ELEMENTALJ A0915SIGN.pdf

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (CIO)

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

ELEMENTAL LIVE 280 AE

NETWORK EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT – BRAND NAME

I. IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF ACTION BEING APPROVED

This is a Justification and Approval (J&A), in support of GSA Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), 1800 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20405.

Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.3, approval is sought herein to purchase specific brand name “Elemental” Live 280 AE Network and Support” on behalf of the GSA Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO).

II. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES REQUIRED

This procurement is for specific brand name Elemental Live, which is a video processing platform.

Elemental Live provides real-time video and audio encoding for linear pay TV broadcast and live streaming to new media platforms. The software-based solution performs simultaneous processing of multiple video outputs, delivering the high-quality, high-efficiency performance required for formatting live video for any device. Elemental Live is designed to integrate seamlessly into an end-to-end real-time video delivery workflow, evolve as technology requires and maximize revenue opportunities.

The total estimated value of the procurement is $141,505.64 for one base year period plus two option years.

III. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUATORY AUTHORITY

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)

(1) Only One Source will Satisfy the Agency Requirements.

(c) Application for brand name descriptions. An acquisition that uses a brand name description or other purchase description to specify a particular brand name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer does not provide for full and open competition regardless of the number of sources solicited. It shall be justified and approved in accordance with FAR 6.303 and 6.304. The justification should indicate that the use of such descriptions in the acquisition is essential to the Government’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company. See 5.102(a) (6) for the requirement to post the brand name justification. (Brand-name or equal, descriptions and other purchase descriptions that permit prospective contractors to offer products other than those specifically referenced by brand name, provide for full and open competition and do not require justifications and approvals to support their use.)

http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/current/html/Subpart%206_3.html#wp1086971 http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/current/html/Subpart%206_3.html#wp1086998 http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/current/html/Subpart%205_1.html#wp1098039

IV. DEMONSTRATION THAT ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHROITY

CITED

The GSA infrastructure in the central office and regional locations is comprised predominately of networking equipment manufactured by Helix Systems, Inc., In order to maintain the integrity of the video processing network, without any degradation of the service to the GSA users and customers, a compatible video processing platform is required. This will ensure interoperability with the existing network, and provide efficiencies in installation, operation and ongoing maintenance, as well as provide enhanced performance and improved security.

Attempts were made to acquire the products under the Federal Supply Schedules (FSS);

however, the products and support were not available on the schedules. Therefore, this requirement will be competed under the Federal Business Opportunities (Fedbizopps) Site.

GSA Government Enterprise Video Maintenance (GEVMS) Team previously used Helix appliances, which is outdated and no longer in production. Based on market research Elemental has been determined to be the least costly and better qualified brand compared to other brands of video management platforms.

There are compatible products for hardware encoder server such as Envivio Inc.; Digital Rapids; Cisco; and others. However, according to the “2012 Encoding and Transcoding Buyer’s Guide” the Elemental Server is one of the fastest H.264 encoder, with very good quality.

Further, GEVMS has researched and tested the Elemental brand and determined it technically acceptable, best value, and advantageous to the Government.

GSA needs a replacement for its Video services. The Elemental is capable of providing the following:

o High Dynamic Range Video o Creating Scalable Workflows o Unified Linear TV Delivery o Implementing Live-to-VOD ( Video on Demand ) Services o Software-Defined Video, Software upgradeable to support future technology requirements o Encode five unique HD channels simultaneously over a mixture of HD-SDI, IP and ASI inputs o Hot-swap between active inputs without halting a live video stream o Seamlessly failover from one input to another in the case of signal loss o Support multiple video codecs, including H.264 and MPEG-2 and HVEC/ H.265 o Pass compliant closed captioning data through to CDN partners o Provide the highest video quality for a given bitrate/profile o Setup, control and manage video over an IP network from a single user-friendly interface o Complies with GSA security policies

The total estimated value of the procurement is $141, 505.64, which cover the base period plus two option years.

http://go2sm.com/elemental

V. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS TO SOLICIT AS MANY OFFERS AS PRACTICABLE

Initially the requirement was issued under the Federal Supply Schedules 70 and 58. However, the required Elemental products were not available on the Schedules. Therefore, Offers will be solicited through the Fedbizopps for Video and Audio Equipment and Support. The opportunity is extended to those Contractors capable of delivering the Elemental Live 280 AE Audio and Video Equipment and Support.

VI. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST WILL BE FAIR AND

REASONABLE

Price reasonableness will be based upon competitive quotes received from authorized retailers of the Elemental brand in a competitive environment. The evaluation method is lowest price technically acceptable with price being the most important factor.

VII. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET SURVEY CONDUCTED

Review of GSA Advantage! Online catalog, GSA E-Library, NASA SEWP, along with Open Market quotes have been used to assist in the market research process. In addition, GSA/OCIO has conducted extensive research on the Elemental brand. GSA has conducted discussions with Elemental in order to select quality audio and video equipment and support at fair and reasonable pricing for the Government.

VIII. OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

NONE

IX. LIST OF SOURCES THAT EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION

AGSI Systems made an inquiry about audio video services. The opportunity to submit a proposal will be extended to all sources by issuance of a RFP via the Fedbizopps.

X. STATEMENT OF ACTIONS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

GSA/OCIO will continue to conduct market research in order to acquire quality products and services, while assisting in overcoming barriers to competition.

XI. REQUIRING ACTIVITY CERTIFICATION

As the technical and requirement personnel, I certify that the facts presented on this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

9/15/2016

X Robert Gray Robert Gray Cheif, Video Technologies Branch Signed by: ROBERT GRAY September 15, 2016

For / William Cochran Technical/Requirement Official Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)

XII. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the information contained in this Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition, for the purchase of specific Elemental brand name equipment and support for the GSA, Office of the CIO, is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_________________________________________ September 15, 2016 Anita M. Little, Contracting Officer Office of Internal Acquisition (OIA)