A02 - CADPAD JandA_Redacted.pdf

Control No:

Supply/Service: Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD)

Est Dollar Value: $

Department of Army Class Justification and Approval for Other than

Full and Open Competition

1a. Requiring Activity: Program Manager – Close Combat Systems (PM-CCS), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, 07806-5000.

1b. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RI) Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, IL 61299-8000.

2. Description of Action: Cartridge Actuated Devices and Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD) in conjunction with Project Manager, Close Combat Systems (PM-CCS), Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD), Program Manager, Naval Aircrew Systems, Materiel Leader, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Munitions Division, and Project Manager, Fixed Wing request nine Firm Fixed Price contracts for various CAD/PAD items. ACC-RI projects an award timeline from June 2026-September 2026 and will utilize various Fiscal year 2026 funds. An acquisition plan is not required because these procurements will be solicited individually. Individually they do not meet the threshold at Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 207.103(a)(2).

These requirements were previously procured through the U.S. Navy and Airforce.

Although they were not competed, ACC-RI does not have access to the previous justifications. Therefore, the approval level of this Class Justification and Approval (J&A) will remain with the Competition Advocate.

3. Description of Supplies: This requirement is to provide various supplies to varying customers within the CAD/PAD program. The CAD/PAD Program is a technically complex system of systems that supports a variety of aircrew egress interfaces, life supports equipment, fire suppression systems, aerial refueling capabilities, air cargo operations, sensitive data destruction, aircrew survival equipment and various weapon system(s) functions. Each CAD/PAD item begins with a U.S. Government-owned Source Control Drawing. Contractors then use these drawings to engineer the final products and generate the corresponding Technical Data Packages (TDP). As creators of the TDPs, the contractors retain ownership of the TDPs. To become a government-qualified contractor, offerors must complete qualification procedures set forth in the "Justification for Qualification Requirements" (JQR) and be approved by a Government CAD/PAD engineer, which is further described below in paragraph five. Given the complexity of CAD/PAD systems, the TDPs for these parts specify that production is limited to government-qualified contractors.

ACC will award the contracts based on the following estimated quantities and delivery dates listed below. The U.S Navy and Airforce estimate a total dollar value of providing various DODICs at the level of quality required. Thus, competition will be restricted to only those sources that have been qualified by the government.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: IAW RFO FAR 6.103-1(c)(2)(i) which states: Agencies may contract without providing for full and open competition when the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. For DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, this authority extends to situations where only a limited number of responsible sources can satisfy agency requirements.

The acquisition of CAD/PAD is restricted to a highly specialized market due to the inherent risks associated with energetics and the stringent qualification requirements mandated by applicable regulations and standards. These procurements contain source-controlled drawings, in which potential contractors must have qualified specifications, drawings, and National Stock Number (NSN) to meet the Military Specification (MILSPEC) and fulfill Navy, Army, and Air Force requirements. Currently, only a limited number of companies possess the demonstrated capability and approved qualifications to manufacture these specific CAD/PAD items. The known suppliers own their part numbers and TDP which conform to the U.S. Government Source Control Drawing, part numbers or NSN, and MILSPECS.

For a new vendor to achieve CAD/PAD production qualification, it requires vendors to undergo a resource-intensive, multi-year process characterized by stringent technical mandates and rigorous oversight from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Division (IHD) E2 CAD/PAD Division (Code E24). A prospective contractor must successfully navigate the standard System Engineering Technical Review (SETR) process, which encompasses all phases of design development, manufacturing evaluation, and testing reviews and secure one of seven specific design certifications.

This requires submitting exhaustive technical data packages containing detailed drawings, proprietary manufacturing procedures, and energetic material compatibility data. In addition to baseline design requirements, energetic devices must undergo extreme environmental and safety validations tailored to specific platform demands.

Vendors must prove their components can withstand variables such as severe vibration, shock, altitude, and temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, specialized safety requirements – including Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO), Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) testing, and Insensitive Munitions compliances must be met before any device is considered safe for fleet integration.

Currently, the United States Government (USG) has limited data rights. As further discussed below in paragraph 8, the USG has made several attempts to obtain data rights from the qualified contractors for all the listed DODICS. In each attempt, the qualified contractors have stated that they intend to retain exclusive ownership of their technical data and further prohibit the use by another contractor. Without these rights, no other vendor can manufacture compatible parts, develop necessary software updates, or properly service the high-precision CAD/PAD supplies.

a) Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridge (DODICs JL42, JL43, JL44):

Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company – Arizona (PacSci EMC, AZ) is the sole qualified source for DODICs JL42, JL43, and JL44, uniquely possessing the proprietary technical data, specialized tooling, and facilities required to have successfully supported this requirement since 2018. Awarding a contract to an unproven source would cause the Government to incur significant duplication of costs. For these three DODICS and consistent with the above qualifications, the U.S. Navy and Airforce estimate a total of $ in qualification costs across the three DODICs. Such costs consist of Engineering Support labor ($ ), Component Qualifications ($ ), Service Release Cataloging ($ ), System Qualification testing ($ ), and Engineering support travel ($ ). If this requirement were competed, the duplication of costs would not be expected to be recovered through savings associated with competition. Assuming adequate competition existed, it was found that competition would not achieve lower pricing. Based on the IGE of $ , applying a 3% competitive discount, competition would yield only $ in potential savings from the IGE total contract value. When comparing the duplicative cost to qualify a new source ($ ) to the anticipated competitive savings ($ ), the cost to qualify a new source is considerably higher.

b) Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridge (DODICs MT20/TY60) and

c) Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridge (DODIC TY61):

Ametek Ameron, LLC DBA Mass Systems and KIDDE Technologies are qualified sources for DODICs MT20, TY60 and TY61. In addition, DODIC TY61 also has Applied Energy Technology Corporation (AETC) as a qualified source. Each of the three sources are uniquely qualified having the proprietary technical data, specialized tooling, and facilities required to meet the Governments requirements. If the Government were to award a contract to someone other than one of these three qualified sources, the Government would incur significant duplication of costs. The U.S. Navy and Airforce estimate a total of $ in qualification costs consisting of engineering support labor ($ ), extensive component level testing ($ ), Service Release Cataloging ($ ), System Qualification Testing ($ ), and Engineering Support travel ($ ). If this requirement was to be competed, such duplication costs are unlikely to be recovered through the savings associated with a competition.

Assuming adequate competition exists and a competitive 3% discount is applied, lower prices would still not be achieved. Based on the IGE of $ (MT20/TY60) and $ (TY61) totaling $ , applying a 3% competitive discount, a competition would only yield $ in potential savings from the IGE total contract value. When comparing the duplicate cost to qualify a new source ($ ) to the anticipated competitive savings ($ ), the cost to qualify a new source is considerably higher.

d) Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridge (DODICs MU26 & MU27):

PacSci EMC, AZ is the only qualified source for DODIC MU26 & MU27 with the necessary proprietary technical data, specialized tooling and necessary facilities to successfully fulfill this requirement. If the Government were to award to anyone other than PacSci EMC, AZ, it would incur significant duplication of costs. Breaking it down further would mean that the Government would experience costs for Engineering support labor ($ ), Component testing such as x-ray, leak, and shock testing ($ ), Cataloging ($ ) and other specialized system qualification testing ($ ). If this requirement was competed, it is anticipated that the estimated price savings would be insignificant when compared to the overall cost to qualify a new source. Assuming adequate price competition exists, the U.S. Navy and Airforce IGE estimates a total contract value of $ for both DODICs MU26 & MU7. Based on the IGE estimate ($ ), applying a 3% competitive discount, a competition would only yield approximately $ in potential savings. The substantial duplication costs of $ exponentially exceeds the estimated price savings of $ .

e) Flexible Confined Detonating Cord Assembly (DODICs MS91 & MS92):

There are two qualified contractors for Flexible Confined Detonating Cord Assembly DODICs MS91 and MS92: Rockwell Collins and Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company, CA (PacSci EMC, CA). Both sources are uniquely qualified, having proprietary technical data, specialized tooling, and facilities required to meet the Government’s requirements. If the Government were to award a contract to someone other than either of these two qualified sources, the Government would incur significant duplication of costs. The U.S. Navy and Airforce estimate total for the base year requirements at $ in qualification costs, consisting largely of engineering ($ ) and extensive component level testing ($ ), along with Cataloging and special system qualification testing such as x-ray, leak, and shock testing ($ ). If this requirement was to be competed, such duplication of costs is unlikely to be recovered through the savings associated with a competition. Assuming adequate competition exists and a competitive 3% discount is applied; lower prices would still not be achieved. Based on the IGE of $ , applying a 3% competitive discount, a competition would only yield $ in potential savings from the IGE total contract value. When comparing the duplicate cost to qualify a new source ($ ) to the anticipated competitive savings ($ ), the cost to qualify a new source is considerably higher.

f) Seat Stabilization Rocket Motor (DODICs MT32 and MD98):

There are two qualified vendors for Seat Stabilization Rocket Motor (DODIC MT32 and MD98) which are Rockwell Collins and Nammo Defense Systems Inc. Both sources are uniquely qualified, having proprietary technical data, specialized tooling, and facilities required to meet the Governments’ requirements. If the Government were to award a contract to someone other than either of these two qualified sources, the Government would incur significant duplication of costs. If the Government were to award a contract to someone other than either of these three qualified sources, the Government would incur significant duplication of costs. The U.S. Navy and Airforce estimate a total of $ in qualification costs consisting of engineering support labor and travel ($ ), component and system qualifications ($ ), and service release cataloging ($ ). If this requirement was to be competed, such duplication costs are unlikely to be recovered through the savings associated with a competition.

Assuming adequate competition exists and a competitive 3% discount was applied, lower prices would still not be achieved. Based on the IGE of $ , applying a

3% competitive discount, a competition would only yield $ in potential savings from the IGE total contract value. When comparing the duplicate cost to qualify a new source ($ ) to the anticipated competitive savings ($ ), the cost to qualify a new source is higher than what would be saved as a result of a competition.

g) Thin Layer Explosive Assembly (DODICs JL97, JL98, MU73, MU94, SS97, SS98, SS99, SN97, SN98, SN97, SN98, SP04, SP05, SP06, SP07, SP08, SP09, SP10, SP11, SP12, SP14, SP15, SP16, SP17, SP18, SP19, JM02, JM03, JM04, JM05, JM06, JM07, SQ23, SQ24, SQ25, SQ26, SQ27, SQ28, SR96, SR97, SR98, SS02, SS03, SS83, SS84, SS85, SS86, SS87, SS88) and

h) Thin Layer Explosive Assembly (DODICs SP02 and SP03):

Since 2018, Rockwell Collins has been the only qualified contractor for the various Thin Layer Explosive Assembly DODICs. To date, Rockwell Collins possesses the only approved design and TDP, qualified facilities, proprietary processes, tooling, and skilled personnel with the necessary manufacturing knowledge to produce these highly specialized items containing a unique combination of explosives, fire mechanisms and precise interface requirements. If the Government were to award a contract to someone other than Rockwell Collins, the Government would incur significant duplication of costs.

The U.S. Navy and Airforce estimate a total of $ in upfront qualification costs.

Breaking it down further would mean that the Government would experience costs for engineering support labor ($ ), component testing including various performance and safety tests ($ ), cataloging ($ ) and other specialized system qualification testing ($ ). If this requirement was to be competed, such duplication of costs would not be recovered through the savings associated with a competition.

Assuming adequate competition exists and a competitive 3% discount is applied; lower prices would still not be achieved. Based on the IGE of $ , applying a 3% competitive discount, a competition would only yield in potential savings from the IGE total contract value. When comparing the duplicate cost to qualify a new source ($ ) to the anticipated competitive savings ($ ), the cost to qualify a new source is considerably higher than what would be saved as a result of a competition.

i) Cartridge Actuated Initiator (DODIC JL56 & JL57):

PacSci, EMC, CA is the only qualified contractor for Cartridge Actuated Initiator DODICs JL56 and JL57. PacSci EMC, CA possesses the only approved design and TDP, qualified facilities, proprietary processes, tooling, and skilled personnel with the necessary manufacturing knowledge to produce these highly specialized items containing a unique combination of explosives, fire mechanisms and precise interface requirements. If the Government were to award a contract to someone other than PacSci EMC, CA, the Government would incur significant duplication of costs. The U.S. Navy and Airforce estimate a total of $ in upfront qualification costs. Breaking such cost into the same 4 major areas, the duplicated costs would consist of engineering support labor ($ ), component testing including various performance and safety tests ($ ), cataloging ($ ) and other specialized system qualification testing ($ ). If this requirement was to be competed, such duplication of costs would not be recovered through the savings associated with a competition. Assuming adequate competition exists and a competitive 3% discount is applied; lower prices would still not be achieved. Based on the IGE of $ , applying a 3% competitive discount, a competition would yield $ in potential savings from the IGE total contract value. When compared to the duplicate cost to qualify a new source ($ ) to the anticipated competitive savings ($ ), the cost to qualify a new source is considerably higher than what would be saved as a result of a competition.

In summary, and as shown above, the duplication costs to qualify new sources for each of the DODICs groupings far outweigh any realized benefits through competition and would not be recovered over the lifecycle of the procurements, thereby creating a significant financial burden for the Government.

This procurement is critical to replenishing the CAD/PAD items identified above.

Because these explosive components possess strict shelf lives, continuous replacement is mandatory to maintain an aircraft’s operational readiness. The energetic compounds inside these devices naturally degrade over time, compromising their explosive reliability.

In emergency egress and fire-suppression systems, there is zero margin for error; these devices must function with 100% reliability in a fraction of a second. Therefore, failure to approve this justification will cause current inventories to be depleted with no available replacements, leaving aircraft without functioning life-saving systems. Consequently, the Government would be forced to ground affective military aircraft immediately halting Department of War (DOW) execution of combat and training operations, severely crippling global mission readiness.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

ACC-RI shall publish the notices required by RFO FAR 5.101, Synopsis of Proposed Contract Action. Due to the proprietary rights with these contractors, there may be no subcontracting opportunities. Even so, the Government will promote subcontracting competition by including FAR clause 52.244-5, Competition in Subcontracting. This clause states that the contractor shall select subcontractors on a competitive basis to the maximum practicable extent.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Since all known contractors continue to hold the proprietary rights to their TDPs, it is unlikely that any action will increase competition until more contractors become qualified within the CAD/PAD program or the contractors agree to sell or subcontract the rights. However, the Government will continue to conduct market research to see if there are additional, viable vendors for future requirements as well as continue to seek alternative sources and encourage qualification into the CAD/AD program.

8. Market Research: The CAD/PAD Joint Program Office (JPO) is in continuous market research with its vendor base through annual technical interchange meetings, technical workshops, and annual conferences to determine vendor capabilities. Industry Days are also held every two-years, the last one was held Oct 2024. In addition, the CAD/PAD

JPO submits annual requests to the qualified sources to determine if contractors are interested in selling their data rights. The last attempt to obtain the data was to PacSci EMC, AZ via email on 08 Dec 2025, by CAD/PAD program manager. PacSci EMC, AZ informed the USG that they are not willing to relinquish, sell, or enter negotiations for any data rights on PacSci EMC, AZ products. To date, none of the other qualified contractors have expressed willingness to release data rights to the Government.

In accordance with RFO DFARS 206.104-71(a)(2) and RFO DFARS Procedures, Guidance and Information 206.103-170(d), ACC-RI posted a Sources Sought Notice for all the listed DODICS listed above to SAM.gov on varying dates, ranging from 20 January through 25 June for 14 days each. The results of the posting found the 11 contractors that currently hold qualified acceptance documentation and are able to produce CAD/PAD items. The following table depicts those qualified contractors:

Contractor CAGE Code

DODIC /Item

Ametek Ameron LLC 0FRR4 MT20 & TY60 & TY61 / Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridges

Applied Energy Technology Corporation (AETC)

57597 TY 61 / Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridge

KIDDE Technologies 05BU0 TY61 / Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridge

KIDDE Technologies 61423 MT20 & TY60 / Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridges

Nammo Defense Systems Inc. 12116 MT32 & MD98 / Seat Stabilization Rocket Motors

Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company, AZ (PacSci

EMC, AZ)

54181 MU26 & MU27 /Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridges

JL42, JL43, JL44/ Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Cartridges

JL56 & JL57 / Cartridge Actuated Initiator

DODIC

Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company, CA (PacSci

EMC, CA)

06331 MS91 & MS92 / Flexible Confined Detonating Cord Assembly

Rockwell Collins Inc 17610 MS91 & MS92 / Flexible Confined Detonating Cord Assembly

MT32 & MD95 / Seat Stabilization Rocket Motors

SP02 & SP03 / Thin Layer Explosive Assembly

JL97, JL98, MU73, MU94, SS97, SS98, SS99,

SN97, SN98, SN97, SN98, SP04, SP05, SP06,

SP07, SP08, SP09, SP10, SP11, SP12, SP14,

SP15, SP16, SP17, SP18, SP19, JM02, JM03,

JM04, JM05, JM06, JM07, SQ23, SQ24, SQ25,

SQ26, SQ27, SQ28, SR96, SR97, SR98, SS02,

SS03, SS83, SS84, SS85, SS86, SS87, SS88 /

Thin Layer Explosive Assembly

All these qualified vendors are large businesses and are qualified to provide Navy, Air Force, and/or Army requirements, with the exception of AETC, which is a small business and a qualified vendor for the Air Force TY61 only. In addition, the below companies responded with items of interest, however, do not hold current qualification acceptance and therefore cannot produce CAD/PAD items without undergoing the necessary qualification process described in Paragraph 5:

Company Items of Interest Zain Alosool General Trading Fire Extinguisher Cartridges DODIC JL42, JL43, JL44

Begini Howard Private Equity BHPE LLC's Flexible Confined Detonating Cord

Assembly DODIC (MS91 & MS92)

Seat Stabilization Rocket Motors DODIC

(MT32 & MD98)

Thin Layer Explosive Assembly DODIC

(SP02 & SP03)

Cartridge Actuated Initiator DODIC (JL56

& JL57)

*AETC Fire Extinguisher Cartridges DODIC

(MT20 & TY60)

Task Aerospace, INC Thin Layer Explosive Assembly DODIC

(SP02 & SP03)

*AETC is qualified for Air Force TY61 requirements but has not been qualified through the Navy for the Navy MT20 & TY60 requirements.

FA8213-25-C-0005 PacSci EMC, AZ $

b. Class J&A: This class J&A authorizes contract actions that are within the scope, period, and maximum dollar value specified herein. For each individual action taken, a statement of applicability memorandum for record will be included in the contract file confirming that the action is within the scope of the class J&A.

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of various Cartridge Actuated Devices and Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD) on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as implemented in RFO FAR 6.103-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The estimated value of this action is $ . The approval is subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Signature: