Description
Specific Brand Name Justification US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District 1. Contracting Activity: US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Resource Management Office 2. Description of Action: New Firm Fixed Price contract for supply and delivery of notebook computers. This is a Brand Name Only solicitation which will result in a Firm Fixed Priced Supply contract using Civil Works O&M type funding. This will be competed through the Army-mandated CHESS contracts, or when available through the use of the Army-mandated CHESS "Consolidated Buy", and meets the Army's requirement for completion. The purpose of this J&A is to address the issue of specific make and model. 3. Description of Supplies/Services: Sacramento District, US Army Corps of Engineers has determined that it will be a cost effective enhancement to acquire replacement computers and accessories for computer systems reaching the end of their useful lives. In many cases, these systems will also replace existing desktop systems, furthering SPK's goal of using mobile systems to the maximum extend feasible. The brand name Dell computers and accessories we are procuring are: 10 E6540 notebook computers, configured as per detailed specifications in the PR&C with 8 GB RAM, i7-4610M processor, encrypted hard drives, 3 yr NBD warranty and other internal subcomponents in detailed specifications. 4. Authority Cited and Justification Rationale: FAR 8.405-6(c) - Limiting the source. We are mandated by Army policy to use one of the contracts awarded under the Army CHESS program. We are not limiting the source, but rather limiting the items to a specific make and model. Within CHESS, the acquisition will be fully competed according to Army direction. Since this is a supply contract, with no service involved, and there are no options to be included in this contract. Statutory Authority for this is The Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (41 U.S.C.§428a) as implemented by FAR 13.501 - Special Documentation Requirements. 5. Best Value Determination: (1) Background: SPK has determined that it will be a cost effective enhancement to acquire replacement computers and accessories for computer systems reaching the end of their useful lives. This will be accomplished in accordance through the use of the Army- mandated CHESS series of contracts and delivery orders for the necessary equipment to accomplish this migration. Where Consolidated Buy is relevant, we will restrict solicitation to the Army specified Consolidated Buy vendors(s), as per Army policy. Thanks to economies of scale and leveraged buying power, use of these required contracts would provide us with the best value even if they weren't already mandatory. Further, as this involves contracts precompeted and monitored by the Army, the prices we will obtain are fair and reasonable by definition. (2) Justification: (a) Headquarters US Army Corps of Engineers (HQUSACE), through our IT support contractor: Army Corps of Engineers - Information Technology (ACE-IT), has specified the specific make and model and subcomponents approved for use in this mission. We are acquiring the system components through the Army CHESS program as directed by HQUSACE. Only these systems, are authorized to be used on the USACE network, no unapproved devices may be connected to the USACE network. All vendors who are part of the Army CHESS program and that can provide these units will be allowed to compete for the contract. As the US Army CHESS program is a mandatory source of supply for Army IT purchases only vendors in the CHESS program will be notified of the requirement and will be eligible to receive the award. (b) HQUSACE, through ACE-IT, has specified the specific make and model and subcomponents approved for use in this mission. We are acquiring the components on the ACE-IT Approved Product List, https://aceit.usace.army.mil/support/LCM/Pages/APL.aspx, as directed by USACE. In our acquisitions, we are complying with direction from higher authority. (c) Only these systems will be supported by ACE-IT, a vital requirement. (3) Impact: Failure to approve this J&A will mean we cannot replace systems nearing or at the end of their useful lives. This will have direct impact on accomplishment of mission. (4) Alternatives: (a) No acquisition. As these systems are approaching the end of their useful lives, we would be risking system failures as well as unavailability of spare parts . (b) Acquire unapproved systems. As explained above, this is not feasible. (5) Future Acquisition Strategy: For future acquisitions, we will continue to operate within the mandated CHESS program. 6. Market Research: We have done market research to determine reasonable pricing for the mandated switch that meets USACE requirements. This was accomplished through examining manufacturers' price lists as well as getting planning quotes for this equipment using conventional CHESS pricing, which were then multiplied by the number of units to be acquired. This determined our Government Estimate. Within CHESS there are multiple independent vendors that can meet our requirement. We are required by Army policy of many years standing to acquire via Army CHESS contracts, 7. Other Facts: A. Procurement history. We always comply with Army requirements in the use of CHESS for relevant IT purchases. B. Acquisition data availability: Information on the MACOM standard system has been provided by USACE's IT organization, ACE-IT. Basic specification data can be found at https://aceit.usace.army.mil/support/LCM/Pages/APL.aspx This equipment is within the scope of the HQUSACE standard. In addition, we need the support of our designated support vendor, ACE-IT, who will not support an "or equal" system. This drives us to a brand name specified acquisition within CHESS.