FIO-SoleSourceJustificationEdwardsEST3LifeSafetySystem.pdf

Department of the Army U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Agency: The contracting agency responsible for this procurement action is the U.S. Army Corps of engineers, South Pacific Division, Los Angeles District (CESPL), Los Angeles, CA.

2. Description of Action: A new competitive firm fixed price construction contract which includes “brand name only” components listed below as their standard.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Construct a new Community Living Center at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center (VALB MC), Long Beach, CA. This new construction includes the “Brand Name” component:

Notifier by Edwards EST3, Addressable fire Alarm System is the Medical Center’s standard for fire alarm systems. The current government estimated direct material cost of the brand name component listed is $ .

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1 and 11.105. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: VAMC Long Beach has established or received accreditation for the item listed above as their standard for the use on the Medical Center campus.

The operations, maintenance, and training for this system is brand name specific and requires specific software to operate. Installing multiple brand names will not only contribute to system communication incompatibility but will also require the end user to purchase and maintain additional software. All life safety systems communicate to central computers that are continuously monitored. The systems alarm to the master allowing for responsible parties to respond effectively in the event of an emergency which establishes the importance of uniformity and consistency. Conformity with the existing brand name systems will also allow for spare parts inventory to remain manageable and cost effective.

Edwards EST3 Life Safety System with Security, Access control and Mass Notification. New devices and/or hardware are required to be compatible with the Hospital’s fire alarm system. The existing operating features are software controlled and integrated into VA Medical Center’s network system and fire alarm panel and has the unique combination of field proven crisis management tools for life safety. Use of alternative products and systems would be counterproductive in that they are not fully compatible with the Medical Center base standards and requirements.

6. The Solicitation being issued will be an unrestricted competitive RFP. The brand name components represent a small portion of the overall construction project that is being competed.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: See Paragraph 6 above.

8. Market Research: The VA has standardize the following items to reduce supply cost for the hospital to regulate and provide optimal result, uniformity and conformity.

The standardization for the VA is to reduce the negotiating procurement. These systems listed have been in place for well over a decade or more and it is the Hospital’s standard. The EST3 system installed in the new mental health buildings will need to network with existing EST3 system. The existing current system is comprised of two networks; 1) East, 2) West. All panels for each network communicate through fiber. This means fire alarms that occur in those buildings will not dial out to the fire department, and will not send alarm notifications to our fire alarm paging system. Thus, response time to fire alarms in those buildings will increase.

An internet search was done and there are other fire alarm systems that could be used, but they are also proprietary. If those systems were to be installed, it would generate a need for an additional fire alarm contract. Our current fire alarm contractor does not have the authority to perform changes to that system (programming, removing/adding devices). Also a different software system would result in extra costs for the purchase.

By using EST3 system alleviates communication and compatibility issues caused by using multiple brand name systems and result in a fully functioning base wide system.

Regarding material and storage space, the VA medical center keeps inventory of 30% spare parts for fire alarm devices at this facility, including spare panels, smoke detectors, heat detectors, strobes, speaker/strobes, tamper switches, water flow switches, pull stations, and relays for a completely different system. The VA long Beach, Electric shop and Fire Control room has limited space to store for this inventory.

The EST3 system is a factor in Patient safety, which is the Medical Center’s highest priority.

9. Certifications:

a. Technical Certification

I certify the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in this Justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

b. Requirements Certification

I certify that the above described item is necessary to meet the Government's minimum needs for the described facility, and that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and Approval are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

10. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: The unit prices for materials are based on the project estimate completed with the Micro-Computer Aided Cost Estimating System (MCACES) and historical procurement history within the Los Angeles County and the region.

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon previous procurement history in Los Angeles County.

11. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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