Inactive

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION 1. Contracting Activity: U. S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit, Cleveland, Ohio. 2. Nature/Description of Action: Approval for us... JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION 1. Contracting Activity: U. S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit, Cleveland, Ohio. 2. Nature/Description of Action: Approval for use of specific manufacturer equipment for the fire detection and alarm system in the Firehouse, Building #16, at US Coast Guard Training Center (TRACEN) Cape May, New Jersey. This proposed FY23 contract will be a firm, fixed-price contract awarded with maintenance funds. 3. Description of Brand name Items: The specified fire detection and alarm system equipment shall be manufactured by Siemens. Only a small portion of the overall project is identified as sole source equipment. 4. Statutory Authority: 10 U. S. C. 2304 © (1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 permits other than full and open competition when services are available from only one responsible source that meets agency requirements and when it is likely that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. 5. Reason for Authority: TRACEN Cape May has standardized on the use of the Siemens Model XLS addressable fire alarm system and 100% of the fire alarm systems installed are using this system. The total number of buildings currently being monitored is thirty-seven (37). These buildings automatically report to the Siemens network command center which is located in the on-base firehouse. TRACEN Cape May maintains an extensive inventory of Siemens fire alarm system parts. TRACEN’s maintenance personnel are trained in the operation and programming of the Siemens’ system which uses proprietary software and hardware. Furthermore, TRACEN has a yearly maintenance contract with Siemens to provide technical support. The use of another manufacturer’s equipment would require additional inventory, additional training, additional software/hardware to program the equipment, an additional command center to monitor the third party equipment, and probably a second maintenance contract. All of these factors would impact our limited personnel and financial resources. 6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Other sources that manufacture fire detection and alarm systems devices are available. Their use however would require maintaining additional inventory, new and additional training requirements for personnel to maintain and operate the system, and the procurement of additional software and hardware for programming the system. Furthermore, many fire alarm manufacturers do not allow the end user to make modifications to the system. TRACEN would be required to issue subsequent contracts to the third party manufacturer every time there was a need to slightly modify the system. With Siemens, TRACEN has the capability to make minor modifications to the fire alarm system in-house. Failure to standardize on a single manufacturer’s system could lead to additional systems of other manufacturer’s which will continue to compound the inventory, training and system maintenance requirements for TRACEN Cape May. 7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost to the Government: A determination has been made by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government is fair and reasonable based on the evaluation of current market prices for similar items. 8. Market Survey: A market survey was conducted by researching available manufacturer’s literature. 9. Other Factors: Installation of other manufacturer’s equipment could impact on future TRACEN fire alarm system maintenance contracts in that separate contracts may be required with each system manufacturer. 10. Interested Sources: None 11. Statement of Action for Future Competition: Not applicable.