JA FAR5313 SS Fire Reporting Software Mx 2024 Redacted.pdf

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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The government owns the license for the support provided by this software; however, the license will become obsolete if it does not get quarterly updates and maintenance to the licensed software. Market research provided that the Alarm Center system is a “Commercially available off-the-shelf item”, but the software remains proprietary. SIS is the current vendor providing the service and the sole source (proprietor, manufacturer and distributor) of the Alarm Center ® for Windows ® Monitoring/Dispatch software and the only authorized provider of technical support, software upgrades and SIS Certified & Configured hardware equipment.

A sources sought was posted on SAM.gov and NASA SEWP for 10 days each. No responses were received from NASA SEWP, vendors stated their unresponsiveness was for the following reasons: "the request was not in scope for that particular Contract Holder" or they "were not an Approved Reseller". One response was received from SAM.gov as a general notice of interest. When asked if they were capable of meeting the government's need, they responded that they do not have the reseller relationship.

SIS is the current sole source provider of this same system to Vandenberg SFB.

Fair and Reasonable price will be determined using any of the techniques outlined in FAR 13.106-3(a) (2), for example: using comparison of the proposed price with prices found reasonable on previous purchases, A comparison with similar items in a related industry, or market research. The contract awarded in 2019 was less each year than the estimated value for this contract. As such the CO will take into consideration inflation since that time if using this data point as a means to make the determination.

Market research was conducted IAW the requirements of FAR 10.002. Results indicated that there are other vendors that can provide similar software. However, acquiring alternative alarm monitoring software is not feasible considering the substantial duplication of costs to the Government which is not expected to be recovered through potential competition (i.e. acquisition, field testing, and personnel training).

The fire department looked into the cost for base-wide removal and replacement of fire reporting system panels and devices in over 100 buildings through a hybrid contractor/government personnel effort and received a quote for Company a few years ago. To follow through with a new proprietary software installation would result in a complete install of new panels that were estimated to be in excess of one million dollars when taking into consideration inflation from three years ago and today.

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 4 of 4March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 4 of 4

SIS has been the sole source provider of the software for the Alarm Center for over 5 years to BSFB as well as Vandenberg SFB. To replace the software from Alarm Center to something different, means the entire system would have to be replaced; fire alarm panels in every building, how the signal gets to the monitoring Dispatch Center, the server rack, and all associated hardware/equipment. As well as the additional training hours needed to train all users to use the new system. This would cost in the range of or more to switch vendors and hardware/software platforms.

See section VI above.

Prior to purchasing this software subscription again, the Contracting Officer will review what limiting factors led to the sole source purchase of this contract to see if they still apply; and will review the market for other ways to compete pricing. A sources sought will be posted to see whether sole source is more advantageous to the government still or if competition would provide a price advantage in the future.

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.

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.