only Alertus can meet all the Government’s requirements.

The Contract Specialist (CS) conducted additional market research in February 2023 by issuing a Request for Information (RFI) on National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V, Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), General Services Administration (GSA), and sources sought notice on SAM.gov to determine if there are authorized resellers of the required notification system. Based on the market research, only Alertus is capable of meeting the full requirement.

9. Other Facts: None.