ANNEX 1 - JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

TO PROCURE USING COMPETITION THROUGH BRAND NAME

1. Contracting Activity.

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division

(NSWC PCD).

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

Award of a Firm Fixed Price contract on a brand name basis, for the acquisition of new interim Post Mission Analysis (iPMA) Roll-on / Roll-off (RORO) Workstations to support the U.S.

Navy (USN).

3. Description of Supplies / Services.

This procurement is for the award of a Firm Fixed Priced Contract to acquire the following NextCom LLC systems:

Description Part Number Qty

Portable Rugged Dual 24" 4K Display Monitor Version Workstation MIL810H/901E compliant and compatible with customer provided shipboard mounting plate shock assembly and includes external UPS in operational 2U hardcase MIL810H/901eEcertified, with 2x ratchet straps included (see Attachment #1 for full spec.)

FAK-VigorEDS-

NSWCPC1.0

See Attachment #1 for the full specification of the systems being procured. The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel. This J&A does not authorize acquisition for other requirements.

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

Identification of the justification rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor's unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service. Authority: FAR 6.103-1(d), Application for brand-name descriptions.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

Pursuant to FAR 6.103-1(d), NextCom is the only brand of equipment that will meet the Government’s needs for the following reasons. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) Code A30 Common PMA Hardware is responsible for replacing the existing OPMA Block 3 workstations with (20) Rugged Console RORO Workstations to support iPMA software, the Q20 project, training and tactics for use on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Counter Measures (MCM) Mission Package (MP). The Rugged workstations being procured will be used for MCM MP Deployments. The items specified in Paragraph 3 of this document are required as the current software that is in use for Post Mission Analysis has a strict set of operational performance requirements that these brands meet and will comply with as a whole. Also, given the environment that these items are subjected to, they experience a higher than normal failure rate. The items in this procurement are required to maintain the functionality of the workstations, as they are mission critical equipment.

The required workstation incorporates an integrated dual 24-inch 4K display configuration within a single rugged portable enclosure, eliminating the need for external monitors while providing sufficient screen real estate to simultaneously operate multiple mission-critical applications. The system is specifically designed to meet military environmental requirements for shock, vibration, and transportation, making it suitable for shipboard, expeditionary, and remote operating locations. It also supports workstation-class processors, high-performance graphics processing, removable solid-state storage, PCIe expansion, and future technology upgrades required by the MCM Mission Package.

This procurement supports standardization across existing Government-owned in support of the MCM MP equipment. The Government has previously procured multiple rugged portable workstations from this manufacturer. The systems previously purchased are currently fielded in support of MCM Mission Package engineering, testing, logistics, and training activities.

Procuring the same platform maintains hardware commonality, minimizes lifecycle support costs, reduces operator and maintainer training requirements, simplifies spare parts management, and ensures compatibility with existing Government-developed software configurations and support procedures. If an alternative commercial product were to be procured, it would, at a minimum, be required to meet the same specification of dual 24-inch 4K displays, compact deployable form factor, ruggedized construction, expansion capability, and compatibility with the Government's existing hardware baseline without requiring significant engineering changes, additional integration effort, or increased lifecycle support costs. The alternate product would also be required to go through shock testing, analysis, and an update to the MCM MP baseline, all of which would result in unplanned costs and delay, ultimately delaying the deployment of the hardware to the warfighter.

Accordingly, the FAK-VigorEDS-NSWCPC1.0 Portable Rugged Dual 24-inch 4K Display Monitor Workstation manufactured by NextCom LLC is the only product that satisfies the

Government's minimum operational, technical, interoperability, and lifecycle support requirements while maintaining configuration standardization with currently fielded systems.

As such, the Government does not expect significant savings through obtaining alternate brands and does expect significant and unacceptable delays in finding and developing alternatives will negatively affect this requirement. Failure to procure new iPMA RORO equipment will result in outdated hardware not meeting specifications, which in turn will not allow the warfighter to be able to efficiently and accurately perform their post mission analysis duties. Therefore, it is in the Governments’ best interest to acquire the NextCom LLC items listed in Paragraph 3 of this document.

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

This commercial procurement is valued below the $9 million threshold; therefore, it is authorized to utilize Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) for certain commercial products and services in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.201-1. While FAR 12.201-1(c) generally requires the Contracting Officer to promote competition to the maximum extent practicable, this requirement is being executed on a brand-name basis under the statutory authority of 41 U.S.C.

1901, as implemented by FAR 12.102(b), for the reasons specified in Section 5.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs.

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable based on expected competition which will ultimately determine price fairness.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NSWC PCD will compete this proposed requirement amongst authorized resellers of the Nextcom brands. The requiring activity expects to receive adequate competition on a brand name only basis through authorized resellers of the Nextcom brand products.