Red Hat - Brand Name Justification_Redacted 2.pdf

This document is a Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity for Brand Name (FAR 16.505(a)(4)(i)) for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The USCG intends to award a task order for Red Hat enterprise software license subscriptions and maintenance support, restricting consideration to one manufacturer. The procurement will be a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) task order solicited among authorized and certified Red Hat resellers on the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V contract.

The justification details multiple Red Hat software products being renewed, including Enterprise Linux Server, Ansible Automation Platform, Extended Life Cycle Support, and Learning Subscriptions. The total anticipated contract value covers a one-year base period and four one-year option periods. The document emphasizes that Red Hat software is proprietary, critical for supporting the Coast Guard's IT systems and operational technologies, and is the mandated platform for Command and Control (C2) systems by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). The proprietary nature requires procurement exclusively from authorized Red Hat resellers, with multiple resellers ensuring competition while maintaining the specific technical requirements of the Coast Guard's systems.