WVA Fire Station JA Simplex Fire Alarm System_sOAS.pdf

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

CONTROL NO.

PROJECT/EQUIPMENT: 3 CO HQ Fire Station at Watervliet NY / Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification System

AUTHORITY: 10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1) AMOUNT: $450,000

Prepared By:

NAME/TITLE: Kaitlin Hughes, Technical Manager

TELEPHONE: (917) 790-8293

DATE:

Contracting Officer

NAME/TITLE: Nicholas Emanuel, Contracting Officer

TELEPHONE: (917) 790-8069

Requirements

NAME/TITLE: Odile Accilien-Sorger, Project Manager

TELEPHONE: (518) 266-6376

SIGNATURES ARE REQUIRED BELOW

I have reviewed this J&A and find the justification adequate to support other than full and open competition.

District Small Business Specialist

NAME: Zachery Bernard

TELEPHONE: (917) 533-4785

SIGNATURE

Project Manager

NAME: Odile Accilien-Sorger, Project Manager

TELEPHONE: (518) 266-6376

Office of Counsel

NAME: Lorraine Lee

TELEPHONE: (917)790-8055

DCC/CCC Contracting Chief

NAME: Nicholas Emanuel, TELEPHONE: (917) 790-8069

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification System For 3 CO HQ Fire Station at Watervliet NY

1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York District (NAN), Contracting (CT), 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

This Justification and Approval (J&A) supports the use of brand name components as a small part of an upcoming 3 CO HQ Fire Station construction project at Watervliet Arsenal, NY (Sources Sought Notice ID W912DS25S0030). The government will not purchase the components directly, but rather will require that offerors include equipment, programming, and work necessary to support the installation of a new Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification System compatible with the existing sitewide Simplex Fire Alarm Network and the integration of the new system into the existing sitewide network as part of proposals submitted in response to a design-bid-build solicitation that will lead to the award of a new BVT construction contract. USACE is responsible for the acquisition and administration of the construction of 3 CO HQ Fire Station at Watervliet Arsenal, NY. Funding for this acquisition will be Production Based Support (PBS) (10 U.S. Code § 2805), The FFP construction will be solicited and awarded as best value trade off in accordance with FAR Part 15.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

The requirement is to provide equipment, programming, and work to install Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification System to support the Fire Station at Watervliet Arsenal (WVA) in Watervliet, NY. The proprietary Simplex addressable devices support functionality with the Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification Control Unit, allowing the system to achieve full functionality and compliance with applicable Codes and Standards. Proprietary notification appliances are required to achieve synchronization of audible and visual notification signals and intelligibility of audible voice notification signals within the facility utilizing Simplex power supplies and audio amplifiers. New Fire Alarm installations include Mass Notification Systems (MNS) in accordance with DoD Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 4-021-01. The existing sitewide Simplex infrastructure supports the UFC requirements for primary MNS communications.

The Simplex Fire Alarm and integrated MNS system has the capability to remotely activate the in-building MNS messaging system and provide live- voice announcements.

Fire Alarm System (FAS) and Mass Notification System (MNS) shall be complete, supervised, non-coded, analog-addressable system, installed in class A configuration per National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 72. The FAS/MNS shall provide point reporting to the Fire Alarm and Mass Notification Control Unit (FMCU). The FMCU shall in turn provide point reporting to sitewide Simplex networking and reporting equipment. Point reporting, also known as point-to-point reporting, is the capability to relay the status of each addressable device and certain system components such as Signaling Line Circuits (SLC) to a Central Receiving Station in real time. The FAS/MNS shall be tested and perform as a critical life-safety system. The FAS/MNS shall be compatible with and shall communicate seamlessly with the sitewide Simplex network/receiving system without impairing operational function or reliability of any existing FAS or MNS. The estimated amount of this requirement is $450,000.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will

Satisfy Agency Requirements, as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(c), Application for Brand Name Descriptions. In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c), the Contracting Officer will specify that all offerors be required to procure an item peculiar to one supplier (Simplex).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

A. Background:

Due to the presence of an existing sitewide Simplex Fire Alarm network at Watervliet Arsenal, proprietary Simplex equipment and programming is required to maintain compatibility of new equipment with existing systems.

B. Justification:

To satisfy UFC 4-021-01 requirement of a Mass Notification System, a seamlessly compatible system must be provided at WVA Fire Station. The capability to send out mass notification to the entire site in an efficient manner during emergencies must be maintained. The Simplex Fire Alarm System is used throughout WVA. Due to compatibility issues with other systems, it will not be possible to guarantee delivery or receival of emergency messages to the Fire Station, if any other system is installed. For items as important to life, health, and safety as Fire Alarm and Mass Notification Systems there is no room for error when these products are called upon to be operational. If the Simplex equipment is not installed in this facility, the fire station will be unable to receive an alarm or trouble signal due to the activation of a detector, pull station, sprinkler system flow switch, or fire protection tamper switch. This would delay the response time of the fire department, which could result in extensive damage to the facility and/or harm to building personnel.

C. Alternatives:

No viable alternatives will be acceptable to meet the mission requirements of an integrated Mass Notification System due to compatibility issues of the Simplex Fire Alarm System with equipment from other manufacturers, any fire alarm system other than a Simplex Fire Alarm System will not be able to guarantee operational effectiveness of the Mass Notification System within the Fire Station during an emergency.

The only alternative action to ensure compatibility of a different manufacturer’s Fire Alarm and Mass Notification Systems with the systems used throughout Watervliet Arsenal would be to remove and replace the Fire Alarm and Mass Notification Systems in every building at WVA with the same system used in Fire Station. This would be cost prohibitive effort and is not authorized under this project.

D. Impact:

If the J&A is not approved and a different Fire Alarm System is installed at the Fire Station, the fire alarm system would fail the mission requirement to provide an integrated fire alarm system with a mass notification system. During an emergency situation this could lead to confusion, injury, and even loss of life that could have been avoided if the Fire Station had been integrated into the Simplex Fire Alarm System network that is used in other new fire alarm installations at WVA.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

The brand name product has been published as required by FAR 5.201, a Notice of Intent (NOI) for Brand Name Simplex Fire Alarm System at Watervliet, NY (W912DS25S0030) to determine sources for this system was synopsized on 20 APRIL 2025 as part of 3 CO HQ Fire Station. The brand name justification and approval will be posted with the solicitation. As stated in paragraph 5 above, a Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification System is the only brand available to ensure compatibility with the existing system at Watervliet Arsenal. Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification System is available on the open market for purchase and installation by all offerors.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

This J&A supports a discrete requirement that will end when the project is complete.

Therefore, there are no planned actions to increase competition for the requirement covered by this J&A.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

Market Research to determine sources for WVA Fire Station Infrastructure was synopsized on 20 APRIL 2025. The Sources Sought was published for the required 15 days in SAM.gov (W912DS25S0030).

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

There were no responses to the NOI posting.

10. OTHER FACTS:

All pertinent facts are included above.

11. TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION:

“I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification and approval are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.”

Name: Kaitlin Hughes Date:

Title: Technical Manager

12. REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION:

“I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification and approval are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.”

Name: Odile Accilien-Sorger Date:

Title: Project Manager

13. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

“I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. This determination is based on the Independent Government Cost Estimate, the items being procured, and historical data.”

Name: Nicholas Emanuel Date:

Title: Contracting Officer

14. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

“I certify that this J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.”

Name: Nicholas Emanuel Date:

Title: Contracting Officer

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the brand name requirement for the Simplex Fire Alarm and Mass Notification System, estimated at $450,000 in support of the subject project at Watervliet Arsenal, NY as authorized by 10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, and as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(c), Application for Brand Name Descriptions, subject to availability of funds and provided that the product herein described has otherwise been authorized for this acquisition.

Date:

Signature:

Nicholas Emanuel

Contracting Office