ASR_Flat_Panel_J&A_Signed.pdf

Justification and Approval – ASR Flat Panel

General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Southwest Supply Acquisition Center (SSAC)

Justification and Approval for a Sole Source Acquisition (J&A)

IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

The requiring agency is the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (ATCALS) Program Office with the United States Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Tinker Air Force Base, OK. The contracting activity is the General Services Administration, Global Supply, Southwest Supply Acquisition Center (SSAC), 819 Taylor St., Fort Worth, TX 76102.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING TAKEN

This action is to justify the award of a sole source, Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Purchase Order for the provision of forty-six (46) replacement flat panels modified by ARC Technology Solutions, LLC (ARC).

This J&A supports the procurement for replacement flat panels so that the ATCALS Program Office may maintain functional OD-56T and OD-57T Airfield Surveillance Radar (ASR) systems found in Air Force deployable ground control approach systems which have been in service since the early 1980s. The Contracting Officer synopsized the Government’s intent to negotiate with a single source on August 17, 2018.

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES REQUIRED

This procurement resulted in the purchase of forty-six (46) replacement OD-56T Indicator Flat Panels for Air Force ground radar systems around the country (part number AN/MPN-14 K).

The awarded total value for the requirement is $1,857,143.00.

IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This procurement was conducted under the authority of FAR 13.501(a), Sole source acquisitions, as the replacement flat panels are only available from one source.

Acquisitions conducted under simplified acquisition procedures are exempt from the requirements in FAR 6, thus the requirement for full and open competition does not apply in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1). The Contracting Officer (CO) completed this J&A for a sole source acquisition by utilizing the format listed in FAR 6.303-2 as required by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and modified the format to reflect FAR 13.5 procedures that were used in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901.

Approvals at the specified levels in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(2)(ii) were obtained.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE PROPOSED VENDORS’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SUPPLY

The OD-56T and OD-57T Airfield Surveillance Radar indicators utilized in deployable ground control approach systems have been in service since the early 1980s at Air Force bases around the country. The radar systems are now suffering from issues with reliability, functionality, and obsolescence of components due to the radar systems’ age. Air Force personnel have specifically struggled with maintaining the radar systems’ indicator flat panels as diminishing manufacturing sources for the components of the panels have resulted in higher maintenance costs as parts become scarce and extended repair lead times. ATCALS, through a proof-of-concept prototyping effort, requested the development of updated existing flat panels with form-fit-function replacements that eliminated function inefficiencies, updated panel technology, and allowed for the replacement panels to be utilized with the existing radar mounting hardware.

ARC completed an extensive analysis of the existing flat panels which included the following actions: reverse engineering the existing panels’ dimensions and functionality, identifying the components of the existing flat panels that could be properly updated with more modern, commercial replacements, and ensuring that any modifications to the panels were compatible with ground radar systems’ overall design. ARC manufactured and delivered a prototype panel to Pease Air National Guard Base in Portsmouth, NH. The panel was then installed and operated successfully.

Returning to ARC for the production of the replacement flat panels prevents a substantial duplication of cost to the Government as any other vendor would have to perform the same in depth analysis of the existing flat panel in order to provide a replacement. Additionally, award to ARC avoids unacceptable delays in fulfilling the requirement as the time required to perform another analysis would unreasonably delay the manufacturing/production process of the replacement flat panels. If replacement flat panels are not provided to the Government as soon as possible, Air Force personnel will continue to struggle with maintaining the existing panels.

As mentioned above, the diminishing sources of supply for components of the existing panels both greatly increase the difficulty and cost of repairing the panels as well as increases the length of time that a panel remains defective. At any Air Force base with an active airfield, a delay due to the maintenance and repair of its group radar system would in turn delay air operations and is considered to be unacceptable.

DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS TO PROMOTE COMPETITION TO THE MAXIMUM

EXTENT PRACTICABLE

The market research conducted by the Contracting Officer and submitted by the customer for review indicates that only one (1) source is available for the production of the required replacement flat panels. A competitive procurement for the replacement panels cannot be conducted without forcing the Government to incur a duplication of cost and significant loss of time by allowing other vendors develop their own replacement panels.

DETERMINATION ANTICIPATED COST WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE TO

THE GOVERNMENT

ARC was required to submit recent sales history and additional pricing data in order to substantiate price reasonableness in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2). Additionally, the

Contracting Officer compared ARC’s quoted price to the Independent Government Estimate (IGE) to further substantiate price reasonableness.

DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 to determine the availability of products capable of meeting the Government’s requirement. An Internet search was conducted to determine if any other sources supply existed that could adequately meet need ATCALS’ need. The Contracting Officer identified several manufacturers of radar panels, yet none that could provide the required replacement panels without causing the Government to incur a substantial duplication of cost or experience unacceptable delays.

As previously stated, Contracting Officer synopsized the Government’s intent to negotiate with a single source on August 17, 2018. As the required modified flat panel was determined to be commercial, the response period for vendors to submit a capability statement for review was ten

(10) calendar days in accordance with FAR 5.203; zero (0) responses were received.

ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORT THE AWARD OF A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT

The Contracting Officer recently posted a Request for Quote (RFQ) for replacement edge lit panels that supported the same ground radar system for the same customer, 7QSBND-Y6-18- ELECPN. ARC submitted the only quote received for a competitive solicitation that was posted to FedBizOpps for over thirty (30) days; the RFQ closed August 3, 2018. Based upon the results of that solicitation, it further reinforces that only one (1) source is currently available for this type of requirement.

LIST ANY OTHER SOURCES THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN WRITING

Zero (0) responses were received as a result of the special notice of the Government’s intent to negotiate with a single source posted to FedBizOpps.

STATEMENT OF ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE

BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

The Government will continue to both search the Internet for possible sources of supply and synopsize its intent to negotiate with a single source for this requirement thereby keeping industry aware that the Government is aware of no other sources of the required replacement flat panels if more are needed in the future. Additionally, this J&A will be posted to FedBizOpps within fourteen (14) days of award for a minimum of thirty (30) days in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iii).

KARA YOSTEN Digitally signed by KARA YOSTEN Date: 2018.09.04 15:23:47 -05'00'

Lori Herrera Digitally signed by Lori Herrera Date: 2018.09.04 15:38:51 -05'00'

AMY COOK Digitally signed by AMY COOK Date: 2018.09.05 09:58:05 -05'00'

Alan K. Searsy Digital Signer:Alan K. Searsy DN:C=US, E=alan.searsy@gsa.gov, O=GSA, OU="FAS, Assisted Acquisition Services", CN=Alan K. Searsy Date:2018.09.05 12:51:19 -05:00

SHALOY CASTLE-

HIGGINS

Digitally signed by SHALOY

CASTLE-HIGGINS

Date: 2018.09.05 16:24:54 -05'00'