Cisco Line Cards

Please read the ENTIRE synopsis before submitting any response. The 10th Mission Support Group, Directorate of Contracting, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Colorado has a Brand Name Only requirement for the purchase of Cisco Line Cards. The requirements are as follows: Cat 6500 Supervisor 720 with 2 ports, Cisco CAT6000-VSS720 IOS IP Services, 10Gbase-LR X2 Module, Catalyst 6500 Multilayer Switch Feature Card, Catalyst 6500 Sup 720-10G Policy Feature Card 3C, Catalyst 6500 Supervisor 720 with 2 10Gbe Ports, SP Adapter for SUP720 and SUP720-10G, Catalyst 6500 Compact Flash Memory 1GB, Bootflash for SUP720-64MB-RP, Catalyst 6500 3000W AC Power Supply (Spare), Power Cord 250Vac 16A Twist Lock NEMA L6-20 Plug, Catalyst 6500 24-port GigE Mod Fabric-Enabled, Catalyst 6500 256MB DDR xCEF720, Catalyst 6500 Central Fwd Card for WS-X67xx Modules, Catalyst 6500 48-port 10/100/1000 w/Jumbo Frame RJ-45, GE SFP LC Connector SX Transceiver, and GE SFP LC Connector LX/LH Transceiver. This notice document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-40, 23 March 2010. The North American Industry Classification System Code [NAICS] is 423430 and the size standard is 100 employees. Cisco is the only brand name technically capable of providing the components to USAFA's network. Only a Cisco Ethernet card can be replaced by another Cisco Ethernet card in Cisco equipment. The cadet dormitories are currently running 10/100 Mbps 48-port line cards. This limits performance to cadets as they access network services. Upgrading their ports to 10/100/1000 Mbps will give them a ten-fold increase in performance and better meet their needs for data access. These dorm line cards must be Cisco because they will be replacing already existing Cisco line cards and be placed in Cisco chassis. Delivery is to be made to IT Accountability 5136 Community Center Drive East Loading Dock at the U.S. Air Force Academy. FOB: Destination. This synopsis is for notification purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bids or proposals. DO NOT SUBMIT A QUOTE AT THIS TIME. Any offerors believing they can provide an equal product that meets all of the features and functionality of the Cisco Line Cards may provide evidence for consideration. Evidence must support the offeror's claim they can provide an equal product. It is the offerors responsibility to prove their product is an equal by demonstrating their product, at a minimum, has the same features and functionality of the brand name product. Providing brochures, specifications and/or quotes alone is not enough for the Government to make a decision. The offeror should provide an understandable comparison between the two products. The Government is not responsible for developing the comparison from insufficient information provided. All qualified sources may submit a response, which if timely received, will be considered by this agency. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a brand name or equal procurement can be conducted. A determination that equal products exist based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses must be received 12:00 pm NOON on 26 April 2010. Responses received after this will be considered late IAW FAR 52.212-1(f) and will not be evaluated. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this synopsis. Contractors must have a current registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov and with Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) at http://orca.bpn.gov. Questions should be addressed to the Primary POC Karen Jackson, Contract Specialist, (719) 333-4060 or sent via e-mail to karen.jackson@usafa.af.mil. Alternate POC is Leslie Ryan, Contracting Officer, (719) 333-3961, leslie.ryan@usafa.af.mil. 5352.201-9101 OMBUDSMAN (AUG 2005) (a) An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the party to another official who can resolve the concern. (b) Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions). (c) If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, concerned parties may contact the USAF Academy Ombudsmen, Kelly Snyder 8110 Industrial Drive, Ste 103 USAFA, CO 80840 Telephone number 719-333-2074 FAX 719-333-9018 email: kelly.snyder@usafa.af.mil Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the MAJCOM/DRU level, may be brought by the concerned party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (703) 588-7004, facsimile number (703) 588-1067. (d) The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency. (e) Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer. (End of clause)