20-FV-068Redacted.docx

J&A Number: 0233-21-014-00

IN REPLY REFER TO:

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

PHILADELPHIA DIVISION

5001 SOUTH BROAD STREET

PHILADELPHIA PA 19112-1403

J&A Number: 0233-21-014-00 Code: 0233 P.R. Number: 20-F V-068

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD), Code 0233.

2. Description of Action Being Approved

Award of a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract on a Brand Name basis for North Atlantic Industries (NAI) Versa Module Europa (VME) based circuit cards for use in the LPD 17 Class Navigation Data Distribution System (NDDS).

3. Description of the Supplies or Services

The items being purchased are listed below and consists of 32 VME-6U Multifunction Serial and Synchro Input/Output Circuit Cards, to be used in the LPD 17 Class Navigation Critical Distribution System (NCDS). The part numbers, quantities and estimated costs are as follows:

Price per Unit

These items are Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) parts. The estimated value is $306,208. The period of performance is for 6 months after contract award, and there are no option quantities or periods. This order will be fully funded using FY20 OPN funds. The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by certifying technical and requirements personnel.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), a sole source acquisition under the authority of Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR Subpart 13.501(a).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

The previous requirement was procured on a Sole Source basis from North Atlantic Industries (NAI) under contract number: N6449819P5271. NAI informed the NSWCPDgovernment on 05 April 2021 that they no longer hadve the capacity to handle government contracts; NAI identified and informed the Government that Kampi Components and Micro USA, Inc. as its are its authorized distributors for these circuit cards. NAI Brand VME cards are a brand-name peculiar to one manufacturer. As a result, this Brand Name justification for use of other than full and open competition is being established. This specific hardware is required for installation under Ship Alteration/SCD 22735 (NDDS Sustainment and Obsolescence Upgrade) to ensure commonality in the LPD 17 Class Navigation Critical Distribution System (NCDS). Without this specific hardware, the already developed, tested and certified software will not function properly, as it is dependent on this specific hardware configuration.

NSWCPD is the In Service Engineering Agent (ISEA) of NDDS and is required to utilize this configuration to ensure lower lifecycle costs and support commonality of the hardware and software between the new acquisition and in service LPD 17 Class hulls. NSWCPD is responsible for the execution of the technical refresh alteration, SCD 22735: NDDS Sustainment and Obsolescence Upgrade, which replaces obsolete circuit cards with the new models specified above. Without this specific hardware, the already developed, tested and certified software will not function properly, as it is dependent on this specific hardware configuration. Also, the lifecycle support benefits of a standard and common configuration will not be possible. The acquisition of NAI VME circuit cards is essential to the Government’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company.

Procurement of a different hardware configuration would require significant re-development efforts, including new software development, integration testing, environmental re-certification and logistics updates, costing in excess of $4.5M.

The estimated cost is based on the historical costs associated with development and integration of NDDSNavigation Data Distribution System configurations. In order to support the on-going production configuration, as well as meet current shipboard scheduled installations, a new hardware and software configuration would impact the following:

1. Software Development: The current software that has been developed for use on the LPD 28 new acquisition delivery is planned to be installed on the remaining LPD 17 Class hulls starting in FY20. This will establish a common system baseline that ensures fleet maintainability and reliability for the lifecycle of the system. The software is dependent on the hardware configuration. Any changes to the hardware configuration will drive unplanned software development efforts to occur. These additional efforts do not support cost saving initiatives of a common system baseline and the FY22 shipboard installation schedule would not be met. LPD 24 and 27 are due for upgrade in FY22 and FY23 respectively. The non-recurring cost and schedule impact associated with the required new software development is estimated to be $1.5M and 12 months. Comment by Steffen, Suzanne M CIV USN NSWCDIV PHL PA (USA): Did it start in FY 20 as planned? If so, please update this to state that it began to be installed in FY20. If it’s completed by now then please update to sate such.

2. Hardware Engineering: The hardware that has been selected for use on the LPD 28 has completed a series of engineering tests to ensure full compatibility with the NDDS) for all LPD 17 Class hulls. Significant efforts have been completed to research and test various hardware configurations, which has led to the selection of NAI VME brand name circuit cards. At the current time, no other hardware configurations have been identified that will support the current LPD 17 Class NDDS compatibility requirements. Establishing a different hardware configuration baseline at this time would drive additional efforts to be completed related to hardware analysis, system configuration, integration and testing. New NDDS hardware, test tools, and auxiliary software components required for testing would need to be developed. The non-recurring cost and schedule impact associated with equipment to establish each baseline is estimated at $1M and 18 months.

3. Environmental Testing: The environmental testing related to the updated NDDS hardware configuration is being performed under the LPD 28 new acquisition contract by PMS 407. Varying from the tested configuration would drive additional testing to occur, to recertify the hardware configuration. Full Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Shock and Vibration testing would need to occur to obtain approval of the different hardware configuration for shipboard use. The non-recurring cost and schedule impact associated with environmental testing is estimated at $2M and 12 months.

Besides incurring additional costs and not conforming to a standard baseline configuration, there would not be sufficient time between identifying and obtaining a new hardware configuration and the fielding of the updated NDDS on LPD 24 and LPD 27 in FY 22 and FY23 respectively. There would be a delay of 12-24 months in fielding the system upgrade, which would result in the LPD 17 Class hulls not being able to perform their mission. The current NDDS hardware is obsolete and any failure would jeopardize the ship’s ability to provide accurate Navigation data to various radars and combat systems.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable

A synopsis of this procurement was published on 10 June 2021 with a closing date of 25 June 2021, no contractors responded as of the closing date to the posting. At the time the original market research was conducted NAI was the only vendor capable of providing the circuit cards. It has been determined through market research that three companies sell these specific brand name products; North Atlantic Industries (NAI) and its their authorized government distributors Kampi and Micro USA, Inc.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for the supplies/services covered by the J&A will be fair and reasonable. The contractor will submit a formal price quotation with other than certified cost or pricing data and sufficient information to support the accuracy and reliability of the estimate. The contractor’s proposal will be reviewed by experienced technical analysts and contract specialists with the aid of necessary field pricing support. The PCO will use cost and price analysis as the basis for negotiating a fair and reasonable price.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

NSWCPD will continue to monitor the marketplace and identify potential sources of the supplies identified in this Justification. Any sources discovered that can potentially satisfy this specific procurement will be taken into account for any future requirements. In addition, NSWCPD is currently in the process of updating the Navigation Input Output Controller software to be compatible with additional manufacturer circuit cards. This will allow flexibility and enable the software to be interoperable with multiple manufacturer products. The estimate completion date for this software development effort is in FY23.

image1.emf file:///C|/Documents and Settings/kathleen.holmes/Desktop/FOR INTRANET - JUNE 08/DOD 1_in Ltrhd (2).jpg file:///C|/Documents and Settings/kathleen.holmes/Desktop/FOR INTRANET - JUNE 08/DOD 1_in Ltrhd (2).jpg 6/3/2008 16:44:42

Local Disk file:///C|/Documents and Settings/kathleen.holmes/Desktop/FOR INTRANET - JUNE 08/DOD 1_in Ltrhd (2).jpg