Brand_Name_Determination_for__19Q0097.pdf

Control No. OJL-19-0079

BRAND NAME DETERMINATION

Peplink Cellular WAN Equipment

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY:

Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contracting Division, 333 SW First Avenue, OR 97204-3495.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

Approval is being requested by HQ Portland District for a new firm fixed price contract for Peplink (Brand Name) Networking Equipment.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES OR NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION:

The networking and cellular equipment is critical part of the NWP Disitrict CorpNet redunant Wide Area Network (WAN) system. The following Brand Name items are to be purchased:

Item Description Quantity 0001 Pepwave MAX HD4 MBX with LTE

Advanced Pro Model: MAX-HD4-MBX-LTEA-R-T

27 each

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

FAR 13.106-1 Soliciting Competition.

(b) Soliciting from a single source.

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

(i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

(ii) Where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring the brand-name item. The documentation should state it is covering only the portion of the acquisition which is brand-name.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

a. Background: The Peplink networking equipment is critical part of the NWP Disitrict

CorpsNet Failover system used to provide network services.

b. Justification: The Peplink cellular WAN equipment equipment is the only platform available on the market that will bond multiple cellular radios into one secured and encrypted virtual private network and aggregate the available bandwidth. This platform allows the NWP District utilize much more available bandwidth at each end point.

c. Impact: The Peplink networking equipment are the core components to the NWP

Disitrict CorpsNet system. Without a failover capability for NWP District CorpsNet sytems NWP employees will lose productivity and ultimately cost the District HQ additional labor cost that has not been budgeted.

d. Alternatives: None. These requirements cannot be met through any other means.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

Due to the need for increased bandwidth using VPN bonding of the radio equipment we must use this Brand Name product. Vendors that can provide Brand Name items will be notified via Request For Quote.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

The market for Peplink is mature and competitive. There have been multiple sources identified that can provide us with the particular brand. Therefore, price competition should result in a fair and reasonable price; however, no contract will be awarded unless the price is determined to be fair and reasonable.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

ACE-IT Market research indicates that there are numerous other-than-small business and small business distributors that are capable of offering the required equipment. CHESS is a mandatory source for procuring IT hardware and software and will be utilized in accordance with DOA Memo dated 4 May 09 and AFARS Clause 5139.101-90, under Category ITES-3H for the brand name hardware.

CT-S – A Request for Information (RFI) was posted in CHESS, but resulted in no responses.

The Peplink website has listed certified distributors and resellers. It is anticipated that an RFQ will be posted to FBO.gov for competition amongst the authorized small business distributors and resellers.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

There is one small business expressing interest, but is not a CHESS source. All other small business sources interested will be considered.

10. OTHER FACTS:

a. Procurement History: N/A

b. Delivery address:

USACE, Portland District Attn: Curtis Geiger, CEIT-DRW-N 333 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 914 Portland, OR 97204

POC: Curtis Geiger, 503-808-5000, Curtis.P.Geiger@usace.army.mil