LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Acquisition Operations Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, New Jersey 07724 2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a firm-fixed price (FFP) task order issued under the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Number 70 for 3M brand name hardware maintenance, enhancement, and support (MES) for VA's existing 3M AT9000 Full Page Reader/Scanner hardware and renew software licensing and maintenance for the Assurtec "AssureID" and "RevealID" software products. The Assurtec "AssureID" and "RevealID" software and 3M AT9000 Full Page Reader/Scanner hardware are integrated components utilized for the current Personal Identity Verification (PIV) scanning and authentication solution. The proposed effort will be awarded under GSA FSS Number 70 Special Item Number (SIN) 132-12, "Maintenance of Equipment and Repair Services." The performance period of this action shall be for a base period of twelve months with four 12-month option periods, if exercised. 3. Description of the Supplies or Services: The proposed action is to renew brand name hardware MES for the existing installations of 3M brand, AT9000 Full Page Reader/Scanner and dependent software licensing and maintenance for the Assurtec "AssureID" and "RevealID" software products that are utilized for the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) -12, PIV program. The aforementioned combination of hardware and software support are specific to the PIV scanning solution which has been previously delivered to, deployed and is in use nationally within VA. These 3M scanners are currently in use as an enterprise, standards-based, multi-location, Identity Document Verification solution to help meet the HSPD-12 requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The 3M brand name hardware MES includes troubleshooting of product-related problems; customer support via phone, web, and email; hardware warranty coverage; 24-hour advance replacement of defective parts; firmware and software maintenance and updates. The total estimated price of the proposed action (inclusive of options) is $ 4. Authority: The specific authority providing for a limited source award is Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), "Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized." 5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: This is a brand name justification in support of FAR 11.105, Items Peculiar to One Manufacturer. Based on market research, as described in paragraph 8 of this document, it was determined that limited competition is available among resellers of 3M hardware MES and AssurTec software. Utilizing any other brand name hardware MES does not afford the unique support mechanisms, such as vendor patches, firmware, driver and software upgrades and updated vendor technical data/support, necessary for functioning the PIV scanner integrated solution within VA's infrastructure. Furthermore, the Government does not possess the proprietary technical data for the 3M scanners and associated AssureTec software. Without this technical data, no other source has the ability to provide the aforementioned hardware MES services other than 3M or its authorized resellers. This proprietary technical data is needed to ensure that 3M's hardware MES provided meets VA's needs of ensuring the devices and associated software remain operational. 6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in the market research section of this document in paragraph 8 below. In accordance with FAR 5.301 and 8.405-6(a)(2)(i), this action will be synopsized within 14 days of award on the Federal Business Opportunities Page (FBO) and the justification will be made publicly available. In addition, the ordering activity will post the justification along with the Request For Quotation to e-Buy in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3). 7. Actions to Increase Competition: In order to remove or overcome barriers to competition in future acquisitions for this requirement, the agency will work with the program office to perform additional market research so that other solutions can be considered. 8. Market Research: VA technical experts performed market research for other source/service providers in May of 2014 to determine if the current 3M hardware and software being utilized in VA can be supported by other service providers. Due to the proprietary nature of the technical data, it was concluded that there are no other service providers that can provide the maintenance and technical support without the proprietary source code as outlined in paragraph five of this document. 3M or its resellers are the only sources that can provide maintenance and support of the 3M proprietary hardware MES and software products. On June 30, 2014, a Request for Information was issued on the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Number 70 Special Item Number(s) 132-12 - Maintenance of Equipment, Repair Services, and/or Repair/Spare Parts and SIN 132-33 - Perpetual Software Licenses to determine if any potential sources existed for the required hardware and software MES. On July 7, 2014, one response was received from a GSA Schedule 70 holder, 3M Cogent, a large business. The Government technical expert determined 3M Cogent technically capable of meeting VA's requirements. 9. Other Facts: None.
