Intent of Sole-Source Award

This is a notice that the 15th Contracting Squadron, Hickam AFB, Oahu, Hawaii intends to award a sole source purchase order to Knoll Furniture, 1235 Water Street, East Greenville, PA 18041-2202, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. This notice is not a request for proposal nor a solicitation of offers. A determination not to compete this proposal procurement based on response to this notice is soley within the discretion of the Government. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or a solicitation of offers. The point of contact for this action is Darrell Strahan, contracting officer, phone (808)448-2943, email darrell.strahan@hickam.af.mil. Justification & Approval Limited Source Knoll Component Furniture for Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies 23 March 2009 In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c), an acquisition that uses a brand name description or other purchase description to specify a particular brand name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer does not provide for full and open competition regardless of the number of sources solicited (10 USC, 2304 (c)(5)). (1) Contracting Activity: Department of the Air Force, 15th Contracting Squadron, Specialized Flight (15 CONS/LGCZ), 90 G Street, Building 1201, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 96853. (2) Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved: Justification for band name purchase for Knoll furniture components for the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS). (3) Description of Services Required Meeting the Agency's Needs: APCSS requires additional furniture components to complete the outfitting of its workspace. The additional furniture components need to be able to: (a) integrate into the existing Knoll furniture, (b) allow for flexibility when workstations are rearranged and (c) match the current furniture in appearance. The estimated value will not be disclosed for competition purposes but is less than $550,000.00 (4) Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition: IAW 10 USC, 2304(c) (1) - only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency. The acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program IAW Title III of Federal Property and Administrative Services Act & Title 40 USC, 501, Services for Executive agencies. IAW FAR 8.405-6(a)(2) - Item peculiar to one manufacturer and feature is essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's need. (5) Demonstration that the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited: FAR 6.302-1(c) provides for use of brand name descriptions when the requirement can only be met by one brand name product. Knoll is the only manufacturer of the furniture components utilized in the workspace. Utilizing another manufacturer's components would require all of the workspace furniture to be replaced. Use of non-compatible components could cause a safety problem. The additional systems furniture, including all component parts, will be integrated with existing workstations that were built using Knoll components previously purchased. The new systems furniture is to be located adjacent to and comingled with existing Knoll systems and needs to provide a semblance of cohesion by matching with co-sharing panels. The additional furniture components need to be able to: (a) integrate into the existing Knoll furniture, (b) allow for flexibility when workstations are rearranged and (c) match the current furniture in appearance. (6) Description of Efforts Made to Ensure That Offers are Solicited from as Many Potential Sources as Deemed Practicable: IAW FAR 5.202(a)(6), this acquisition will be ordered against an existing IDIQ contract under a GSA schedule and no other offers will be solicited for this requirement. IAW FAR 8.404(a), placing orders under Federal Supply Schedule contracts using the procedures of 8.405, ordering activities shall not seek competition outside of the Federal Supply Schedules or synopsize the requirement. There is only one authorized reseller of Knoll furniture in Hawaii, and that is Corporate Environments International (CEI), a small business. However since Knoll furniture is the schedule holder, CEI will be indentified in the award, but the award will be to Knoll furniture. (7) Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The requirement items/services are commercially available therefore existing market forces support the cost reasonableness determination. The prices quoted are based on GSA contract GS-28F-8029H. Per FAR 8.404(d) GSA has already determined the prices of supplies and fixed-price services, and rates for services at hourly rates, under schedule contracts to be fair and reasonable. (8) Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results: Market research was conducted by reviewing the Federal Supply Schedules. Market research indicates that the Knoll component furniture is unique and not compatible with other systems furniture. The Knoll manufacturer is the only source available to purchase the furniture components from. It was determined that no other FSS vendor has furniture on schedule that matches, has interconnectivity to, and is compatible with the existing Knoll systems furniture. This requirement is not available for "full and open competition" based on the need for Knoll brand furniture. Additionally, there is only one reseller for any Knoll furniture purchased in Hawaii, and that is by purchasing the furniture through the Knoll GSA schedule. A search on GSA Advantage did show the items being requested with the prices for these items the same as advertised on GSA. If a contract is awarded to another source other than Knoll, more cost would be needlessly added to the Government to purchase replacement furniture because other than Knoll furniture components would not interconnect with the Knoll furniture. (9) Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition: The use of Knoll furniture components is essential to APCSS's requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company. Acquisition of a different brand would cause incompatibility with the existing component furniture. (10) A Listing of the Sources, if any that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: N/A (11) A Statement of Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition Before any Subsequent Acquisition for the Services Required: It is the policy of this office to solicit for full and open competition to the fullest extent possible on all procurements. The specific requirements can only be met in this situation by using other than full and open competition. (12) Technical and Requirements Certification: Based on the aforementioned, I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification are complete and accurate. ROBERT M. HOGAN Date APCSS Facilities Branch (13) Contracting Officer Certification: IAW FAR 8.405-6(g)(2)(ix), I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of Other Than Full and Open Competition are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. DARRELL L. STRAHAN Date Contracting Officer, 15 CONS/LGCZ Approval In accordance with AFFARS 5306.304, I hereby approve justification to permit other than full and open competition for Knoll furniture components for APCSS. ROGER W. PHILLIPS, Lt Col, USAF Date Commander, 15th Contracting Squadron