Microwave Relocation Site Survey: The PWS for the P-130 microwave relocation requires an optical Line of Sight (LOS) verification study and executive design plan to connect to the Monte Lauro relay site. Under the base contract (PWS Paragraph 3.9), TIM is already responsible for coordinating access, maintaining the microwave equipment, and managing the frequencies for the Mt. Lauro and Mt. Cassara radio relay sites. Using a third-party vendor to survey and design a link to a site operated and maintained by TIM would introduce significant technical and operational risks, potential frequency conflicts, and mission-critical delays. While independent Architectural- Engineering (A-E) or telecommunications consulting firms routinely perform structural surveys, they cannot perform this survey and executive design because the target relay stations (Monte Lauro and Mount Cassara) are host-nation telecommunications installations owned, operated, and physically controlled exclusively by TIM S.p.A. Under Paragraph 3.9 of the basic contract PWS, TIM exclusively manages the Italian Ministry of Communications frequency concessions, radio licenses, and physical gate access to these high-security mountain relay towers. Host-nation security protocols and Italian law strictly prohibit unescorted third-party commercial entities from accessing the microwave towers and transmitter racks. In addition, TIM holds the proprietary transmission characteristics, beam-divergence profiles, and frequency coordination data. Attempting to have the Government provide this data to a third party is impossible because the Government does not possess TIM's proprietary tower-loading calculations or internal link budgets.

Multiplexer Procurement and System Integration: The new Ericsson Router 6000 series multiplexer must be procured, pre-staged, activated, and seamlessly integrated into the active telecommunications optical ring and network management system at NCTS BCO Building B435 prior to its future relocation to Building P-130. TIM currently operates and maintains the existing Marconi-Ericsson Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and IP optical transport network under Contract N6817125C0006. Introducing an alternative OEM routing platform would prevent native sub-50ms Automatic Protection Switching (APS), require costly protocol encapsulation gateways, introduce latency/jitter into critical military circuits (such as 911, CRASHNET, and DSN), and require a cost-prohibitive replacement of interconnecting line cards across existing nodes. Contracting an outside vendor to deploy a disparate multiplexing platform would require the Government to procure completely separate optical multiplexer shelves across eight (8) interconnected base nodes to match the non-Ericsson protocol. Furthermore, introducing a third party to install or configure hardware on the active optical ring presents an unacceptable risk of network disruption to U.S., NATO, and coalition forces, voids existing OEM warranties, and compromises TIM's single-point maintenance liabilities.

Because the new equipment must logically and physically integrate into the proprietary network architecture that TIM operates, TIM is the only source capable of providing this turnkey procurement, configuration, and seamless integration without compromising NCTS Sicily's strict reliability mandates. While Ericsson hardware and optics could theoretically be purchased through commercial wholesale distributors or third parties, procuring them separately from the integration creates severe operational and legal risks.

If the Government procured the equipment from a distributor as Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE), TIM would disclaim performance liability for any third-party-supplied hardware, line card defects, or firmware incompatibilities. Under the basic contract (PWS Paragraph 3.8), TIM is contractually obligated to provide Tier II/III maintenance and guarantee network availability. Having TIM procure the hardware directly ensures unbroken OEM carrier-grade warranties, immediate advance hardware replacement, and inclusion in TIM’s existing depot spare-parts pipeline. Should another source provide the hardware should an issue arise before or after the integration he could create additional delay to identify who is responsible for providing warranty support causing a degradation to the mission. For the above-stated reasons, TIM must be not only the integrator but also the furnishing source.

Energy Station Procurement and Power Integration: The new 28KW Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) Energy and Storage System must be procured, pre-staged, tested, and certified at NCTS BCO Building B435 to provide dedicated, uninterrupted DC power to the new multiplexer environment. The Government has determined that the 28KW SCR equipment identified in the PWS is required for compatibility into the existing BCO standalone environmental and infrastructure management platform (basic PWS Paragraph 3.10). An incompatible power plant would require developing custom Management Information Base (MIB) translators and custom software drivers at significant Government expense, and that another manufacturer’s equipment cannot satisfy the requirement without modifying existing base-level cybersecurity baselines.The telecommunications core requires clean, ripple-free -48Vdc power and a minimum autonomy of 10 hours at a 60 Ah operational load, with telemetry integrated into the existing standalone infrastructure management system. TIM currently operates and maintains all battery banks, rectifiers, and power distribution systems under basic contract PWS Paragraph 3.6. Introducing a third-party contractor to tap into, install, and ground high-current 380Vac/48Vdc power systems inside the active BCO facility presents an unacceptable operational hazard, as any accidental short circuit or grounding fault would trigger catastrophic power loss to the Dial Central Office (DCO).

Additionally, third-party power installation would divide electrical warranties and void TIM’s maintenance responsibility for subsequent equipment damage or runaway thermal events. Therefore, TIM is the only contractor that can safely furnish, assemble, certify under Italian Safety Law no. 81/2008, and integrate the energy station into the live power and monitoring grid. Should another source provide the hardware should an issue arise before or after the integration he could create additional delay to identify who is responsible for providing warranty support causing a degradation to the mission. For the above-stated reasons, TIM must be not only the integrator but also the furnishing source.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offers as Practicable. To solicit offers from as many potential sources as practicable, the contracting activity evaluated both historical competitive data and local market capabilities. During the initial, fully competitive solicitation for the base telecommunications maintenance contract, the opportunity was widely publicized; however, only one proposal was received, which was from the incumbent, TIM S.p.A.

To ensure maximum practicable competition and validate these findings, a notice of intent to award a sole-source modification was posted on SAM.gov in accordance with FAR 5.201, allowing any firm interested the opportunity to submit a capability statement for evaluation on 11 September 2026, with a response date of 18 September. In response to the notice of intent to sole source, no responses were received.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government for the services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable. The quote from TIM will be analyzed to ensure price fairness and reasonableness.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition. For the reasons outlined in Paragraph 5, there are no current plans to compete for future requirements of this nature. The U.S.

Government does not own the software rights. They are held privately by Ericsson and TIM S.p.A. The physical microwave repeater towers at Monte Lauro and Mount Cassara are private Italian telecommunications facilities licensed under Italian telecommunications law, not U.S.

Government property.. If another potential source with the required capabilities emerges, the Navy will assess if competition for future requirements is feasible.