REDACTED Justification FAR Part 16 (JEFO) Network Switches_cafc_Redacted.pdf

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Control Number: DSC-BN25-2243

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JUNE 2025

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR Part 16 Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity

Program/Equipment: 150 CISCO network switches to replace End of Life (EOL) equipment at Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD).

Authority: Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) §3406(c)(5) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.505(a)(4)(i) – Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer).

Prepared by: Harold Russell Jr. Phone: 361-961-7831

Contract Specialist Date: 10 July 2025 E-mail: harold.w.russell.civ@army.mil

Contracting Officer: Jennifer Salyers Phone: 520-692-1517 Contracting Officer Date: 15 July 2025 E-mail: Jennifer.l.salyers2.civ@army.mil

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Controlled by: Army Controlled by: ACC-RSA, CCAM-DSC Category: Procurement & Acquisition Dissemination Control: FEDONLY POC: Harold W. Russell Harold.w.russell.civ@army.mil

Redacted

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Legal Counsel:

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FAR Part 16 Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity

1. Requiring Activity: Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA), Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), Contracting Office (CCAM-DSC), 9035 Ocean Drive, Bldg. 10, Mail Stop 18, Corpus Christi, Texas 78419- 5260.

2. Contracting Activity: Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA), Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), Contracting Office

(CCAM-DSC)

3. Description of Action: The Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) requests approval to award a new Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) delivery order for the CISCO Network Switch Equipment upgrades using the Army Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-3 Hardware (ITES-3H) contract. The upgraded CISCO network equipment is to be used to support the Data Center at CCAD. The Government projects award in Fiscal Year 2025 and will utilize Army Working Capital Funds (AWCF) to fully cover the cost of this equipment. An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B).

4. Description of Supplies/Services: This is a new requirement for the upgrade of CISCO network switches (qty: 150), (see attached PDF for complete list of specifications) to support the Data Center at CCAD. Delivery Date: Within 180 calendar days after the award. Total Estimated Value:

5. Authority Cited: Title 10 U.S.C. §3406(c)(5) as implemented in FAR 16.505(a)(4)(i), Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer).

6. Reason for Authority Cited: The proposed acquisition requires the use of the cited authority because only CISCO brand name equipment will fulfil this requirement. Using another brand name hardware and software would compromise system interaction with existing equipment and software that is already installed at CCAD facilities.

a. Background: CCAD’s current network infrastructure is built entirely on Cisco

Systems networking equipment. This includes Cisco Catalyst 9300 series Layer 2 edge switches, Catalyst 8500 series Layer 3 routers, Nexus 9504 and 9318 series data center switches, and Catalyst 9800-40 series wireless controllers. Critically, this infrastructure is tightly integrated with essential security and management platforms, specifically Cisco ISE for Comply to Connect and Cisco Catalyst Center for centralized network management. Furthermore, CCAD’s voice communications rely on Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), which requires seamless network compatibility. This homogenous environment has been deliberately cultivated to ensure interoperability, simplified management, and robust security. A deviation from this

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standardized environment introduces significant risks to network stability, security posture, and operational efficiency.

b. Alternatives: The required switches are approved by the Department of Defense

Information Network (DoDIN) and are listed on the applicable Approved Products List (APL). CISCO is not the only brand on the APL, but it is the only brand on the APL that will connect and interact with CISCO Prime which is owned and utilized by CCAD.

Everything must be made by CISCO to connect and interact with CISCO Prime which is owned and utilized by CCAD.

CCAD utilizes Cisco Unified Call Manager (CUCM) servers for VoIP, voicemail, and Automatic Call Distribution (ACD). CCAD is using Cisco Prime Virtual Appliance to monitor its current network switches, network traffic and alarms.

CCAD currently has Global Enterprise Modernization Software and Support (GEMSS) contract with the Department of the Army, who licenses CCAD’s current call center, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone environment, and Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center. The support covers maintenance, software, and the replacement of equipment in four (4) hours. Licensing is also part of the GEMSS contract and reduces the cost of the Voice. Wireless, Firewall, and ISE servers. The Cisco Unified Communication Manager (CUCM) Servers are the only products that are compatible with the Cisco VoIP phones on the network. Cisco DNA center is the only approved product to log into CCAD’s network switches and collect data, network traffic and alarms.

c. Impact if not approved: Disapproval of this justification and a requirement to pursue a competitive acquisition with non-Cisco equipment would bring substantial harm to the Government and CCAD’s mission. Specifically:

Network Instability & Outages: Integrating non-Cisco switches would likely cause interoperability issues with CCAD’s existing Cisco routers, wireless controllers, and data center infrastructure. This could lead to intermittent connectivity, dropped packets, and complete network outages, impacting critical operations.

Security Vulnerabilities: Cisco ISE is deeply integrated within CCAD’s Cisco network devices for network access control and threat detection. Introducing non- Cisco equipment would require significant reconfiguration of ISE policies and potentially compromise CCAD’S security posture. The complexity of integrating a different vendor’s security features with CCAD’s existing framework creates opportunities for vulnerabilities.

Operational Inefficiency & Increased Costs: Managing a mixed-vendor environment would significantly increase the workload for CCAD’s IT staff.

Troubleshooting network issues would become more complex and time-consuming, requiring specialized expertise in multiple platforms. This would lead

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to increased operational costs and potentially delayed resolution of critical incidents.

Disruption to Critical Services: CCAD’s voice communication system (CUCM) relies on Quality of Service (QoS) features and network prioritization provided by Cisco equipment. Introducing non-Cisco switches could disrupt voice quality and reliability, impacting critical communications.

Loss of Centralized Management: Cisco Catalyst Center provides a single pane of glass for network management. Integrating non-Cisco devices would likely require separate management tools, reducing visibility and control over the entire network.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Currently, and in the future, the Government will continue to research equipment and software that will interact with current equipment and requirements in the future. The Government continuously researches new technologies that will serve the Government’s requirements now and in the future.

8. Market Research: Market Research was initially conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 by in January 2025 and Harold Russell, Contract Specialist, July 2025. The following techniques were used:

Contact with Knowledgeable persons in the Government and/or Industry:

On 30 January 2025, spoke with to discuss the Government’s requirements.

provided the requirements list for the Cisco switches and equipment and indicated that the switches would be replacing End of Life (EOL) equipment. also learned from that the Department of the Army pays for an Enterprise Agreement to provide Cisco Licensing on Cisco products (through GEMMS), so the Government does not need to request licensing for the required Cisco products. also indicated that venders that are not associated with GEMMS are required to sell the licensing for the Cisco products they sell.

Publication of a formal request for information (RFI):

CHESS RFI #519859 was submitted on 21 Jan 2025 and closed on 30 Jan 2025. The RFI was submitted in CHESS ITES-3H program, which is required for hardware. Four

(4) vendors responded:

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9. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history.

Contractor Name: Affigent LLC Cage Code: 3NBK4 Small Business Socioeconomic Categories of the Awardee: Other Than Small Business

PIID: W912NW-24-F-0025

NAICS: 334111

Size Standard: 1,250 employees Contract Type: FFP Delivery Date: 12 Apr 2024 Total Contract Value: $2.1 Subcontracting History: NA Additional Details: NA

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10. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

11. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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JUNE 2025

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of CISCO Network Switch Upgrades on an Exception to Fair Opportunity basis pursuant to the authority of Title 10 U.S.C. §3406(c)(5) as implemented in FAR 16.505(a)(4)(i), Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer).

The estimated value of the new contract action is for the procurement of CISCO Network Switch Upgrades. The approval is subject to availability of funds, and provided that the supplies and/or services herein described have otherwise been authorized for this acquisition.