S02 - Redacted JA -Temple_Waco Wi-Fi Activation.pdf

Control Number VA-20-00066840

JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 1701 Directors Blvd Austin, TX 78744

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a firm-fixed price (FFP) delivery order issued under a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEW) V Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for brand name Cisco hardware and associated software and licenses.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: VA requires Cisco 5520 Series Wireless Controller (WLC) (AIR-CT5520-K9) and Cisco 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Lightweight APs (AIR- AP2802I-B-K9 -- 802.11ac W2 AP w/CA; 4x4:3; Int Ant; 2xGbE B), and design, engineering, installation, configuration, validation, and testing of the infrastructure Wi-Fi network. In addition, comply with industry-standard wireless network at the Waco Veterans Administration Regional Benefits (VRO) office located in Waco, Texas.

This action represents an expansion of the wireless mobility technology currently in place with VA, which currently consists of solely Cisco Unified Wireless Network (CUWN) hardware (Access Points (APs), Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) and associated incidental cable plant, mounting hardware), software, and licenses. This procurement requires the delivery and installation of this following brand name Cisco hardware and associated software and licenses. The hardware shall be delivered within 30 days from award, and the period of performance for completion of all design, installation, configuration, validation, and testing services within six (6) months from receipt of equipment. Additionally, the option for cable management panels, rack shelves, patch panels and installation of complete cabling for the access points may be required. The total estimated price of the proposed action is , inclusive of the optional quantities.

4. Statutory Authority: Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.505(a)(4), the following brand name requirement is being justified and approved as an exception to fair opportunity under the statutory authority of Section 41 U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), entitled “Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized”.

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Based on extensive market research, as described in Section 8, it is determined that limited competition is available for the brand name Cisco APs and WLCs. The Wi-Fi network for the Waco Veterans Administration Regional Benefits (VRO) office is required to leverage and connect the parent VA Medical Center service area’s existing CUWN infrastructure. Therefore, the solution must be fully interoperable and compatible with the existing CUWN

Temple/Waco – Waco VRO Wireless Activation infrastructure. VA is reliant upon Wi-Fi technology in the delivery of healthcare services to veterans. VA utilizes Wi-Fi communications so that healthcare providers and administration staff can connect remotely to the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture and access patient records, treatment plans, and other healthcare support data without being tied to a deskbound solution. The VA deploys a wide variety of Wi-Fi-enabled equipment to support patient care services including, but not limited to: Medication Carts, Vital Signs Monitors, EKG/ECG Carts, IV Pumps, Portable X-Ray Machines, Sonography carts, Temperature/Environmental Controls, Logistics/Canteen Scanners, Patient Information Boards, Barcode Printers, Vo-Fi handsets, and desktops computers and laptops. In addition to the centralized management paradigm, the VA leverages the Cisco Mobility Service Engines to perform Real Time Location Services. These are a proprietary component of the CUWN architecture. The use of this technology produces Radio Frequency fingerprinting of devices to locate its position within a site campus with a 30’ accuracy. Disruption in Wi- Fi communications has a very visible and tangible adverse impact to patient care and administrative operations of the affected area(s).

VA O&IT Service Area’s existing CUWN is an enterprise class wireless system wherein centralized hierarchical hardware configuration, management, monitoring, and alerting occurs. This top down architecture provides a mechanism and methodology to provide Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 validated communications for the enterprise which is scalable, flexible, and secure. The CUWN utilizes a suite of proprietary product hardware, features, and licenses. Cisco APs and WLCs are part of this unified hardware and software solution that enables the VA to wirelessly communicate information through the Office of Information Technology’s enterprise network. Only brand name Cisco APs and WLCs are compatible and interoperable with the existing CUWN infrastructure, which is proprietary to Cisco. Due to the proprietary nature of Cisco’s code, no other manufacturer’s APs or WLCs are compatible and interoperable with the current infrastructure. Further, market research has determined that only the CUWN provides the end-to-end comprehensive FIPS 140-2 Validated configuration, management, monitoring, alerting and RTLS solution that the VA needs to perform its mission.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in section 8 of this justification. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements. However, the undersigned VA technical representative determined that limited competition is available among authorized resellers for brand name Cisco hardware and associated software and licenses. In accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)(1), this justification will be provided with the solicitation to all appropriate NASA SEWP V GWAC holders. Furthermore, in accordance with FAR 5.301, 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D), and 16.505(a)(4)(iii), the award notice for this action will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website and this justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award.

Temple/Waco – Waco VRO Wireless Activation

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the market place that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted by VA wireless technology subject matter experts in May 2020 by researching similar products from the following manufacturers: Aerohive, Ubiquiti, and Hewlett Packard (Aruba) via both direct outreach to other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and internet catalog research and review. The subject matter experts concluded that both Aerohive and Ubiquiti failed to meet VA’s requirements because they are not FIPS 140-2 certified, nor are they interoperable and compatible with the existing CUWN. While other Wi-Fi hardware from alternative manufacturers exist, they do not meet VA’s requirements as outlined in Section 5 of this justification document because only Cisco, or an authorized reseller has the access to the current hardware that communicates through source code based on Cisco proprietary data currently in place across the VA. As a result of the market research, it was determined that no other equipment was found to be compatible and interoperable with the existing Cisco networking system and not FIPS 140-2 certified.

As a result of the market research, the Government’s technical experts determined that none of the mentioned products above can meet the Government’s interoperability, compatibility, and security requirements, and as result only brand Cisco Wireless Access Points (APs) and Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) equipment can meet all the VA’s need.

Additionally, VA wireless technical personnel also conducted market research on National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V to determine companies capable of performing the services required. As a result of the market research, several eligible Service-Disabled Veteran- Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) were identified under Group B on NASA SEWP and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code “541519” responded to the customer’s market inquiry.

The Contract Specialist (CS) conducted market research in June 2020 by using NASA SEWP V GWAC Provider Look-up and Market Research tools to determine what vendors are capable of meeting the requirement. Based on this market research, the CS found multiple resellers capable of meeting the full requirement.

9. Other Facts: None.