Cisco Brand Name Justification & Approval - Request for Information - LMA Powerhouse HVAC System Upgrade

The Department of the Army Corps of Engineers Engineering District Walla Walla (ENDIST Walla Walla) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding brand name justification for Cisco networking equipment needed to support a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) equipment upgrade at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam's Powerhouse HVAC System. This Special Notice, posted on February 20, 2026, with solicitation number W912EF26RSN07, is issued under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) authority. The RFI is explicitly not a request for competitive proposals but rather an opportunity for interested parties to provide feedback on the proposed brand name requirement before the contracting officer finalizes formal Justification and Approval (J&A) documentation for an upcoming solicitation. The agency is seeking input from the contracting community regarding the proposed Cisco brand name specification prior to formal competitive procurement.

The objective of this RFI is to solicit feedback on the justification for requiring specific Cisco products—the IE-3300-8P2S-E 10-Port Managed Network Switch, IEM-3300-16P 16-Port Gigabit PoE+ Expansion Module, PWR-IE170WPC-AC 170W AC to DC Power Supply, and PWR-IE240WPCAC-L 240W AC to DC Power Supply—which are driven by stringent cybersecurity specifications necessary for interfacing with the Generic Data Acquisition and Control System (GDACS). The due date for submitting feedback is March 6, 2026, and responses should be directed to Nathan Bruce, Contract Specialist, at nathan.i.bruce@usace.army.mil. While no specific eligibility criteria are stated, this RFI is open to any interested parties who wish to provide information regarding potential alternatives or justifications for the brand name requirement. The opportunity falls under NAICS 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors) and PSC N041 (Installation of Equipment—Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Air Circulating Equipment), and feedback provided may influence the structure and specifications of the subsequent formal solicitation.