PR15400343 FAR13 Sole Source Justification_AI Fusion Center FE - R_Redacted.pdf

This is a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (J&A) document submitted by the Department of State for a procurement by the Overseas Post Bogota on behalf of the INL Bogota - Maritime Interdiction Program.

The document seeks approval to award a firm-fixed-price contract on a brand-name, non-competitive basis to Dell Technologies for AI-powered server infrastructure and related supplies and services to support Colombian Navy Intelligence counter narcotics operations. The specific items required include one AI-powered Dell PowerEdge XE9680 server with NVIDIA GPU and license interface platform, NVIDIA subscriptions and support, Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers, PowerEdge servers, Dell networking fiber cable, training plans, Dell workstations, and Dell monitors. The estimated contract value is redacted but represents the total cost for hardware, software, services, and training across the entire performance period. The statutory authority for this non-competitive procurement is 41 U.S. Code 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501(a) and FAR 13.106(b), which permits brand-name contracting. The justification emphasizes that Dell Technologies is the sole source capable of meeting the Colombian Navy's technical and operational requirements, including full interoperability with existing Dell-based infrastructure, in-country installation and support, cybersecurity compliance, and data sovereignty requirements. Market research conducted from June 2025 through January 2026 confirmed that while other manufacturers produce high-end servers, only Dell offers the integrated solution meeting all specifications with authorized local support in Colombia. The acquisition will not be publicized under FAR Subpart 5.2 due to a blanket synopsis waiver for foreign acquisitions under DOSAR 605.202-70. The Contracting Officer has determined the estimated price to be fair and reasonable based on Dell's catalog pricing and GSA Advantage historical data. The document includes certifications from technical and requirements personnel and legal sufficiency review, with signatures from the Contracting Officer and Competition Advocate.