Brand Name Justification for Rothenbuhler Remote Firing Devices.pdf

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATFE) Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC)

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION FOR EXACT MATCH ONLY

Control Number: ATF-20-0033 ARQ# DJA-20-ANCE-PR-0645

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1. Contracting Activity:

Name and Location of Contracting Office:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Property, Acquisitions and Safety Division (PASD) 99 New York Avenue, NE, 3.S-134 Washington, DC 20226 POC: Brian Wilkins 202-648-9120 Email: Brian.Wilkins@atf.gov

Requesting Office:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR) Corporal Road, Bldg. 3750 Redstone Arsenal Huntsville, AL 35898 POC: Greg Smith 707-742-6141 Email: Greg.Smith@atf.gov

2. Nature/Description of Action:

This Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) authorizes and approves the issuance of a name brand justification, firm-fixed-price purchase order for (50) 168001 8-Pos. Controller, (150) 168002 Remote, (50) 168004 Case and (50) 168005 Pairing Cable.

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

ATF’s Certified Explosives Specialist (CES) Program has a requirement for Remote Firing Devices to use in Explosives disposal operations and Explosives demonstrations conducted by Special Agent – Certified Explosive Specialists. Previously, the program utilized the General Dynamics Military Hardened – Remote Firing Devices. Two years ago, with no notice, General Dynamics stopped producing and supporting this system, There is no way to replace or repair the existing systems and they are becoming unusable.

4. Statutory Authority Cited and Reason for this Authority:

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is Title 10, U.S.C., Section 2304(c) (1) as implemented by FAR 6.302.1, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements (brand name justification)”.

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5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition that

Requires use of Authority Cited:

The CES program began field testing alternative systems available on the commercial market and selected the Rothenbuhler 1680 as the Remote Firing Devices that best fit the needs of the CES Program. While there are several systems that are similar we found the Rothenbuhler’s to be the one that provided all of the requirements of the CES Program. They provided good reliability under various environmental conditions. They have two-way communications between the transmitter and receiver, providing the safety of arming while up range, at a safe distance from the explosive shot. The receivers form a mesh system (basically an internal repeater system) allowing the remote firing to occur at a much greater distance for larger shots.

This increases the safety for the CES. The ease of operation and intuitive nature of the system is another added value. While there are other systems available, this is the the most straight forward to operate. Additionally, it is the only one to form a mesh system, ATF’s Explosives Enforcement Branch has made several previous purchases of these units and in testing, training and field deployment we have found them to be reliable and fulfill our mission requirement more effectively than any other Remote Firing System we have in our current inventory or in others we have tested on a loaned basis.

ATF’s Explosives Enforcement Branch has previously purchased and issued 20 of these units to CESs in the field and placed them into the Basic Explosives Training Course (where CES Candidates receive their initial training) and CES Recertification training.. The training for these units has already been developed and given to ATF CESs. To maintain consistency in training, ensure success, and increase safety in operational deployments, ATF needs to purchase the same make and model as we currently have in inventory.

Due to this, no other brand/model would be acceptable.

6. FedBizOpps Announcement:

Brand Name Justification will be posted on FBO.

7. Market Research:

Market research for alternative equipment resulted in no availability of similar equipment that meets the same standards with the extended range of the two-way communications between the transmitters and receivers with the capability of forming a mesh system. Nor are any similar systems as intuitive as the Rothenbuhler RFDs. This is important for CESs as many use these systems on an infrequent basis, yet need to be able deploy and use the equipment safely when it is needed. In researching current similar products on the market as of April 2020, this system is the only one that meets or exceeds all of the below listed requirements.

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Units must have a range of no less than ¾ mile, line of sight, with the ability to extend it with a Point to Multi-point network

Must have LED displays that are multi-level so they can be used in different lighting conditions

Must be able to control up to 8 receivers at a time and must be capable of pairing receivers from multiple systems to one transmitter

Must be capable of firing all receivers, individually or in selected groups, immediately or in sequential fire (from 0,5 to 4 seconds)

Must be capable of firing 80 caps

Must be powered by commercial, off the shelf, batteries

Must have an automatic disarm timer

Must be capable of >1 second Disarm to Safe

Ease of use and intuitive nature of operation is of great importance

8. Other Interested Sources:

This requirement will be competed

9. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition:

ATF will perform due diligence in an effort to identify other sources for these products through targeted internet sources, CCR and SBA databases that will fit into our custom covert concealments.

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10. Certifications:

TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification are complete and accurate.

Technical Operations Officer Date

I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date