20-067 SAGE TTA JA.pdf

DMEA #20-36

Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity Process for

Advanced Technology Support Program IV (ATSP4)

Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Task Order Contract

1. Agency and Contracting Activity:

Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA)

Contracting Division/MEEB

Attn: Robert Crandell, Contracting Officer robert.d.crandell.civ@mail.mil

4234 54th Street

McClellan, CA 95652

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved:

The approval of the J&A will enable the extremely urgent operational need for assessing an integrated

Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) architecture in support of Missile Warning (MW) and Missile

Defense (MD) as detailed in USPACOM Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON) PC0015, Joint

Requirements Oversight Council Memorandum (JROCM) 042-19, and the attached memorandum from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SP), signed 10APR2020.

3. Description of the Supplies/Services Required To Meet the Agency’s Needs (including the total estimated value, including options, if any):

Contractual Engineering Task (CET) 20-067 entitled “Space Awareness and Global Exploitation (SAGE)

Theater Event System (TES), Test, and Analysis (TT&A)” provides an upgrade to the SAGE sensor suite to produce and disseminate dual Common Message Format (CMF) Theater Event System (TES) messaging, and provide engineering test support and analysis to evaluate SAGE performance against

Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Block 20 performance in support of future architecture studies.

The cost of the effort is estimated to be $850,000, will be R&D funded, with an anticipated schedule of 11 months.

4. Identification of the Exception to Fair Opportunity (Authority Cited):

FAR 16.505(b)(1)(i) requires the Contracting Officer to provide each awardee under a multiple award contract, a fair opportunity to be considered for each order exceeding $3,500 unless one of the following statutory exceptions apply. The specific exception that precludes the fair opportunity process for this acquisition is:

FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C), The order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency as a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract, provided that all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.

5. Rationale for authority cited:

The SAF/SP memorandum signed 10 April 2020 directs initial space-based MW/MD architecture assumptions, options, and decision-space be provided to Chief of Space Operations (CSO) in time for http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/16.htm#P399_69627

FY22 Program Objective Memorandum (POM) review, and prescribes necessary actions to inform DAF leadership with the data necessary to effectively direct investment resources to achieve timely capability against a rapidly evolving missile and counterspace threat. Specifically, a deadline of not later than 15

August 2020 is established for beginning the development of a detailed plan of analysis, including key specific metrics and prioritization of the value of each criterion below that will support validation of various architecture options. CET 20-067 involves test and analysis work that is directly applicable to the assessment of future architecture applicable to the 15 August 2020 deadline.

Northrop Grumman is applying unique and highly specialized skills to integrate SAGE in a previous and still ongoing task order, HQ072718F1418, and will need to build upon these efforts to efficiently perform the test and analysis work required by CET 20-067. Northrop Grumman maintains extensive design knowledge, subject matter expert engineering staff, and is currently the only provider capable of supporting the SAGE test and analysis effort; no other acquisition strategy can economically accomplish these requirements and meet the Government’s timeline beginning the development NLT 15 August 2020 and completing in time for FY22 POM review. Since the use of another vendor is untenable, as cost and schedule goals would not be realistically met, a sole-source acquisition strategy is the appropriate contracting approach to meet the warfighter's need in the ever-evolving national security threat environment.

Having another contractor perform this work would result in significant duplication of cost, estimated at

$3,000,000 and significant delay to project completion which would impact national security.

The previous SAGE task order HQ072718F1418 was posted for ATSP4 Fair Opportunity, providing opportunity for other contractors to be considered for award. Northrop Grumman was the only contractor to respond.

6. Additional Facts Supporting this Justification:

None.

7. Actions to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers that Led to this Exception to Fair Opportunity

If any additional tasks beyond the test and analysis of 20-067 become necessary, planning will begin early to allow sufficient time to utilize the Fair Opportunity process.

8. Redaction

IAW FAR 16.505, the justification must be posted within 14 days after contract award.

__X__ No redaction is necessary. This J&A will be posted in its entirety.

____ This J&A contains information that cannot be publicly posted (i.e. proprietary contractor data). A redacted copy will be sent to PCO for posting after customer input.

____ Disclosure of information contained in this J&A would compromise the national security (e.g., would result in disclosure of classified information) or create other security risks. As a result, this J&A will not be posted. Rationale has been provided to the PCO to document the contract file.

9. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. Actions to ensure reasonableness of the price will be accomplished using procedures and criteria contained in FAR 15.4. Cost and pricing data will be requested. Detailed documentation and justification of price reasonableness will be set forth in the Price Negotiation Memorandum.

NAME: Robert Crandell___ TITLE: Contracting Officer/MEEB

SIGNATURE: ____________________________ DATE: _08JUN2020____________

10. Contracting Officer Determination

I certify that this J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

NAME: Robert Crandell TITLE: Contracting Officer/MEEB

SIGNATURE: ____________________________ DATE: _08JUN2020___________

11. TECHNICAL or REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance that are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

NAME: Walter Schubert TITLE: Project Engineer/MECB

SIGNATURE: ____________________________ DATE: __08JUN2020___________

12. OTHER APPROVALS

ATSP Branch Chief

NAME: Colten Murray TITLE: Chief, ATSP Contracting Branch

SIGNATURE: ____________________________ DATE: __08JUN2020_________

Procurement Analysis Branch Chief

NAME: Adrienne Strickland TITLE: Acquisition Policy and Analysis Branch

SIGNATURE: ____________________________ DATE: __08JUN2020__________

Office of Counsel

NAME: Anne Burman TITLE: Legal Counsel

SIGNATURE: ____________________________ DATE: __08JUN2020___________

Chief of Contracting/Competition Advocate

NAME: Kathleen Griest TITLE: Chief, Contracting Division

SIGNATURE: ____________________________ DATE: ___08JUN2020_________