JA - Brand Name (Fire Alarm System) SAM.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Louisville District, Post Office Box 59, Louisville, Kentucky 40201-0059.

2. Description of Action: This justification and approval (J&A) is being prepared for the use of a brand name item, Simplex fire alarm system equipment, in the firm fixed price construction contract for the Intelligence Production Complex phase III project at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The government will not purchase the Simplex equipment directly, but rather brand name specifications will be included in the design bid build solicitation that will lead to a new firm fixed price (FFP) construction contract. The construction contract is planned to be awarded under a full and open solicitation, using FY19 MILCON funding.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The fire alarm system equipment will include a fire alarm control unit, pole stations, room smoke detectors, duct detectors, control relay modules, and local operator consoles; which are manufactured by Simplex, Westminster, Massachusetts. The estimated total cost for the equipment is approximately XXXXXX.

4. Authority Cited: 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) 2304(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2) “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.” This authority is applicable to brand name justifications in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c)(1).

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a) Background: The National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) facilities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will connect to existing facilities.

This project will be designed to tie-in to existing building systems so that there is one (1) system protecting the facility. The existing NASIC facility is currently housed in several buildings (10853, 10822, and 10856) that have been combined into one contiguous facility. Together these buildings comprise one of the largest SCIF buildings in the Department of Defense. The existing facility is a two-story building that has been renovated/added onto over its existence. It houses analyst workstations, electronics laboratories, and supporting infrastructure. Each time the facility size was increased by an addition, systems such as fire alarm, fire suppression and intrusion detection had to be coordinated to ensure the facility and the users were protected by code-compliant systems.

All building security and alarm systems are a standard, uniform system throughout the entire facility. These systems utilize proprietary software to control and monitor each system and communicate with various components.

The fire alarm system must adhere to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 72 code; which mandates that the completed work must be a single UL listed system. The existing NASIC facilities fire alarm system is a Simplex system; which is a proprietary system. The scope of the Intelligence Production Complex phase III project requires for the integration of the fire alarm system with the existing NASIC fire alarm system.

The mixing of any components from alternate vendors with the existing Simplex fire alarm system will result in a non-UL listed system.

b) Justification: Simplex, INC is the sole manufacturer of the existing equipment being utilized by NASIC for their fire alarm system; which includes the fire alarm control unit, pole stations, room smoke detectors, duct detectors, control relay modules, and local operator consoles. In order for the system to remain in compliance with the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 72 code as an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed system, Simplex equipment will need to be required for the project fire alarm system in order to integrate it with the existing NASIC fire alarm system.

The Simplex fire alarm control unit, pole stations, room smoke detectors, duct detectors, control relay modules, and local operator consoles are comprised of proprietary software and hardware. The Simplex proprietary software is the intellectual property of Simplex, INC.

c) Impact: The use of any parts from any other manufacturer would be incompatible with the existing Simplex system. The Simplex system uses proprietary software and the utilization of parts from other manufacturers will result in communication errors with the Simplex system, making it inoperable.

In addition, NFPA code mandates one operable system for a facility. Using an additional manufacturer would violate the NFPA code.

d) Alternatives: None viable to achieve a fully functioning system for the reasons noted above in paragraph 5. b) and c). A total replacement cost of the Fire Alarm and Detection System is estimated to be XXXXXX This cost was not considered in the project planning for construction funding. A total replacement would require additional time and effort to re-program the project and obtain Congressional approval.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Technical capabilities of various manufacturers were reviewed for compatibility to the current fire alarm system; however use of different equipment from what is currently being utilized would result in a non-UL system and would not meet the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 72 code.

A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted on 22 JAN 2020 to the beta.sam.gov website. To date, no other sources have written to express interest.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Apart from the complete replacement of the current fire alarm system in its entirety, competition will be limited. This is a finite requirement with no anticipated future needs, and therefore there are no actions to increase future competition.

8. Market Research: A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted on the beta.sam.gov website. To date, no other sources have written to express interest.

A technical review and evaluation was conducted of the fire alarm and detection system requirements for the NASIC facilities by Wright-Patterson Base CE Electrical Engineering and Fire Department. As discussed in paragraph 6 above, only the Simplex system/equipment will ensure one system of fire alarm/ detections for the facility to meet applicable NFPA code.

9. Interested Sources: A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted on the beta.sam.gov website. To date, no other sources have written to express interest.

10. Other Factors: None