FBO BNJ.doc

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BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. IDENTIFICATION OF AGENCY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE

Agency:

Social Security Administration (SSA) Contracting Office:

Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance and Management

Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG)

Contracting Officer:

John T. Andrews

Contracting Specialist:

Joanna K. Lobl Program Office:

COBM

Title:

Tate Access Floor Tiles

2. NATURE OF ACTION:

The action to be approved is for a Brand Name Justification for a firm-fixed-price (FFP) purchase order for the purchase of Tate Access Floors flooring tiles. This purchase will conform to the regulations set forth in FAR 13.5 under the Commercial Item Test Program.

3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT AND ESTIMATED COST

4. ACQUISITION PLAN STATUS:

The acquisition plan for this procurement is COBM-09-20307.

5. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

Test Program for Certain Commercial Items (Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 as cited in FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii)).

As set forth in FAR 13.501(a)(1)(i), under the Test Program for Certain Commercial Items, contracting officers must conduct sole source acquisitions (including brand name) under Subpart 13.5 only if the need to do so is justified in writing and approved at the levels specified.

6. REASON FOR BRAND NAME:

SSA’s National Computer Center (NCC) requires access flooring tiles to replace worn and damaged floor tiles. For the past several years, the NCC has consistently used Tate Access Floors flooring tiles. Other brands of flooring tiles are not compatible with the existing Tate flooring and therefore can not be used to create a safe, stable floor.

The use of such brand name description in this acquisition is essential to the Government's requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company.

7. SOLICITATION EFFORTS

The requirement will be synopsized in the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website as a sole source procurement in accordance with FAR 5.2.

8. REASONABLENESS OF COST:

The contracting officer will execute a determination of cost reasonableness prior to awarding the contract.

9. MARKET RESEARCH:

Brand Name Market Research:

SSA did not perform market research of other brand name floor tiles since other brands would not be compatible with the Tate floor tiles that are already in place at the NCC.

Vendor Market Research:

According to the contract specialist’s market research, there are no vendors who have the required floor tiles on their GSA schedule contracts. Tate Access Floors has authorized dealers for each U.S.state. Therefore, SSA will compete this requirement.

10. ACTION TAKEN TO REMOVE COMPETITION BARRIER:

SSA will continue to survey the market place by synopsizing and soliciting its requirements and reviewing quotes submitted by interested vendors.

11. OTHER FACTS:

This justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief. This Brand Name Justification has been reviewed and approved by the responsible Agency officials.

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