CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

(4) 6 ea. – User Interface Consoles / GUI (15.6" screen)

(5) 37 ea. – Cisco VoIP Phones CP-8841

(6) 37 ea. – Cisco VoIP PPT handsets

(7) 28 ea. – Cisco PoE Switches C9200CX-8P-2X2G-E

(8) 3 ea. – Extreme Networks Fiber Switches 5420F-24S-4XE

(9) 56 ea. – SFP Fiber Module with duplex LC, Carrier Grade Cisco

(10) 3 ea. – ConsortAlert Spares Kit: 1 PoE Switch, 1 Cisco VoIP phone w/ PTT, 2 SFP, 1 Strobe

(11) 3 ea. – Miscellaneous mounting hardware, shelves & cable management

(12) 3 ea. – DoD/JITC Certified Installation <50 ports (includes on-site CS review as required)

(13) 3 ea. – Engineering & Project Management (S)

(14) 1 ea. – ConsortAlert 3-Year support service (1 server & devices) at Simmons Army Airfield (SAAF), Fort Bragg, NC

(15) 1 ea. – ConsortAlert 3-Year support service (Primary & Backup servers & devices) at Mackall Army Airfield (MAAF), Fort Bragg, NC

(16) 1 ea. – ConsortAlert 3-Year support service (1server & devices) at Pope Army Airfield

(PAAF), Fort Bragg, NC

(17) Shipping and Handling Charge

5. Authority: Select the appropriate authority below:

FAR 12.201-1/FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) For commercial acquisitions valued at or below the simplified acquisition threshold

Limiting Sources when Ordering under the Federal Supply Schedule

GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1)(i) - Urgency GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1)(ii) - Only One Source is Capable GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1)(iii) - Logical Follow-on GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1) (iv) - Satisfy minimum guarantee GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(1) (v) - Authorized or required by statute GSAM 538.7104-4 - Items peculiar to one manufacturer

Exceptions to Fair Opportunity FAR 16.507-6(b)(1) - Unusual and urgent need FAR 16.507-6(b)(2) - Only One Awardee is Capable FAR 16.507-6(b)(3) - Logical Follow-on FAR 16.507-6(b)(4) - Minimum Guarantee FAR 16.507-6(b)(5) - Statute Authorizes / Requires Purchase from Specified Source FAR 16.507-6(b)(6) - Satisfies Exception under FAR 6.103 FAR 16.507-7 - Items peculiar to one manufacturer

6. Reasons for Authority Cited:

[X] FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) / FAR 12.201 – Limiting Competition / Brand Name Item Peculiar to One Manufacturer for Commercial Acquisitions Valued at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold ($350,000 under RFO Authority).

The current airfield emergency crash alarm system operating across SAAF, MAAF, and PAAF is the proprietary "ConsortAlert" system, manufactured by Forum Communications Systems, Inc. A primary and secondary crash phone network is a life-safety critical system mandated by Army Regulation (AR) 95-2 for dispatching immediate crash, fire, rescue, and MEDIVAC services.

The system's underlying software, firmware, and configuration architecture are proprietary to Forum Communications Systems, Inc. Third-party non-certified vendors cannot provide required software updates, security patches, or tier-3 technical support without access to this proprietary source code. Furthermore, allowing an uncertified entity to service the infrastructure risks voiding existing equipment warranties and compromising the system's critical DISA Approved Products List (APL) and Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) certifications.

Restricting this requirement to the Forum Communications brand name—while competing the solicitation as a Total Small Business Set-Aside among the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and its qualified, OEM-certified small business resellers—is the only way to guarantee that the Government receives compliant hardware, proprietary tier-3 software support, and valid warranties necessary for continuous, reliable airfield safety operations without unacceptable delays or duplicating costs.

Technical Addendum: Proprietary and Mission-Critical Reasons to Strictly Utilize Forum Communications Software, Hardware, and Architecture for Fort BRAGG Airfields:

Forum Communications International is the established manufacturer of specialized Primary Crash Alarm Systems (PCAS) / Secondary Crash Networks (SCN), including the Alert III (analog/legacy) and ConsortAlert (IP-based) product lines. These are purpose-built for airfield emergency notification and multi-party crash conferencing between the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), base operations, security forces, medical response, and other life-safety stakeholders. We currently have the legacy Alert II/Plus systems in place that can no longer be supported.

Key Proprietary and Operational Reasons requiring exclusive use of the Forum Communications baseline include:

Instantaneous Simultaneous Multi-Party Alerting and Ringdown Functionality.

Forum systems are engineered so that lifting the handset (going "off-hook") on any crash phone immediately rings all designated emergency endpoints simultaneously, establishing a secure conference bridge with sub-second latency. This is a core life-safety requirement for airfield crash response. Generic or alternative VoIP/UC systems typically rely on sequential dialing, hunt groups, or server-mediated conferencing, which introduces unacceptable delay in a time-critical crash scenario.

Forum’s Intelligent Line Modules (ILMs) and peripheral architecture allow the crash phone activation to automatically trigger sirens, strobes, fire station bay door opening, fuel shutoff, or other physical responses. These direct hardware integrations are proprietary to Forum’s design and are not available on standard JITC-approved unified communications platforms.

The systems are specifically designed to support FAA AC 150/5210-7D (and equivalent

DoD/military instructions) for rapid emergency response. This includes noise-canceling PTT handsets optimized for high-stress, high-noise airfield environments and guaranteed performance under the exact operational scenarios required at installations like Simmons Army Airfield, Mackall Army Airfield and Pope Army Airfield.

Many U.S. military airfields (Army, Air Force, Navy/USMC) have standardized on Forum hardware for decades. Replacing or mixing systems would break continuity with existing infrastructure, trained operators, maintenance contracts, and spare parts inventories.

Forum’s core platforms (including the Consortium III conferencing system and associated emergency alert solutions) have undergone JITC testing and hold DoWIN APL listing as a Unified Capabilities Conferencing System (UCCS). They meet strict Unified Capabilities Requirements (UCR), including Assured Services SIP (AS-SIP) and optional Multi-Level Precedence and Preemption (MLPP).

No alternative manufacturer’s JITC/DISA APL-approved systems have been vetted to the same level for the specific combination of instantaneous crash ringdown, physical automation, PTT crash phone hardware, and airfield life-safety performance requirements.

While other vendors appear on the APL for general unified communications, voice gateways, or IP phones, none have demonstrated and received certification for the full end-to-end Primary Crash Alarm System functionality that Forum provides. Substituting components would require extensive re-testing, risk acceptance, and likely a waiver that installation safety and operations authorities (Airfield Operations, DES Fire & Emergency Services, and Aviation Safety) are highly unlikely to grant for a life-safety system.

Able to sustain a 3-year maintenance warranty on all hardware and proprietary software.

The risk of deviating from the Forum architecture introduces unvetted failure modes in a system where failure during an aircraft mishap could result in loss of life, mission degradation, or regulatory non-compliance. The combination of proprietary signaling, hardware-specific integration, and performance characteristics that satisfy both FAA Advisory Circulars and Army airfield operational directives has not been replicated or certified in competing JITC-approved offerings. The recommendation is that Ft. Bragg DPTMS continue exclusive utilization of Forum

10. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon (describe technique to be used, e.g. price analysis, cost analysis, etc.).

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that limiting competition to the specified brand name item is in the best interest of the Government. Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Typed Name Contracting Officer