JA_-_Edwards_Fire_Alarm_System_HAFB_PS_07-20-16.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Fire Alarm System Replace Hanscom Primary School, Hanscom AFB, MA

Solicitation No. W912WJ-16-R-0007

1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Approval is requested to provide a brand-name fire alarm system for a new construction project at Hanscom Air Force Base. An Edwards Fire Alarm system is proposed to be furnished and installed as part of the replacement of the new primary school military construction project (MilCon) on Hanscom Air Force Base (HAFB) MA. The construction of the New HAFB Primary School (PS) is to be awarded via a firm fixed-price, best value trade-off procurement in accordance with FAR Part 15 under solicitation number W912WJ-16-R-0007. It is solicited as a stand-alone contract and is not reliant on any other procurement to provide a fully functional facility. The Hanscom Air Force Base Primary School (HAFB PS) will be constructed adjacent, and physically connected to, the newly constructed Hanscom Air Force Base Middle School (HAFB MS). The Edwards Fire Alarm system is essential to the Government’s requirements, and precludes consideration of a product manufactured by another company. The estimated cost of this fire alarm system is $239,278. Funding for this acquisition will be from the Military Construction funding appropriation number 09720140500. This J&A covers only the portion of the acquisition which is brand-name or peculiar to one manufacturer.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

During the development of the technical requirements for the HAFB PS, both the HAFB fire alarm requirements and the fire alarm installed at the adjacent newly constructed HAFB MS were referenced for design criteria. The MS fire alarm system was installed under a contract awarded to J&J Contractors on December 20, 2013 as part of the MS construction project. There were no restrictions on the selection of the alarm system manufacturer. It should also be noted that the mass notification system is an integral part of the fire alarm system which is necessary to communicate the alarm signal to external fire department responders. Although the solicitation is a full and open competition procurement, an exception to full and open competition is needed to support the requirement for all offerors to use the Edwards Fire Alarm system, model no. EST-3 in accordance with FAR 6.302-1. To ensure that the primary school fire alarm system can communicate with the middle school via the same language protocol, the Edwards Fire Alarm system has been identified as that which will meet the system requirements for compatibility and interoperability between the middle school and primary schools, as well as the HAFB PS fire alarm requirements; i.e., it accomplishes the required smoke detection, systems control and occupant notification, and communicates to the site emergency receiving station.

Control No. 16 05

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 items peculiar to one manufacturer (brand-name item).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED

Background:

The beneficial occupancy and physical completion milestones were achieved by the newly constructed HAFB MS during April 2016. The design of the proposed HAFB PS will result in the two schools being physically connected, thus allowing for spreading of fire and associated fire-related by-products (smoke, ash and heat) between the two schools without a complete fire break. With any fire-related emergency, early notification of adjacent facilities of where the threat is, and is not, is imperative to allow large groups of people to escape from the facility in the safest direction possible.

The alarm notifications are sent via the Mass Notification system both locally to the school terminals and externally to the HAFB fire department personnel.

The existing Middle School Fire Alarm System software is to be expanded to provide full monitoring, control and functionality of Primary School fire alarm systems. Existing system server and software will be upgraded and modified as required for a complete operational system. System reprogramming is included in the plans and specifications.

Justification:

In addition to the physical connection of the schools, the fire alarm system used to monitor heat and smoke sensors and the mass notification system to alert both the on-site officials and off-site first responders will also be a combined system. The HAFB PS fire alarm system must be interconnected to and completely compatible with that of the HAFB MS. In other words, the HAFB PS fire alarm detection and respective alert system will be connected to, and be an extension of the system already in place at the HAFB MS. This combined system shall allow for the unhindered transfer of the specific alarms activated, the respective location of the alarm and effective transfer of alarms between schools, thus allowing the alarms to be monitored in both schools upon the detection of a smoke or heat threat. In addition to each school being notified that the adjacent school is in alarm, the adjacent school’s panel will also need to be able to identify what room the issue is in and what the specific issue is. This system must operate as a whole, integrated system to ensure a reliable operation.

The Government has investigated both internally, with the HAFB Fire Department and in communication with the HAFB PS Designer of Record, the possibility of other fire alarm systems that may be compatible. It was determined that there are no other fire alarm systems available that advertise the same features of the Edwards system, nor any systems that have a compatible language protocol allowing communication and differentiation of specific signals between the two systems (HAFB MS and PS). For the first responders to a fire-related emergency, it is absolutely imperative that they are able to identify the type of alarm signal and the location of the sensors that have been triggered. In a response mode, it is also of utmost importance to be able to close passage doors to contain the spread of a fire as well as attack the fire where it is most directly accessed.

If the Edwards brand is not selected and another manufacturer is selected for this project, there is a known risk to the Government that the existing Edwards system in the MS and the new system in the PS will not interface with each other. The resulting implication of this is that alarm may be evident in the adjacent school. However, the specific location of the threat (heat and/or smoke) will not be transmitted. Without being able to differentiate where the specific alarms are activated, the magnitude of the threat cannot be determined nor can a methodical, planned evacuation be implemented. Without this specific information, the resulting response is merely a calculated guess. This is a risk the Government cannot assume or tolerate. In other words, the life, health and safety risks associated with trying to integrate two separate systems are at a level not acceptable by the Government particularly where the individuals at risk are young and do not respond well in an emergency situation.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION

As stated in paragraph 5, the Edwards Fire Alarm system is the only brand available to ensure the highly specialized fire alarm signals will be properly transmitted and located on a map of the buildings. The existing Middle School Fire Alarm System hardware and software is to be expanded to provide full monitoring, control and functionality of Primary School fire alarm systems. The MS fire alarm system was not restricted to one manufacturer. A Notice of Intent as described in paragraph 8 was conducted to determine if other sources were available for potential competition.

It was determined that the Edwards Fire Alarm system is the only brand available to adequately fulfill the Government’s needs.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION

This J&A is for a brand name product to be supplied in the construction of the HAFB PS. In accordance with FAR Part 15, full and open competition is provided for on this procurement. The Edwards Fire Alarm system is available for purchase on the open market by all offerors.

8. MARKET RESEARCH

A Notice of Intent (NOI) to determine sources for this system was synopsized on June 29, 2016. The NOI was published for the required 15 days on the Federal Business Opportunities website. There were no responses to the NOI. This Justification and Approval will be made publicly available on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES

A Notice of Intent to use the Edwards Fire Alarm system was posted on June 29, 2016 and closed on July 15, 2016. No responses were received.

10. OTHER FACTS

None applicable.

11. TECHNICAL CERITIFICATION:

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

NAME: Jack Perry SIGNATURE:

TITLE: Ch. Technical Lead Section

12. REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION:

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

NAME: Robert Leitch SIGNATURE:

TITLE: Project Manager

13. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. Proposed prices for the product will be compared to the independent government estimate that will be developed. Certified cost or pricing data will be requested if determined to be necessary.

NAME: Erin Bradley SIGNATURE:

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: Erin Bradley SIGNATURE:

TITLE: Contracting Officer

Digitally signed by

BRADLEY.ERIN.ELIZABETH.13869084

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=BRADLEY.ERIN.ELIZABETH.13869 08440 Date: 2016.07.19 11:28:47 -04'00'

Digitally signed by

BRADLEY.ERIN.ELIZABETH.138690

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=BRADLEY.ERIN.ELIZABETH.138 6908440 Date: 2016.07.19 11:29:04 -04'00'

LEITCH.RO

BERT.A.126

1706306

Digitally signed by

LEITCH.ROBERT.A.1261706306

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=LEITCH.ROBERT.A.126170630 Date: 2016.07.19 11:55:39 -04'00'

PERRY.JOHN.

C.1228582227

Digitally signed by

PERRY.JOHN.C.1228582227

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=PERRY.JOHN.C.1228582227 Date: 2016.07.20 10:22:15 -04'00'

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the brand name requirement for the Edwards Fire Alarm system, estimated at $239,278in support of the Replacement of the HAFB Primary School construction project 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..

Sheila Winston Vincuilla Chief of Contracting, New England District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

WINSTONVINCUILLA.SH

EILA.M.1228580461

Digitally signed by

WINSTONVINCUILLA.SHEILA.M.1228580461

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=WINSTONVINCUILLA.SHEILA.M.1228580461 Date: 2016.07.21 16:03:22 -04'00'