REDACTED Brand Name Justification.docx

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER CARDEROCK DIVISION

9500 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD WEST BETHESDA MD 20817-5700

J&A Number:

Code:

P.R. Number:

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), Contracting & Acquisitions Department (Code 02).

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

This is a Brand Name Only requirement in support of NSWCCD, for the procurement of hardware components from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM):

· Extron USA 2500N Raleigh Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27604

· Schneider Electric North America 800 Federal Street Andover, MA 01810

· Cisco USA 170 W Tasman Drive San Jose, CA 95134

The requisite brand name only training system hardware components identified in Section 3 of this Brand Name Justification are necessary for NSWCCD to maintain operation capabilities of the fielded onboard/ship submarine training systems, as well as to maintain their interaction with NSWCCD’s Engineering Development Model (EDM). It is critical for NSWCCD to have hardware spare components for these systems available, in case the Government encounters a malfunction or damage to the hardware installed in the fielded onboard/ship submarine training systems.

The Government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed-price order, placed against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V multiple-award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, which are Government- Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) managed by NASA.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

NSWCCD, Code 76, Advance Signature Training and Decisions Systems requires the following training system hardware components that use brand name only descriptions:

Extron

60-1474-11U Extron FOX Transmitter USB Extender Plus MM

60-1474-21U Extron FOX Receiver USB Extender Plus MM

60-1990-000138 Extron Quantum Ultra 6U 8 x 2~1111111133

60-1255-000005 Extron Custom FiberMatrix 14400 System 64 x 64~111100000

Schneider Electric (APC)

AP8930

Rack PDU 2G, Switched, ZeroU, 20A, 100- 120V, (24) 5-20R

Cisco

J&A

Number:

N00167-23-SIMACQ-CD-76-

The above brand name training system hardware components are used in existing training systems that simulate the signatures and tactical decision-making systems that are used onboard submarines and ships. Those existing training systems assist the Government in ensuring sailors obtain pre-deployment certifications and maintain requisite skills. The existing training systems were designed and developed as an integrated system, with a hardware infrastructure referred to as an EDM. The EDM is a specialized, stand-alone server system with operating system software, which interfaces with various hardware components. Many of these hardware components require use of their manufacturer’s proprietary software to operate and provide the functionality needed.

The EDM was designed and configured to operate with those brand name training system hardware components sought with this Justification.

The anticipated value of this acquisition is $ , and the Government will utilize Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 OPN funding.

The Government requires delivery of the brand name training system hardware components in October 2023.

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

4. Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

This brand name justification is pursued in accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4), which provides that an Agency may procure items peculiar to one manufacturer, provided that the particular brand-name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, and cannot be modified to meet, the Agency’s need.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

The requisite brand name training system hardware components are required to maintain operation capabilities for the Government’s fielded onboard/ship submarine training systems. Moreover, these components are necessary to continue those systems’ interaction with the EDM. The Government’s current EDM for the fielded onboard ship/submarines training systems, which was procured under Contract No. N00167-19-D-0004, was designed and developed as a simulation cluster, and is configured to operate with the requisite brand name training system hardware components sought with this Justification. The Government has already tested, approved, and installed each brand name component at multiple schoolhouse and fleet locations, making these brand name components the standard used with these training systems.

Additionally, the EDM was designed and configured with interfaces that are compatible with each brand name hardware components proprietary software. These brand name hardware components are not interchangeable. Using a different brand name of the hardware components identified in this Justification would undermine the operability of the fielded onboard/ship submarine training systems, to include these systems’ capability to interface with the EDM. The following provides greater detail to support the Government’s need to maintain commonality with its need for each OEM’s brand name hardware component:

Extron: Extron hardware components identified in this Justification include digital image transmitters, receivers, and extenders, which are used to display software and simulate the onboard ship system. Although there may be other brand name hardware components that offer similar capabilities, those other brand name hardware components do not use Extron’s proprietary software that is currently compatible with and integrated into the existing infrastructure of the EDM. Further, there is a high risk that other brand name hardware components will lack the capability to transmit/process the data, which will ultimately result in a total failure of the fielded onboard/ship submarine training system.

Schneider: The power distribution implemented in the training systems is uniquely configured to ensure sufficient power is maintained to run the servers. Deviating from the brand name power distribution unit required with this Justification will result in a loss of calibration of power to the training systems, which will ultimately cause the system to fail, and/or go into safe mode to avoid damage to the EDM.

Cisco: The acoustic simulation cluster uses Cisco Unified Computing Systems (UCS) hardware to support the existing training simulation development effort. The specific Cisco hardware cluster configuration is required to support the site installations for the multiple trainer upgrade.

Deviation from the specified hardware will result in not having the support needed for the technical requirements to run the real-time acoustic simulation for all submarine sensors.

Furthermore, it is imperative for NSWCCD to maintain the standardization and commonality that is established with the brand name hardware components used in the initial design of each existing onboard/ship submarine training system.

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

In accordance with 13.501(a)(1)(iii), at a minimum address: The Government reviewed prior procurements for related hardware products, in particular one orders that NSWCCD awarded to World Wide Technology, Inc., against the company’s NASA SEWP V GWAC (i.e., Contract No./Order No.

NNG15SC55B/N00167-18-F-0178, and Sterling Computer Corporation Contract No./Order No. N00167-22-F-0121.

Additionally, the Government conducted internet searches of mandatory and preferred sources for the requisite for branded hardware, to include DoD ESI. For the purchase of Cisco branded hardware products, the DoD ESI website identifies several companies that hold DoD ESI agreements issued against their respective NASA SEWP V GWACs. Although the Government’s requirement described herein is for hardware, DFARS 208.7400 directs DoD agencies to fulfill requirements for commercial-off-the-shelf software and related services, such as software maintenance, in accordance with DoD ESI.

On or about 1 June 2023, the Government previously issued a Request for Quotes (RFI 272386) on the NASA SEWP V GWAC platform. The results of this market research effort yielded one quote from those DoD ESI agreement-holders approved to sell Cisco branded hardware products. The below table illustrates the RFQ responses the Government received:

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) determined that the anticipated costs to the Government for the hardware described in this Brand Name Justification will be fair and reasonable because pricing offered through NASA SEWP V GWACS have been previously determined to be fair and reasonable. The PCO will use FAR 13.106-3(a) to establish a fair and reasonable price.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

NSWCCD will likely have reason to solicit similar supplies/services in the future. If other vendors are identified by Cisco as authorized resellers of Cisco supplies, these vendors may be considered in future solicitations. If barriers to compatibility among non-Cisco hardware manufacturers can be eliminated at little or no additional cost, non-Cisco supplies may be considered for acquisition in future solicitations. The circumstances surrounding the need to obtain the required supplies/services without providing full and open competition will be reviewed annually by the PCO.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(c)) I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and its supporting data, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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