Attachment 0004 - Brand Name Justification (Redacted) - 48 OSS ATC Flightline Radio Upgrade.pdf

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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I. Contracting Activity.

48th Contracting Squadron (48 CONS) Bldg 977, Boston Drive Royal Air Force Lakenheath Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 9PN

United Kingdom

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

This procurement will be awarded as a new Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Purchase Order (PO) contract.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The 48th Operations Support Squadron (48 OSS) at RAF Lakenheath requires a comprehensive and critical upgrade of its Air Traffic Control (ATC) flightline communications systems. This acquisition is essential to replace legacy, end-of-life (EoL) copper-based connectivity supporting critical ATC navigational aids (NavAids) and RAPCON communications, ensuring continued operational readiness, reliability, and compliance with modern telecommunications standards.

This effort will modernize and standardize ATC communications infrastructure, focusing on hardware and systems integral to safe and efficient flight operations. The upgrade includes procurement and installation of telecommunications infrastructure hardware, fiber-optic transport platforms, and associated ATC radio interface modules to enable interoperability between legacy NavAid/ATC equipment and contemporary fiber/IP-based systems.

Under the terms of this contract, the contractor will provide and install two primary categories of material:

General Telecommunications and Infrastructure Hardware – including cabling (CAT3, CAT5e, crossconnect wire), fiber jumpers, patch panels, prewired 66 blocks, cable organizers, racks, power strips, grounding bars, and related installation accessories (tie mounts, screws, anchors, plywood backboards, UPS, labeling supplies). These components form the foundational physical infrastructure required to operate the upgraded ATC communications system.

TC Communications JumboSwitch Platforms and Associated ATC Modules – including JumboSwitch chassis, TC3840 cards, miscellaneous interface cards, dry contact/analog channel modules, telephone multiplexers (FXO/FXS base and expansion units, both rackmount and standalone), tone remote desk sets, adapter boxes, and power supplies. These items are critical to ensuring seamless integration and interoperability between legacy ILS, TACAN, voice lines, dial-up modems, serial modems, and modern fiber/IP-based infrastructure.

The contractor will also provide optional on-site training for TC Communications equipment to ensure technical personnel are fully capable of installation, operation, and sustainment. Comprehensive system documentation, validation testing, and coordination with base personnel will be conducted to minimize operational disruption and confirm that all components meet mission-critical ATC requirement

The Independent Government Estimate (including options) for this acquisition is $ This action will be funded through the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) funds, appropriation 3400.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

DAFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 2302b, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901).

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

The supplies and services required under this acquisition are unique in nature and require highly specialized technical

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

April 2021 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 5April 2021 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 5 capabilities only provided by TC Communications Inc. This justification supports the use of brand name authority under FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii), as implemented by DAFFARS 5313.501, because only TC Communications equipment can meet the government’s minimum requirements for the supply of this ATC communications upgrade.

The supply portion of this requirement includes the procurement of telecommunications transport equipment capable of interfacing with a wide array of legacy and mission-critical Air Force systems, including Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), Remote Airfield Weather Sensors, Primary Crash Network (PCN) circuits, and various ATC voice and data systems currently supporting the 48th Operations Support Squadron (48 OSS) at RAF Lakenheath. These systems rely on analog audio (600 ohm), 4-wire E and M signaling, RS-232/RS-422 serial data, FXO and FXS voice lines, and contact closure circuits, much of which is currently transmitted over aging copper infrastructure. The existing transmission solution, based on Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) channel banks, is obsolete, unsupported, and incompatible with modern fiber optic network standards mandated by the Department of the Air Force. The upgraded system must provide seamless conversion and transmission of these diverse signal types over fiber optic infrastructure, with proven reliability, modular scalability, and full compatibility with DoD network architecture.

TC Communications is the only known manufacturer producing a fully integrated fiber optic transport platform capable of supporting all required analog, digital, and IP interfaces within a single system architecture. Alternative manufacturers offer only partial or niche solutions, and no other platform provides the comprehensive port count, interface versatility, environmental reliability, and proven Air Force operational compatibility required for this mission.

Attempting to assemble a hybrid system with multiple brands would increase integration risk, introduce potential compatibility issues, extend installation timelines, and raise lifecycle sustainment costs due to disparate technical support, training, and spare parts requirements. Additionally, TC Communications equipment incorporates legacy Air Force signaling standards directly into the platform, eliminating the need for additional converters or protocol translators, which reduces potential failure points.

The TC Communications solution is already standardized within Air Force Engineering and Installation (E&I) teams and has been successfully deployed at multiple Air Force installations in similar applications, including NAVAIDs and ATC communications upgrades. Existing installation diagrams, training resources, and configuration guides for these platforms ensure interoperability, reduce training time, and promote technician readiness—advantages not available with alternative solutions. This established compatibility and standardization further justify the brand name requirement, as no other manufacturer provides a fully integrated and mission-aligned solution.

On the installation side, this acquisition includes engineering, furnishing, installation, and testing (EFI&T) of the equipment to achieve full operational capability at RAF Lakenheath. Due to the safety-critical nature of ATC flightline communications, it is essential that the contractor be intimately familiar with TC Communications hardware, configuration, and interface requirements. Using a different brand would necessitate significant design and engineering work to replicate these capabilities, increasing cost, risk, and potential mission disruption.

Given that TC Communications is the sole manufacturer of the required equipment, and that these products are only available directly from TC Communications or its authorized resellers, this procurement qualifies as a brand name acquisition under simplified acquisition procedures. Both the supplies (telecommunications hardware) and services (EFI&T) are inseparable and uniquely tied to the TC Communications platform to ensure mission continuity, operational safety, and system compatibility.

Therefore, this acquisition meets the conditions set forth in FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) for brand name justification and is authorized under DAFFARS 5313.501.

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

Market research was conducted to identify potential sources capable of meeting the government’s minimum requirements. This included reviewing previously fielded solutions across other Air Force installations, consulting with engineering and installation (E and I) teams, and analyzing existing technical data. The findings confirmed that TC Communications is the sole manufacturer of the only known telecommunications platform capable of supporting all legacy and current signal types over fiber optic transport within a single integrated system.

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

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While the equipment is manufactured solely by TC Communications, it is available through multiple authorized resellers and distributors. Therefore, solicitation will be conducted on a competitive basis among these authorized resellers to the maximum extent practicable. A brand name justification will be posted along with the solicitation on SAM.gov to ensure transparency and provide interested vendors the opportunity to submit quotes for the brand name equipment in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iv). This approach balances the mission-critical requirement for standardized, technically compatible hardware with the intent to foster competition among authorized sellers.

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

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. This determination is based on historical pricing data from similar acquisitions at other Air Force installations where the same TC Communications equipment was procured and installed, along with comparison of current price quotes from authorized distributors. In addition, market research has indicated price consistency across available resellers, affirming that the equipment pricing aligns with current industry rates for similar high-reliability, fiber-optic telecommunications transport solutions.

To ensure the final contract price is fair and reasonable, the Government will request multiple quotes from authorized resellers of TC Communications equipment. A price analysis will be conducted in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(1), comparing these quotes against each other and against previous contract prices for similar systems. Certified cost or pricing data is not required under FAR 13.5 procedures, however, if determined necessary, the Contracting Officer may request further cost information to support pricing conclusions. A technical evaluation will also be conducted by qualified government personnel to validate that the quoted solution meets all performance and interoperability requirements outlined in the Statement of Objectivies (SOO).

For the installation services are included, a separate evaluation of labor hours, rates, and implementation scope will be reviewed to assess reasonableness. The combination of market comparison, price history, technical validation, and quote competition among authorized sources provides the Contracting Officer with sufficient assurance that the final contract award will reflect a fair and reasonable cost to the Government.

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

Comprehensive market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 to identify equipment and services capable of satisfying the Government’s unique telecommunications requirements for the 48 OSS Air Traffic Control (ATC) Flightline Radio Upgrade at RAF Lakenheath. This research included reviewing prior installations at other U.S. Air Force bases, consulting with Air Force Engineering and Installation (E&I) teams, analyzing vendor capabilities through government sources such as SAM.gov, and engaging directly with industry participants.

The research confirmed that, while multiple vendors provide fiber-optic communications solutions, only TC Communications Inc. manufactures equipment that fully meets the Air Force’s interoperability and mission-critical requirements for legacy NavAid and ATC systems. TC Communications is the sole manufacturer of the equipment required for this upgrade; however, the equipment is available for purchase through multiple authorized and approved distributors.

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

Several Air Force organizations, including Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Air Force Flight Standards Agency (AFFSA), Air Combat Command (ACC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), and Air Force Engineering & Installation (AF E&I), as well as multiple U.S. Army organizations, have thoroughly evaluated potential solutions to replace obsolete legacy channel banks and TDM systems supporting critical ATC communications. No manufacturer other than TC Communications has committed to producing equipment that maintains compatibility with these legacy communications standards.

TC Communications has uniquely integrated legacy protocols into a modern, sustainable fiber-optic platform that addresses current mission requirements while providing scalability for future upgrades. Their equipment supports all

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

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

While no sources have submitted formal written statements of interest specifically in response to this acquisition, multiple authorized distributors have been identified through market research as capable of supplying the required TC Communications equipment. These include and Although none have formally expressed written interest, their established relationship with the manufacturer and confirmation of product availability indicate a strong likelihood of participation upon solicitation.

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 requirement to interface legacy Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications and navigational systems with modern fiber-optic transport infrastructure represents a persistent and long-term need across the Air Force enterprise. The existing NAVAIDs and associated ATC communications equipment at RAF Lakenheath, as well as similar systems at other installations, were recently procured and installed with an expected operational life exceeding 25 years.

Consequently, the need for compatible transport and interface solutions that bridge older signaling formats with current and future data transport protocols will continue well into the foreseeable future.

TC Communications is the sole manufacturer providing an integrated, sustainable platform that supports legacy protocols while remaining scalable to evolving network requirements. It is therefore expected that future acquisitions of similar scope and functionality will also necessitate brand name or single-source justification. Although the Government continuously monitors emerging technologies and alternative sources, no other manufacturer has demonstrated the capability or willingness to support these legacy communications standards at scale.

Efforts to encourage competition for future acquisitions will include ongoing market capability reviews, industry outreach via Requests for Information (RFIs) when feasible, and coordination with engineering and technical stakeholders to assess potential new solutions or alternate interface designs. If viable alternatives are identified, steps may be taken to qualify additional sources or plan competitive follow-on acquisitions. However, due to the specialized nature of this requirement and the extensive standardization of existing systems around TC Communications equipment, barriers to competition are expected to persist unless another manufacturer develops a fully comparable product suite.

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.