Notice of Intent for Brand Name Only: Cisco EOL Switches

The 10th Contracting Squadron, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Colorado has a Brand Name Only (Cisco) requirement requirement to replace twenty-nine (29) existing, unsupported Cisco 450x catalyst switches. The switches need to be replaced with the current supported Cisco E-series chassis (switch) and corresponding line cards. This procurement is for the acquisition of a Brand Name Only commercial item using simplified procedures in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) number is 334210 and the business size standard is 1,000 employees. Requirement: DESCRIPTION Units__ __ Replacement of twenty-nine (29) existing, unsupported Cisco 450x catalyst switches. The switches need to be replaced with the current supported Cisco E-series chassis (switch) and corresponding line cards. IAW Attachment #1 Statement of Work CLIN 0001 29 C4500+Sup+2 48-port PoE + CLIN 0002 29 Smartnet 8x5xNBD CLIN 0003 11 WS-X4648-RJ45-E= CLIN 0004 60 Power Supplies CLIN 0005 18 10 GB LR GBICs CLIN 0006 1 10 GB Twinax Cable CLIN 0007 27 1 GB SX GBICs CLIN 0008 10 1 GB LH GBICs CLIN 0009 Fiber Jumpers, SM and MM 46 CLIN 0010 324 Professional Services - Design and Engineering (Engineering Technician VI). Price includes night/weekend differential pay. CLIN 0011 185 Professional Services - Installation (Electronic Technician I). Price includes night/weekend differential pay. CLIN 0012 1 Project Coordinator/Manager CLIN 0013 1 Travel Expenses (Vehicle rental, fuel, Per Diem, and travel) CLIN 0014 1 General and Administration Fee Brand Name Justification: Only one brand and no other brand will satisfy the USAFA requirement. The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) communications squadron has a Brand Name Only requirement to replace twenty-nine (29) existing, unsupported Cisco 450x catalyst switches. The switches need to be replaced with the current supported Cisco E-series chassis (switch) and corresponding line cards. The 10th Communications Squadron operates the USAFA .edu network supporting 7,500 cadets, faculty and staff. USAFA currently has about 250 wired catalyst switches. The switches are primarily Cisco Catalyst 3560, 3750, 450x, 650x and Cisco Nexus 5500 and variants (3560C, 3560G, 3560X, etc.). Of these, there are two (2) Catalyst WS-C4503, two (2) Catalyst WS C4507R and thirty-three (33) Catalyst WS-C4506 chassis that have reached end of support (EOS) from Cisco. The project outlined in the Statement of Work (SoW) is to upgrade all of these catalyst switches to supported E-series chassis and corresponding line cards, USAFA has eight (8) of the switches needed leaving a requirement for 29 replacement switches. Cisco is the original equipment manufacturer and only Cisco makes a chassis that Cisco line cards fit. According to Cisco's website, Cisco announced the end of life/end of support on several chassis and line cards between Jan 2011 and Nov 2012 with the last date of service for the Cisco 450x catalyst switches on 31 July 2015. See attached Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition. This synopsis is for notification purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bids or proposals. DO NOT submit a bid/quote at this time. Any offerors believing they can provide the required Cisco Switches with all specifications of the requirement described above may provide evidence for consideration. Evidence must support the offeror's claim. 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 competitive procurement can be conducted. A determination not to compete this proposed procurement based on response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses must be received NLT 1:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on 26 August 2015. 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 announcement. Contractors must have a current registration within the System for Award Management (SAMS) https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ Questions should be addressed to Grace Podoll, Contract Specialist, (719) 333-2327 or sent via e-mail to grace.podoll@us.af.mil CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY FULL TEXT: 5352.201-9101 Ombudsman (April 2014): (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)