DWA Life Safety Upgrades

This is a special notice prepared in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS PGI) 206.302-1(d) “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, is executing a contract for the Expansion of the existing Siemens FireFinder XLS fire alarm and suppression system. This project will expand the existing, in-service Siemens FireFinder XLS life-safety platform by adding addressable signaling line circuits, initiating devices (including smoke and heat detectors, and manual pull stations), notification appliances, and associated loop and network hardware. Due to the proprietary architecture of the in-service equipment and strict compliance with UL 864 and NFPA 72 compatibility listings, the Government intends to specify the use of proprietary Siemens equipment for the integration-dependent portions of the work. This includes FireFinder XLS components, SureWire addressable devices, and XNET network hardware.

The statutory authority for this brand name restriction to be made as a part of the larger effort is 10 U.S.C. §3204(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(c) (and FAR 6.103-1(b)), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

The Government intends to solicit the action in July 2027. The NAICS is 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), and the associated Small Business Size Standard is $45 Million.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS OR BIDS. This is a notice of intent to procure a brand-name product for the restricted, integration-dependent scope of the expansion. The Government is seeking information from responsible sources who can provide a solution that is fully and seamlessly interoperable with the existing Siemens FireFinder XLS life-safety platform.

Interested parties must provide a statement of capability with clear and convincing evidence that their proposed alternative components can natively interface with the existing architecture. The proposed alternative must:

1. Communicate on the proprietary Siemens addressable SLC (SureWire) protocol.
2. Join the existing proprietary XNET peer-to-peer fire network.
3. Physically and electronically install into the existing CC-2 or CC-5 card cages.
4. Integrate without voiding the system's active UL 864 and NFPA 72 compatibility listings or disrupting the in-service suppression and agent-releasing logic.

If no affirmative written responses demonstrating such capability are received by 02:00 PM Local Time on the notice end date, a solicitation will be issued that includes the Siemens brand-name requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government. Electronic responses shall be submitted via email to Chandra.d.crow@usace.army.mil. Oral communications are not acceptable. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is not responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice.