Amendment 0001_ JA - ESS North - Fire Alarm.pdf

Control No.

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

CONTROL NO.

PROJECT/EQUIPMENT: PN 096278 FY26 MCA Electrical Switching Station-North project at Watervliet Arsenal (WVA), New York – Simplex Fire Alarm System.

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

Prepared By:

NAME: Jeffery Friese, TELEPHONE: 917-790-8534

DATE:

FRIESE.JEFFER Digitally signed by

FRIESE.JEFFERY.J.122883

Y.J.122883100 1006

6 Date: 2025.08.07 09:26:20 -04'00'

Contracting Officer NAME: Francis Cashman, TELEPHONE: 917-790-8173

DATE:

CASHMAN.FRAN Digitally signed by

CASHMAN.FRANCIS.1386668368

CIS.1386668368 Date: 2025.09.04 14:44:18 -04'00'

Requirements NAME: Evan Sick, TELEPHONE: 518-266-6127

DATE:

SICK.EVAN.R. Digitally signed by

SICK.EVAN.R.1501582154

1501582154 Date: 2025.08.07 09:43:09 -04'00'

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: 917-790-8004

SIGNATURE

BERNARD.ZACHERY. Digitally signed by

BERNARD.ZACHERY.ALAN.12656

ALAN.1265671230 71230

Date: 2025.08.11 14:52:08 -04'00'

Project Manager NAME: Evan Sick, TELEPHONE: 518-266-6127

SIGNATURE

SICK.EVAN.R. Digitally signed by

SICK.EVAN.R.1501582154

1501582154 Date: 2025.08.07 09:43:28 -04'00'

Office of Counsel NAME: Lorraine Lee

TELEPHONE: 917-790-8055

SIGNATURE

LEE.LORRAINE. Digitally signed by

LEE.LORRAINE.C.1228825367

C.1228825367 Date: 2025.09.02 13:46:30 -04'00'

DCC/CCC Contracting Chief NAME: Francis Cashman

TELEPHONE: 917-790-8173

SIGNATURE

Digitally signed by

CASHMAN.FRAN CASHMAN.FRANCIS.138666836

CIS.1386668368 Date: 2025.09.04 14:44:41 -04'00'

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

REVIEW

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FOR:

Simplex Fire Alarm System PN 096278 FY26 MCA Electrical Switching Station-North project at Watervliet Arsenal (WVA), New York.

07 August 2025

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Simplex Fire Alarm System For PN 096278 FY26 MCA Electrical Switching Station-North

Contract No. TBD

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 in an upcoming construction project. The government will not purchase the components directly, but rather will require that offerors include equipment, programming, and work necessary to support modifications to the existing the Simplex Fire Alarm System as part of proposals submitted in response to a best value trade off solicitation that will lead to the award of a new firm-fixed-price (FFP) construction contract. USACE is responsible for the acquisition and administration of the construction for this project at Watervliet Arsenal (WVA), NY. Funding for this acquisition will be via Military Construction, Army.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

The requirement is to provide equipment, programming, and work for new construction of the switch station for a fully functional Simplex Fire Alarm System. The proprietary Simplex addressable devices support addressable functionality with the Simplex Fire Alarm Control Panel, 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 with the entire facility as well as post wide. The existing Simplex infrastructure on site 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) shall be complete, supervised, non-coded, analog-addressable system, installed in class A configuration per National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 72.

The FAS shall provide point reporting to the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP). The FACP 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 shall be tested and perform as a critical life-safety system. The FAS 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. The estimated amount of this requirement is $.

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 (brand-name item).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

A. Background:

Due to the presence of a post wide Simplex Fire Alarm system network at WVA, proprietary Simplex equipment and programming is required in new facilities to maintain compatibility with existing systems.

B. Justification:

The Simplex Fire Alarm System is used throughout WVA. Due to compatibility issues with other systems, it will not be possible to guarantee delivery of emergency messages to all persons located in the new facility, if any other system is installed. For items as important to life, health, and safety as the Fire Alarm 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 personnel.

C. Alternatives:

No viable alternatives will be acceptable to meet the mission requirements of an integrated 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 Building 125 during an emergency.

The only alternative action to ensure compatibility of a different manufacturer’s Fire Alarm with the systems used throughout Watervliet Arsenal would be to remove and replace the Fire Alarm in every building at WVA with the same system used in this project. This would be a very cost prohibitive effort.

D. Impact:

If the J&A is not approved and a different Fire Alarm System is installed in this project, the fire alarm system would fail the mission requirement to provide an integrated fire alarm system.

During an emergency this could lead to confusion, injury, and even loss of life that could have been avoided if an integrated the Simplex Fire Alarm System was used.

28831006 Digitally signed by

FRIESE.JEFFERY.J.1228831006

Date: 2025.08.07 09:27:10 -04'00'

SICK.EVAN.R.1501582154 Digitally signed by SICK.EVAN.R.1501582154

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

The brand name product has been published as required by FAR 5.201, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to determine sources for this system was synopsized on 11 April 2025. No responses were received for the Notice of Intent. The brand name justification and approval will be posted with the solicitation. As stated in paragraph 5 above, Simplex Fire Alarm System is the only brand available to ensure compatibility within the Watervliet Arsenals existing system. Simplex Fire Alarm 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:

A Notice of Intent (NOI) to determine sources for this system was synopsized on 11 April 2025.

The NOI was published for the required 15 days in SAM.gov. There were no responses to the NOI. Additional research was not done besides the NOI.

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: Jeffery Friese 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: Evan Sick Date:

Title: Project Manager

CASHMAN.FRANCIS.1 Digitally signed by

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CASHMAN.FRANCIS.1386668368

CASHMAN.FRANCIS.1 Digitally signed by

386668368

CASHMAN.FRANCIS.1386668368

CASHMAN.FRANCI Digitally signed by

S.1386668368

CASHMAN.FRANCIS.1386668368

Date: 2025.09.04 14:45:56 -04'00'

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: Francis Cashman 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: Francis Cashman Date:

Title: Contracting Officer

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the brand name requirement for Simplex Fire Alarm for PN 096278 FY26 MCA Electrical Switching Station-North estimated at $ in support of the 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.

Name: Francis Cashman Date:

Title: Contracting Officer