Attachment 0003 - Brand Name Justification_Redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

November 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 2 of 3

Department of Defense (DoD) branches as well as United Kingdom counterparts when training in the UK. The radio also integrates seamlessly with the similarly capable PRC-117G, providing a complete communication solution for tactical operations.

Currently, the L3Harris Falcon III AN/PRC 152 handheld radios are in operation. The AN/PRC-163 was designed to replace the Falcon III, and both radios can work in conjunction with each other. This means that the AN/PRC-163 can be used as a complementary radio to the Falcon III, providing additional communication capabilities. The AN/PRC-163 is similar in design to the Falcon III, making it easy for operators to use with similar features and requiring little upgrade training with the new device.

This is a significant advantage for units that are already familiar with the Falcon III and want to transition to the AN/PRC-163 smoothly.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

On July 30, 2024, the 48th Contracting Squadron posted a sources sought notice on SAM.gov, seeking feedback from potential vendors who could provide one (1) Dismount AN/PRC-117G (Green) and one (1) AN/PRC-163 Dismount Kit. The notice also specified that any other brand equivalent that met the minimum specifications outlined in the attached Salient Characteristics document would also be considered.

In response to the sources sought notice, the 48th Contracting Squadron received a capability statement from detailing the specifications of the products they could provide. These documents were then forwarded to the technical evaluators at the 48th Operations Support Squadron (48 OSS) Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) Unit for further evaluation. After reviewing the capability statement, the technical evaluators at the 48 OSS SERE Unit concluded that had the capability to meet the requirement.

On July 29, 2024, L3 Harris was contacted to determine their position on the resale of the required items through third parties.

The question was whether L3 Harris authorized the resale of their products through third parties or if they worked with any approved resellers. On August 13, 2024, a USAF Sales Engineer responded to the inquiry, stating that L3 Harris did not list any authorized resellers for their products. However, the sales engineer also clarified that L3 Harris radios were commercial products, and as such, any company that wanted to buy them and resell them to the government was allowed to do so. Therefore, based on these findings as was capable of providing the necessary radios, and L3 Harris did not restrict the resale of their products through third parties, this requirement will be procured through a brand name justification.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards

The ongoing procurement of L3 Harris radios by the 48th Operations Support Squadron (48 OSS) Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) Unit is driven by their operational requirements and the need to maintain their current infrastructure. However, the 48th Contracting Squadron is committed to explore the commercial market to identify alternative sources for their communication needs for any future requirements. The barriers to finding alternative sources include the unique technical specifications required for the radios, the need for compatibility with existing infrastructure, and the potential costs associated with procuring new equipment. To address these barriers, the 48th Contracting Squadron will conduct further market research to identify viable options for future competitive procedures.

If viable options are identified, the 48th Contracting Squadron will consider conducting future competitive procedures to solicit bids from potential vendors. This approach would allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of available options and ensure that the best value is obtained for the government

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

November 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 3 of 3

Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date

28-Aug-2024

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

Esther M. Hamilton. Contracting Officer

Signature of Contracting Officer