B1 JA_NIAR Full Qual Final_Redacted.pdf

J&A Number:25-0234

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

A prior contract supporting materially similar requirements was executed following a full and open competition. Under that effort, NIAR was selected to execute the contract. They have already performed foundational work relevant to the qualification process and currently possesses the technical expertise for the AMS 3970 data set. After a thorough evaluation of available options and in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, it is determined that only the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) can provide the

This procurement must proceed as a sole-historical data, and the absence of alternative sources capable of performing the required work without unacceptable risk, cost, and delays.

facility that has demonstrated material testing equivalency to the AMS 3970 data set originally generated by NIAR. NAWCAD has determined that only NIAR is capable of providing the supplies and services required for this effort and that no other schedule impact that the Government cannot recover through competition.

If NAWCAD were to pursue competition for this requirement, it would result in a delay of over four years. Another contractor would need to undergo extensive testing and development to meet the equivalency needed. It took approximately two years for the completion of the original material qualification for the AMS 3970. The use of any other source would require additional testing, development, and logistic support to prove the new contractor can adequately perform the tests and analyses that are needed by NAWCAD, which was a cost that had been covered previously by NIAR, and the Government may need to account for that as well. Any alternative test facility would need to demonstrate that they can produce equivalent test results to the original qualifying testing facility which could cause further delays of up to two years. Waiting for four years for an alternative source to fulfill the current requirement would result in an unacceptable delay that would hinder the validation and implementation of a common composite material solution intended to improve fleet maintenance efficiency, increase aircraft availability and enhance affordability. This would also directly impact the ability to meet critical timeliness.

Immediate access to the required products is essential to ensure that the project remains aligned with the current needs, operational objectives and technology standards.

NIAR is the only source capable of performing this required work because it was responsible for the original material qualification of the AMS 3970 material and maintains the original data.

J&A Number:25-0234

NIAR possesses exclusive access to the original qualification data of the AMS 3970, which is essential for the integration of the new test data from NAWCAD. Within this program NAWCAD will compare against and add our unique data (which expands to include Naval aviation environmental requirements and layups) to their test data set to generate material allowables (statistically based material properties) based on the testing of the coupons sent in ncy and add risk that NAWCAD would be unable to generate statistically based allowable. No other responsible source has the unique combination of historical data, technical knowledge, and analytical capability is integral Alternative sources would not only require significant time to qualify but would also increase the risk of generating inaccurate or incomplete data, thus jeopardizing the technical integrity of the program.

Based on the factors outlined above, procurement under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1) in a manner that ensures continuity, technical integrity, and efficiency. No other suppliers or costs, and unacceptable technical risk.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable.

In accordance with FAR 5.201 and DFARS PGI 206.302-1, NAWCAD posted a Sources Sought (Request for Information)/Synopsis for the required effort on the SAM.gov website from 9 April through 28 April 2025 on SAM.gov. During the open period of the Sources Sought, five companies submitted responses expressing an interest in the requirement. Each submission was requirement. The evaluation focused on determining whether the submissions possessed the specialized capabilities, facilities, certifications and prior experience necessary to perform the requirement at the level, scope and complexity needed. The results showed that only NIAR was deemed as capable of performing the requirement to the full extent. They were the only company that responded that demonstrated material testing equivalence to the AMS 3970 data set since they were the original generators of the data. The other respondents, who were all expressing interest, were found not to meet key technical and programmatic criteria essential for successful performance and would require a duplication of a system that already exists. They did not provide input showing the ability to provide test data of the AMS 3970 material to the extent detailed in Military Handbook 17 (MIL- HDBK-17) for evaluation of equivalence nor equivalence to the NCAMP AMS 3970 data set. -A Pre-Synopsis was conducted and ended on 26 December 2025, however, no responses or expressions of interest were received within the specified response period.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable.