sole_source_justification_Redacted CO Signed.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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I. Contracting Activity.

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

Brand name sole source acquisition.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The 51 FW/Command Post requires installation and maintenance services for the Unify OpenScape telecommunications systems for sustained 364/24/7 operations and in accordance with the relevant regulations:

AFMAN 10-207, P.5.3.4, DoDI 8100.04: DoD Unified Capabilities (T-0), AFI 33-200 Cyber Security Program Management:

Telecommuniations Electronics Material Protected from Emanating Spurious Transmissions, AFSSI 7700: Emission Security (T1).

51 FW requires 6 controller positions, 8 radio interfaces, 2 servers, and other peripheral equipments, licenses, and installation materials for a primary command post and alternate command post installation.

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, supervision, and other items and/or services necessary for the completion of the requirement. Maintenance shall include 24/7 customer service and technical support that shall be renewed each year as applicable.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

IAW FAR 6.302-1(a)(2): full and open competition need not be provided for when only one or a limited number of responsible sources are available, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

Unify Inc. Openscape Voice (OSV) is the only solution that is approved on the DISA approved products list (APL) and provides the full JITC certified unified capabilities and components as required in one technical package to include: voice recording, conference server, VOIP servers, desktop applications, and VOIP/radio/crashnet interfaces and gateways that can all be installed on AFNET NIPRNET in a virtual environment.

Unify Inc. is the only company which distributes and services the required equipment. MCS of Tampa, Inc. is the only "Master Service Provider" authorized to work with Unify OpenScape Xpert products.

Adoption of Unify Openscape Voice would ensure operational continuity and standardization of telecommunications systems. Unify OpenScape Voice is in service across 49 active-duty bases, 19 reserve bases, as well as deployment locations. Additionally, 6 bases are currently in the process of installation and 82 ANG bases were recently awarded to MCS for the installation of the Unify system, which will take place over the next two years. Following in the widespread implementation of this system would allow the lowering of costs for training and integration.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

Mitel, the parent company of Unify Inc., has been contacted, confirming: the proprietary nature of their equipment, systems and service arrangements, and that MCS of Tampa, Inc. is the only "Master Service Provider" authorized to work with Unify OpenScape Xpert products.

As a "Master Service Provider," MCS of Tampa’s sales and technical staff have successfully completed Unify's rigorous training curriculum, qualifying them to install and maintain Unify products. Without this certification, MCS of Tampa

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Price fair and reasonable would be determined through comparison with past acquisitions for similar items.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted through: contacting known sources of products and services, government databases, and Internet searches. Through contacting known sources of Unify OpenScape, Mitel the parent company of Unify, confirmed that MCS of Tampa, Inc. is the only "Master Service Provider" authorized to work with Unify OpenScape Xpert products. Through combing through government databases, such as GSA Advantage, and Internet searches, it is confirmed that Unify Inc. is the only manufacturer of the Unify product line including Unify OpenScape Voice and Unify Xpert products.

A notice will also be posted on GPE with the purpose of making information available in case any additional sources are able to meet the contract requirement.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The Unify system is the primary communications platform that the majority of Command Post controllers are trained on and consistently utilize. Currently, the system is operational across 49 active-duty bases and 19 Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) bases, with an additional six bases in various stages of installation. This widespread implementation provides standardization and unparalleled continuity.

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/A

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

The open market will continued to be monitored for suitable products/vendors, and Mitel will be contacted for inquires about applicable vendors able to meet requirements.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Contracting without providing for full and open competition shall not be justified on the basis of lack of advance planning by the requiring activity or concerns related to the amount of funds available (e.g., funds will expire) (10 U.S.C. 3204)

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

(FAR 6.303-2(b)(6))

Describe all efforts taken (or to be to be taken) to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable under the circumstances. Although Market Research is covered in Section VIII, the information in Section VI should correlate with the Market Research described in Section VI. The following issues should be addressed in this paragraph:

Sources Sought Synopsis (used as part of market research). If a sources sought synopsis was issued, state the date the synopsis was issued and a brief description of its content. If any responses were received, describe in detail the results of the screening process and the rationale for determining the unacceptability of any synopsis respondents. Reference FAR 13.105, Synopsis and Posting Requirements.

Other Actions. In this paragraph, discuss any other actions taken or planned to facilitate competition for this acquisition. The discussion should include actions tried or considered even if the actions were unsuccessful. If the efforts were unsuccessful, so state and describe why.

Qualifying Country Sources. If qualifying country sources have expressed interest, but are to be excluded, provide supporting rationale.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(7))

Include a statement by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable and provide the basis for this determination. The steps that will be taken to ensure the final contract price will be fair and reasonable are also described here. Describe the extent of cost or price analysis anticipated including the requirements for certified cost or pricing data, technical evaluations, and audits.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or explain why market research was not conducted. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(8))

Generally, some form of market research should be conducted. Discuss any market research conducted pursuant to FAR Part 10 and describe results of that research. Market research is any effort undertaken to determine if sources capable of satisfying the agency's requirements exist and to determine if commercial items or non-developmental items are either available or can be modified so that they will satisfy the agency's needs. Market research should be focused not only on identifying alternate sources, but also on alternate equipment or substitutes that might fulfill the Government needs with only minor modification.

Regardless of the approach used, the results should provide a high level of confidence that no other qualified sources exist.

When other exceptions from the requirement to obtain full and open competition are relied upon, the market research might be limited to an examination of the acquisition history and experience with the marketplace under previous acquisitions for the same or similar items.

If no market research was conducted, so state and provide the rationale.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(9)(i))

Provide any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, including an explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, statements of objectives, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed, are not being developed, are not being used, or are not available.

X. List of sources, if any, that expressed interest in the acquisition. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(10))

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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If a sources sought synopsis was done and all interested sources are included in Section VI, it is acceptable to state, “See Section VI above.”

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(11))

Describe any actions taken or to be taken to foster competition for future acquisitions of the supplies or services being acquired.

Describe potential actions that could be taken to remove the barriers to competition that have been identified in the justification and include a milestone schedule, where available, for accomplishing these actions. For example, if a follow-on competitive acquisition is planned, so state and provide the planned award date, or state that the Government will attempt to acquire rights in technical data and computer software sufficient to compete follow-on acquisitions as a priced option in the contract action that is the subject of this Justification, or (if applicable) state how the Government intends to challenge nonconforming markings on technical data and computer software delivered to it under previous contracts so those markings can be removed in order that the technical data and computer software may be used in support of a follow-on competitive acquisition, or describe plans to qualify additional sources.

Address efforts to ensure competition for future spare parts and maintenance in support of systems or equipment covered by the justification, even when these acquisitions will be accomplished by other organizations. Include a discussion on available breakout data.

If no actions are planned, so state and provide reasons. If approval is sought for more than one year, explain why a sole source effort is required for the planned time duration.

For a non-competitive follow-on acquisition to a previous award for the same supply or service supported by a Justification citing the same authority, include a discussion of the actions planned to overcome barriers to competition established in the previous justification, the status of those actions, and the results of those actions. The approval authority shall determine whether the planned actions were completed. If the planned actions were not completed, the justification for the follow-on acquisition shall be approved by the approval authority one-level above the approval authority for the previous justification (see FAR 13.501(a)(2)). If the previous justification was approved by the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE), the approval remains at the SPE level.

[DFARS 213.501(a) and DFARS PGI 206.304(a)(S-70)(ii)]

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12))

As evidenced by his/her signature, the contracting officer has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel. (FAR 6.303-2(c))

As evidenced by their signatures, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.