PN_88658_JA Siemon_2ndversion_20201110 v1.2.pdf

Control No: SAW-21-0007 Program/Equipment: SOTF/Seimon (PN 88658)

Version – September 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR PART 6 JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Program/Equipment: SOTF is procuring installation and parts to go into the Siemon Systems 10Ghz category six augmented cable (CAT6a) and its associated system for PN 88658, SOF Operations Building.

Authority:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

Amount: $160,000.

Prepared by: Zachry Nichols DSN: 910-251-4181 Project Manager Date: 10 Nov 2020 Email: Zachry.L.Nichols@usace.army.mil

Contracting Officer: John Hill DSN: 910-251-4451 Contracting Officer Date: 10 Nov 2020 Email: John.T.Hill@usace.army.mil

Technical: Brian Ballweg DSN: (910) 251-4881 Engineer Technical Lead Date: 10 Nov 2020 Email: Brian.Ballweg@usace.army.mil

Requirements: Roger Whatley DSN: 910-643-5427 Chief of Engineering Operations, SOTF

Date: 10 Nov 2020 Email: roger.d.whatley.civ@mail.mil mailto:Zachry.L.Nichols@usace.army.mil mailto:John.T.Hill@usace.army.mil mailto:roger.d.whatley.civ@mail.mil

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: John T. C. Hill

DSN: 910-251-4710

Signature:

X John Hill Contracting Officer

Chief, Business Oversite Branch:

Typed Name: Christopher S. Kay

DSN: 910-251-4580

Signature:

X Christopher S. Kay Chief, Business Oversite Branch

Legal Counsel:

Typed Name: Justin McCorcle

DSN: 910-251-4699

Signature:

X Justin P. McCorcle District Counsel

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SEIMON CABLE PRODUCTS FOR SOTF

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY:

US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

SOTF requests a brand name sole-source justification to use only Siemon CAT 6A F/UTP copper cable, Z-Max series terminations and patch panels as a mated system in the SOF Operations Facility (PN 88658) section on the SOTF compound. The government projects award for June 2021 and fiscal year 2021, MILCON funds will be used.

The estimated value of the entire contract is $43,000,000 but the estimated value of the sole-source portion that requires Siemon is $160,000.

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

SOTF’s physical layer telecommunication horizontal copper cable is currently built upon Siemon Systems 10Ghz category six augmented cable (CAT6a) and its associated system ancillary termination components. Over two million feet and approximately 95% of the entire compound’s infrastructure is designed and installed with this premium quality shielded and plenum-rated cabling system. These unique product components provide standardization across the campus environment ensuring equipment compatibility, network stability and security, and reduce long-term sustainment and maintenance costs due to the 25 year end-to-end system warranty provided by the manufacturer. Over the past eight years of product installation SOTF has had zero operational down time due to physical network infrastructure failure as a result of the reliability of the components as well as the warranty coverage provided by Siemon.

Due to the unique operational requirements for high system availability, the SOTF voice and data network requires the highest level of performance and reliability through a 10 Ghz solution capable of supporting emerging and converging IP applications such as Voice over IP and IP video across a multi-classification network architecture. The data network must maintain the smallest footprint of electromagnetic interference providing an optimum shielded solution with zero alien cross talk emanation in a building that is over three decades old. The network must be in accordance with all applicable security policies and TEMPEST guidelines in order to pass accreditation and receive an authority to operate.

This Operations Facility includes administrative, mission planning areas, vehicle bays, climate-controlled pallet storage with lift, Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants storage, arms vaults, individual unit caged storage, engineering workshops, latrines with lockers, and laundry. Also includes space for a Secure Compartmentalized Information Facility with administrative area, 50-person classroom, operations center, and Special Access Programs.

Project will also provide fire alarm/mass notification, fire suppression system, telephone and advanced unclassified and classified communications networks, intercom system, closed circuit surveillance and electronic access control systems, integrated commercial intrusion detection system, cable TV, a protected distribution system, and connection to the energy management control system. Department of Defense (DoD) principles for high performance and sustainable building requirements will be included in the design and construction of the project in accordance with federal laws and Executive Orders.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and 6.302-1(c), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, and brand name descriptions.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

As described at FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), when the supplies or services required by the agency are available only from one responsible source, or for DoD, NASA and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other types of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for. As further described in FAR 6.302-1(c), an acquisition or portion of an acquisition that uses a brand-name description or other purchase description to specify a particular brand-name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer does not provide for full and open competition, regardless of the number of sources solicited;

and shall be justified and approved in accordance with FAR 6.303 and 6.304.

As further described below, SOTF has unique needs requiring particularly high-quality telecommunications components. After conducting extensive research on other sources of telecommunications products, SOTF has determined that the Siemon system consisting of Siemon CAT 6A F/UTP copper cable with associated Siemon terminations and patch panels is the only product that can demonstrably meet its needs. The reasons for such determination are described below.

a. Background: The Siemon cabling solution is unique in that the company’s product line is manufactured with performance standards above industry recognized norms. The CAT6a F/UTP cable provides channel performance exceeding TIA-568-C-2 category requirements for 10GBASE-T operation over 100-meters and 4-conductor topology. The Siemon cable is the only product that SOTF has been able to find that can provide a validated and guaranteed margin over the more stringent TIA/ISO standards organizations that it requires. These factors provide significant advantages in throughput performance and stability as well as scalability for SOTF long-term infrastructure requirements while simultaneously reducing long-term sustainment and maintenance costs.

a. Warranty: Siemon provides an unsurpassed user warranty for 25 years which encompasses replacement of cost on cable, termination connectors, labor and applications when Siemon System patch cords are used for a full end-to-end system. If other components are used, this warranty is not in place, and the unit would be responsible for identifying the defective element in order to make a warranty claim.

The Siemon guarantee is backed by service and support that has been utilized by SOTF when a manufacturing flaw was detected within a specific date stamp on the F/UTP cable. Siemon responded immediately and within 3 working days had shipped over 50,000 feet of new cable and provided technical engineering onsite support to resolve all issues without any costs to the unit.

b. Security Testing: SOTF’s informal testing of 3 shielded cabled systems revealed that the Siemon shielded solution was the only cable tested that did not emit any emanations during testing. As a result, the end-to-end shielded system is the only cable the organization feels confident in using for secure communications.

b. Alternatives: Other leading manufacturer’s products have been considered, reviewed and tested over the years, yet all have failed to meet some or all of the requirements necessary to keep SOTF network infrastructure as reliable and maintainable as it is today.

a. Commscope cable was tested for electrical performance in a permanent link and channel link configurations. Near end cross talk (NEXT) and Power sum near end cross talk (PSNEXT) failures were noted at 494MHz.

b. Panduit cable was tested for electrical performance in a permanent link and channel link configurations. The cable failed coupling attenuation Type II and return loss. Other marginal pass test parameters were noted against NEXT.

c. Superior Essex cable was evaluated and failed in comparison to the Siemon’s product line for return loss values.

d. Berk-Tek/Ortronics was found to be a minimally compliant cable to industry standards in relation to overall performance.

e. Additional factors considered: when evaluated, these other products did not constrain themselves to only the cable, but also the terminations and their mated performance, patch panels and installation and re-installation time. No other brand successfully produces a product line system that conforms to the standards and quality listed below.

f. Cable: Is constructed of FRPVC with a size of 0.290 in., has a ripcord, Mylar tape, aluminum foil tape that shields enclosing drain wire, has an isolation member, and a 0.58mm(0.023 in.) 23 AWG solid bar copper conductor that is enclosed in a FEP rated insulator. Siemon

CAT 6A F/UTP installed copper cable has a maximum pulling tension of 110N (25 lbf), a minimum bend radius of 6 x O.D. 44mm (1.74 in.), Installation temperature of 0 to 75°C (+32 to 167°F), storage temperature of -20 to 75°C (-4 to 167°F), and an Operating temperature of -20 to 75°C. Available in multiple colors to provide a visual security classification reference.

g. Terminations: Exceeds CAT6A component compliance through usable bandwidth to 500Mhz. Universal design allows the same outlet to be mounted either flat or angle orientated. It is backwards compatible to allow lower performing categories of cable or connecting hardware to operate to their full capacity. The connector supports industry standard for T568A or T568B wiring options on each individual outlet.

It allows installation from the front or the rear of the faceplate, and allows for the jack to pass through the faceplate without re-termination. This component allows for a minimum of 5 re-terminations without signal degradation below standard compliance limits. Outlet/connector shall be combined with Category 6A F/UTP cable which results in a channel capable of supporting 10GBASE-T operation over 100-meter, 4 connector topologies, and provide a validated and guaranteed Chanel Performance which has a margin over TIA/ISO. Product comes with colored bezels providing easy of classification identification for secure and non-secure systems.

c. Justification: FAR 6.302-1 (c) allows for limiting competition to those sources who can provide a brand name product.

d. Prior Acquisitions: SOF OPS Additions BLDG O-1900 project (Contract

PN 64484, W912HN-11-C-0010).

e. Impact: Due to the unique operational requirements placed on SOTF network infrastructure, the unit requires a homogeneous cabling infrastructure from Siemon that reduces the risk to network availability to the lowest levels possible. There are currently no other alternate manufacturers that manufacture copper cabling to the specifications SOTF requires in its current infrastructure nor the warranty period necessary to reduce long-term costs to the government. Over the past eight years, SOTF determined through hands-on experience that having multiple manufacturers of cabling significantly reduced network availability and increased manpower overhead to manage a non-homogeneous copper infrastructure.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

a. Siemon is the only manufacturer in the industry that manufactures copper cabling to our required specifications and warranty requirements. Over the past seven years numerous other cabling systems were evaluated through performance documentation inspection and comparison as well as vendor meets. SOTF will continue to evaluate cabling systems for performance-related improvements.

b. Effective Competition: Effective competition will be achieved. The solicitation for PN 88658 will be solicited on an unrestricted basis. Each offeror will independently price the required equipment.

c. Subcontracting Competition: Subcontracting competition will be achieved by the market forces. While Seimon brand equipment restrict competition to vendors that provide Seimon equipment and subcontractors authorized to install it, competition will still be realized.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

No additional actions to increase competition to find an alternative copper cabling manufacturer are anticipated at this time. Based upon current research, Siemon is the only manufacturer in the industry that manufactures copper cabling to SOTF’s required specifications and warranty requirements. SOTF, as a small and specialized military organization, is not able to effect industry change or manufacturing guidelines of other companies.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

SOTF has conducted, and continues to conduct, product-by-product evaluation of all available cabling systems. Siemon is the only manufacturer in the industry that manufactures copper cabling and terminations to the system level that meets SOTF’s required specifications and warranty requirements. Numerous other cable manufacturer products were evaluated by SOTF telecommunications engineers and technicians. These products include Superior Essex, Commscope, AMP, BelTek Ortronics, and Mohawk.

All of these leading market products were found to not meet the requirements in performance at the system level when compared to SOTF’s base product line. Please see attached data sheets and additional information provided.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

This is a brand name justification. This justification will be provided to the public at the time of solicitation as required by 6.302-1(c)(ii)(C). Because this justification is for a portion of the acquisition, neither the sources sought nor the synopsis will provide a meaningful opportunity for interested sources to respond prior to solicitation.

10. OTHER FACTS:

Procurement history: Paragraph 5 provides the historical results of prior acquisitions that did not limit competition on the component subject to this justification.

11. TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION: Include the following statement:

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

Typed Name: Brian Ballweg Title: Engineer Technical Lead

Signature:

11/18/2020

X Brian Ballweg Brian Ballweg Engineer Technical Lead Signed by: BALLWEG.BRIAN.J.1147449239

12. REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION: Include the following statement:

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

Typed Name: Roger Whatley Title: Chief of Engineering Operations, SOTF

X Roger Whatley Chief of Engineer Operations, SOTF

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 will be made using the following: ☐ cost analysis ☒ price analysis ☐ should cost ☒ IGCE ☐ audit: ☐ other:

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data:

☐ will be required.

☒ will not be required and the following exception applies (FAR 15.403):

☒ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on adequate price competition.

☐ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on prices set by law or regulation.

☐ A commercial item is being acquired.

☐ A waiver has been granted by the head of the contracting activity (HCA) in accordance with DFARS PGI 215.403-1.

☐ The contract action is a modification to a contract or subcontract for commercial item(s).

☐ The estimated cost of the contract action is less than the threshold for certified cost or pricing data.

Typed Name: John Hill Title: Contracting Officer

Signature:

X

14. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

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

Additionally, I concur that the anticipated cost to the government is considered both fair and reasonable.

Signature:

X

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of Siemon CAT 6A F/UTP copper cable, Z-Max series terminations and patch panels for use in SOF OPS Additions BLDG O-1900 project (Contract PN 64484, W912HN-11-C-0010) on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), FAR 6.302-1, and DFARS 206.302-1, subject to the availability of funds, and provided the property herein described has otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

X

APPENDIX A (Siemon’s Warranty)

101 Siemon Company Dr

Watertown CT, 06795

October 7, 2013

S.O.T.F.

Signal Telecommunications

To Whom It May Concern, The Siemon Company does warranty the Z-MAX 6A F/UTP platform for 25 years on the Special Operations Training Facility (SOTF) 0-1900 Lamont Rd Ft Bragg NC, 28307

The project must be installed by a Siemon Certified Installer (CI) and submitted in for warranty review once projects are complete. The Z-MAX 6A F/UTP Warranty is a Siemon end-to-end type solution. We do not partner with any other cable manufacturer on this system.

With a complete Siemon end-to-end system being installed, the warranty coverage would include the following Product, Cable, Labor, and Applications. If non-Siemon patch cords are utilized then the warranty coverage would only include Product, Cable, and Labor.

On a side note, The Siemon Company also offers an Enduser CI Maintainer program which allows the enduser to become certified within our CI Program in order to be able to make any MAC (Moves, Adds, Changes) work and be able to apply these cables to an existing warranty. This would allow SOTF Signal Telecommunications to QA/QC verify for warranty purposes of installed work by contractors at any given time.

I hope that you find this information helpful. If you have any questions, please contact me directly at (860)945-8521.

Sincerely, Ron Symolon Training Technician