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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 FBO #5424
DOCUMENT

D -- Activation - HAC- Avaya licenses (465) - Attachment

Notice Date

9/27/2016
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

541519 — Other Computer Related Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;Technology Acquisition Center;23 Christopher Way;Eatontown NJ 07724
 

ZIP Code

07724
 

Solicitation Number

VA11816Q1642
 

Archive Date

12/31/2016
 

Point of Contact

Amy Schmalzigan
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Award Number

NNG15SD19B VA118-16-F-1562
 

Award Date

9/23/2016
 

Awardee

ALVAREZ & ASSOCIATES, LLC;8251 GREENSBORO DR STE 230;TYSONS CORNER;VA;22102
 

Award Amount

$1,646,598.31
 

Description

On September 23, 2016, the Technology Acquisition Center awarded Delivery Order VA118-16-F-1562 under the terms and conditions of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V contract NNG15SD19B with Alvarez & Associates (Alvarez), located at 8251 Greensboro Drive Suite 230, Tysons Corner, VA 22102. Alvarez will be providing Avaya hardware, software licenses, and associated support services. The period of performance for installation and configuration services shall be four months after contract award, including delivery of hardware within 30 days of award, the total order value of $1,646,598.31. ? JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY 1. Contracting Activity:Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Acquisition Operations Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724 2. Description of Action: This proposed action is for a firm-fixed-price delivery order issued under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for brand name Avaya telecommunications software licenses, hardware and associated support services. 3. Description of the Supplies or Services: VA, Office of Information and Technology (OI&T), Service Delivery and Engineering, Field Operations Region 6 in support of the Chief Business Office Purchase Care (CBOPC) for the Health Administration Center (HAC) in Denver, Colorado requires the purchase of brand name 465 Avaya telecommunications software licenses, hardware, and associated support services, which includes configuration and installation services. The existing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Avaya telecommunications system at CBOPC HAC requires expansion to accommodate 465 additional call center agents in support of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. The CBOPC HAC currently has 300 call center agents with another 200 agents being hired. The additional 465 Avaya call center agents shall be capable of replicating all existing agent capabilities provided by the existing telecommunications system. The requirements for delivery and installation of products to support the additional agents include all components, piece parts, and software. The period of performance for installation and configuration services shall be four months after contract award, including delivery of hardware and software licenses within 30 days of award. 4. Statutory Authority: The statutory authority permitting this exception to fair opportunity is 41 U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), entitled "Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized." 5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Based upon market research, as described in section eight of this justification, it was determined that limited competition is viable among resellers for the required brand name Avaya products and associated services. HAC CBOPC provides effective administration for health benefit plans including Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA, Spina Bifida Health Care Program, Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program, and Foreign Medical Program. Additionally, it is responsible for managing and performing program policy, eligibility determinations, enrollment, third party provider contract management, claims processing and status reporting, accounts payable (claims payment), accounts receivable (recoupments), and program integrity. The existing VoIP Avaya telecommunications system supporting the HAC CBOPC call center agents receives Veteran and Veteran beneficiary medical claims and allows the agents to interact effectively with Veterans and beneficiaries regarding the aforementioned health benefit plans. The required Avaya software licenses, hardware, and associated services will allow for the continued seamless support for medical claims calls by additional agents coming on board at the HAC CBOPC. The additional Avaya software licenses and associated hardware must be compatible and interoperable with the current Avaya system. The current Avaya system operates on Avaya's proprietary infrastructure which no other telecommunications software or hardware can operate and communicate. As the software licenses and hardware must be integrated into the larger existing Avaya system which currently has 400 licenses that includes management and server software, no other company's products are interoperable with the current fielded Avaya system at the HAC CBOPC. Using another product will require replacement of the entire system, which includes replacing all phones, software, and hardware (i.e. servers, phone ports, etc.) that comprise the existing system. Using another product would result in extensive delivery delays and substantial duplication of costs that would not be recovered through competition. As part of this requirement, VA will also need to procure associated support services to successfully install and configure the hardware and software into the existing telecommunications system. Only Avaya or its authorized resellers of hardware and software with access to the Avaya proprietary source code can provide these services. Other telecommunications manufacturers do not have the proprietary source code necessary to provide the required configuration and installation services. Support services performed by parties not authorized by Avaya, invalidate product warranties and remove liability for performance from the manufacturer. Failure to obtain the additional Avaya products supporting additional call center agents will have a direct and significant negative impact on the HAC CBOPC mission for effective and timely administration of health benefit plans. Without the additional software licenses, hardware and associated support services needed to support additional agents, the current system will not be able to accommodate the influx of medical claims calls coming into the HAC CBOPC from up to nine million Veterans annually which will cause severe delays in response times, which is critical to ensure timely patient care. 6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in section eight of this justification. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government's requirements. It was determined that limited competition is viable among authorized resellers for the required brand name Avaya software licenses, hardware and associated support services that hold current NASA SEWP V GWACs. In accordance with FAR 5.301 and 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D), notice of award of this action will be synopsized and this justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award on the Federal Business Opportunities Page. In accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A), this justification will be posted with the request for quotation on the NASA SEWP V GWAC website to notify all interested parties. 7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the market place that would enable future actions to be competed. VA networking Subject Matter Experts regularly review industry trade publications and conduct internet research to ascertain if any other brand name software licenses, hardware and associated support services are available to meet the requirements described herein. 8. Market Research: Market research was conducted in July 2016 to ascertain the ability of any source other than Avaya or an authorized reseller to provide the aforementioned products and support services. The research consisted of reviewing various VoIP systems offered on the NASA SEWP V GWAC. Similar VoIP products reviewed included Cisco and Alcatel. Based on review of these products, the Government's technical experts determined that neither Cisco nor Alcatel can meet VA's requirements. Although these similar products also provide VoIP hardware, software, and services, none of them can access the proprietary source code and provide interoperability and compatibility with the current Avaya system. The Government's technical team concluded that only Avaya brand name products can be integrated to ensure interoperability with an existing Avaya system. Additional market research was conducted in August 2016 by utilizing the NASA SEWP Provider Lookup tool to determine whether the brand name Avaya products are available from NASA SEWP V GWAC holders. It was determined that there are several resellers of the brand name Avaya products that hold current GWACs such that limited competition is anticipated. 9. Other Facts: None.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/b895304c24a74565489f3b897f7da573)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: NNG15SD19B VA118-16-F-1562 NNG15SD19B VA118-16-F-1562_1.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=3027521&FileName=NNG15SD19B-064.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=3027521&FileName=NNG15SD19B-064.docx

 

Note: If links are broken, refer to Point of Contact above or contact the FBO Help Desk at 877-472-3779.
 

Record

SN04290320-W 20160929/160928000040-b895304c24a74565489f3b897f7da573 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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