26QB076 ABAV JA_signed_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 5 of 9 attract additional responsible sources capable of supplying the required FirstSpear ABAV items.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Based on the results of market research, comparison to recent historical pricing, and review of the Independent Government Estimate (IGE), the Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government is fair and reasonable.

No information obtained during market research indicates that the proposed pricing will be excessive or inconsistent with prevailing commercial rates. Accordingly, the Contracting Officer concludes that the expected price represents a fair and reasonable expenditure of Government funds.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

A similar requirement for ABAV systems was solicited in September 2025 on GSA eBuy. Despite multiple vendors being notified, only one vendor submitted a quote in response to that solicitation. This demonstrated limited vendor participation and reduced competitive interest for this brand-name requirement when solicited solely through GSA.

To maximize the opportunity for competition for the current requirement, the Government will post the solicitation on SAM.gov. Posting to SAM.gov will broaden visibility beyond the GSA platform and provide the best opportunity to attract additional responsible sources capable of supplying the required FirstSpear ABAV items.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The Human Systems Program Office (AFLCMC/WNU) at Wright-Patterson AFB issued an Interim Safe-to-Fly (iStF) Extension Memo dated 20 January 2022, authorizing the FirstSpear ABAV for continued use in rotor wing operations. This memo confirms that the ABAV meets airworthiness and safety requirements for aircrew use under current operational conditions.

Due to the critical nature of flight safety and mission readiness, only equipment with validated Safe-to-Fly certification may be issued to aircrew personnel. The FirstSpear ABAV is the only vest currently approved under an active iStF, and no other commercially available alternatives have been certified for rotor wing flight operations at this time.

Failure to procure the FirstSpear ABAV would result in non-compliance with airworthiness standards, jeopardizing crew safety and operational capability. Introducing uncertified alternatives would require extensive testing, delay mission timelines, and risk noncompliance with AFLCMC/WNU directives.

Based on the AFLCMC/WNU iStF memo and the absence of certified alternatives, the FirstSpear ABAV is the only acceptable solution to meet mission and safety requirements. Therefore, a brand name acquisition is justified.

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/A

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

The requiring activity will actively monitor the commercial tactical marketplace for emerging body armor systems that might meet the technical requirements and have the potential to achieve Safe-to-Fly validation.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Contracting without providing for full and open competition shall not be justified on the basis of lack of advance planning by the requiring activity or concerns related to the amount of funds available (e.g., funds will expire) (10 U.S.C. 3204)

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

(FAR 6.303-2(b)(6))

Describe all efforts taken (or to be to be taken) to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable under the circumstances. Although Market Research is covered in Section VIII, the information in Section VI should correlate with the Market Research described in Section VI. The following issues should be addressed in this paragraph:

Sources Sought Synopsis (used as part of market research). If a sources sought synopsis was issued, state the date the synopsis was issued and a brief description of its content. If any responses were received, describe in detail the results of the screening process and the rationale for determining the unacceptability of any synopsis respondents. Reference FAR 13.105, Synopsis and Posting Requirements.

Other Actions. In this paragraph, discuss any other actions taken or planned to facilitate competition for this acquisition. The discussion should include actions tried or considered even if the actions were unsuccessful. If the efforts were unsuccessful, so state and describe why.

Qualifying Country Sources. If qualifying country sources have expressed interest, but are to be excluded, provide supporting rationale.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(7))

Include a statement by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable and provide the basis for this determination. The steps that will be taken to ensure the final contract price will be fair and reasonable are also described here. Describe the extent of cost or price analysis anticipated including the requirements for certified cost or pricing data, technical evaluations, and audits.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or explain why market research was not conducted. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(8))

Generally, some form of market research should be conducted. Discuss any market research conducted pursuant to FAR Part 10 and describe results of that research. Market research is any effort undertaken to determine if sources capable of satisfying the agency's requirements exist and to determine if commercial items or non-developmental items are either available or can be modified so that they will satisfy the agency's needs. Market research should be focused not only on identifying alternate sources, but also on alternate equipment or substitutes that might fulfill the Government needs with only minor modification.

Regardless of the approach used, the results should provide a high level of confidence that no other qualified sources exist.

When other exceptions from the requirement to obtain full and open competition are relied upon, the market research might be limited to an examination of the acquisition history and experience with the marketplace under previous acquisitions for the same or similar items.

If no market research was conducted, so state and provide the rationale.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(9)(i))

Provide any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, including an explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, statements of objectives, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed, are not being developed, are not being used, or are not available.

X. List of sources, if any, that expressed interest in the acquisition. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(10))

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 9 of 9

If a sources sought synopsis was done and all interested sources are included in Section VI, it is acceptable to state, “See Section VI above.”

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(11))

Describe any actions taken or to be taken to foster competition for future acquisitions of the supplies or services being acquired.

Describe potential actions that could be taken to remove the barriers to competition that have been identified in the justification and include a milestone schedule, where available, for accomplishing these actions. For example, if a follow-on competitive acquisition is planned, so state and provide the planned award date, or state that the Government will attempt to acquire rights in technical data and computer software sufficient to compete follow-on acquisitions as a priced option in the contract action that is the subject of this Justification, or (if applicable) state how the Government intends to challenge nonconforming markings on technical data and computer software delivered to it under previous contracts so those markings can be removed in order that the technical data and computer software may be used in support of a follow-on competitive acquisition, or describe plans to qualify additional sources.

Address efforts to ensure competition for future spare parts and maintenance in support of systems or equipment covered by the justification, even when these acquisitions will be accomplished by other organizations. Include a discussion on available breakout data.

If no actions are planned, so state and provide reasons. If approval is sought for more than one year, explain why a sole source effort is required for the planned time duration.

For a non-competitive follow-on acquisition to a previous award for the same supply or service supported by a Justification citing the same authority, include a discussion of the actions planned to overcome barriers to competition established in the previous justification, the status of those actions, and the results of those actions. The approval authority shall determine whether the planned actions were completed. If the planned actions were not completed, the justification for the follow-on acquisition shall be approved by the approval authority one-level above the approval authority for the previous justification (see FAR 13.501(a)(2)). If the previous justification was approved by the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE), the approval remains at the SPE level.

[DFARS 213.501(a) and DFARS PGI 206.304(a)(S-70)(ii)]

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer. (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12))

As evidenced by his/her signature, the contracting officer has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel. (FAR 6.303-2(c))

As evidenced by their signatures, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.