Updated-IHS1423060-Cisco-GPA OIT BrandNameJustification_GPAIHS.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

For use with GPA OIT approved items only

Requisition:

1. Organization/Line Office:

2. Description of Action being approved:

3. Description of Product, Supplies or Services required to meet the Agency’s needs.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The Statutory Authority for this action is 11.105(a)(1) The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs

5. Identification of the Justification Rationale:

The requested Cisco brand equipment allows for continuity and compatibility with existing equipment, deployment software, and management systems. The purchase of other brands at this point would result in additional compatibility and security tests, increased learning curves, duplicate work efforts, increased training and administrative costs. The Cisco equipment is being requested to replace current equipment as well as new equipment to support IHS Meaningful Use initiatives, which will allow staff to meet the mission of the agency. The Cisco brand of common hardware allows IHS to operate the systems with higher availability and lower overall cost of ownership. For all systems, IT support staff are experienced with Cisco Phone/ VoiP configuration, installation, call manager, and trouble shooting. Cisco has demonstrated the ability to provide a range of quality hardware, software, and service products with minimum paperwork from IHS. Parts, supplies, and accessories are interchangeable within product line currently in place. It is imperative that all workstations be standardized in order to maintain adequate technical support, maintenance, interoperability of peripherals and components, and staffing. The Cisco supplied replacement parts and technical support ensures compatibility of hardware and minimal down time for agency critical servers. The Cisco hardware and warranty are available from multiple Cisco partners. Other manufactures, though providing quality hardware, do not meet the needs of the government in areas of standard support, configuration, interoperability with hardware we currently have, and management.

6. Best Value Determination:

Orders issued under this class limited sources justification represent the best value IHS as the agreed to prices will be based upon competitive quotes received from authorized retailers of the brand in a competitive environment. Therefore the price paid will represent the best value and result in the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the needs of IHS.

7. Market Research conducted

In accordance with FAR part 10, Market Research has been conducted for this acquisition. The following techniques was used.

8. Statement of actions, if any to remove barriers to competition in the future.

None at this time

9. Any other facts supporting justification:

Purchasing equipment outside of the approved hardware/software list provided by the Great Plains Area and Headquarters will create additional work for our IT staff in the field and our system engineering staff at the Area office. We do not have the human resources to add/maintain every possible system requirement to our patch management utilities that we use at Headquarters and the Great Plains Area Office. Adding equipment that is not currently on our patch management utilities will make our network vulnerable to security and cyber-attacks.

The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) requires our programs to ensure the following. Please note highlighted content.

This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014''. SEC. 2. FISMA

REFORM.

(a) In General.--Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking subchapters II and III <<NOTE: 44 USC prec. 3531, 3531-3538, 3541 prec., 3541-3549.>> and inserting the following:

``SUBCHAPTER <<NOTE: 44 USC prec. 3551.>> II--INFORMATION SECURITY

``Sec. 3551. <<NOTE: 44 USC 3551.>> “The purposes of this subchapter are to—

``(1) provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the effectiveness of information security controls over information resources that support Federal operations and assets;

``(2) recognize the highly networked nature of the current Federal computing environment and provide effective government wide management and oversight of the related information security risks, including coordination of information security efforts throughout the civilian, national security, and law enforcement communities;

``(3) provide for development and maintenance of minimum controls required to protect Federal information and information systems;

``(4) provide a mechanism for improved oversight of Federal agency information security programs, including through automated security tools to continuously diagnose and improve security;

``(5) acknowledge that commercially developed information security products offer advanced, dynamic, robust, and effective information security solutions, reflecting market solutions for the protection of critical information infrastructures important to the national defense and economic security of the nation that are designed, built, and operated by the private sector; and

``(6) recognize that the selection of specific technical hardware and software information security solutions should be left to individual agencies from among commercially developed products.

As the technical or requirement personnel, I certify that the evidence of the supporting data that forms the basis of this justification is complete and accurate.

Technical/Requirements Signature Date Personnel Printed Name

Contracting Officer Signature Date Printed Name