Redacted_JA16_006_HQDA_ECT_Airborne_Communications.pdf

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL (J&A)

FAR PART 8 ACQUISITIONS

Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)/Multiple Award Contract (MAC)

Orders under MAS/General Service Schedules (GSA)/Federal Supply Schedules (FSS)

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6

Purchase Request Number: CSS0053

Contract Number: To be determined (TBD)

Task/Delivery Order Number: TBD

Procurement Title: Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) Executive Communications

Team (ECT) Airborne Communications

Contracting Office: Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)/ Defense Information

Technology Contracting Office (DITCO), PL8222

Estimated Value:

Limited Source Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

J&A Number: JA16-006

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as Procurement Activity Competition Advocate, hereby approve this limited source justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B).

The acquisition referenced herein is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award

Schedule Program.

JUSTIFICATION

1. REQUIRING AGENCY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE:

(a) Requiring Agency:

Headquarters Department of the Army

Executive Communications Team

6607 Army Pentagon (BF947B)

Washington, DC 20310-6607

(b) Contracting Office:

DISA/DITCO/PL8222

2300 East Drive, Building 3600

Scott Air Force Base, IL 62225-5406

2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACTION(S):

This acquisition is for the award of a new firm fixed price (FFP) task order for ViaSat’s Global

Priority Broadband Service required to support the HQDA ECT airborne communications requirement.

HQDA ECT Airborne Communications-JA16-006

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(c) Justification:

(1) Minimum Government requirements. HQDA ECT’s minimum requirements include a 1-year base period, beginning January 01, 2016, of ViaSat’s Global Priority Broadband

Service with up to 1 Mbps on the RL, but no less than 256 Kbps, and up to 4 Mbps on the FL, but no less than 512 Mbps. The SIMOP will be shared by three planes; with only one plane being able to access the SIMOP at a time.

(2) Proposed sole source contractor. The proposed contractor for this effort is

ViaSat Inc., 6155 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, California 92009-1699. ViaSat is the only provider of global coverage using the VMBR 1520 modem, which is currently being integrated onto the

C-37 aircraft for satellite communications.

(3) Discussion regarding cause of the limited source situation. The TECOM 1500

Ku Stream antenna was purchased by the HQDA ECT to provide the broadband reach-back necessary to provide adequate bandwidth needed to support Mission Command and Intelligence application while en route. The TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna is the only fixed installed satellite antenna, providing Ku bandwidth that has been certified on the C-37 aircraft by the

United States (U.S.) Air Force’s Life Cycle Management Center and Air Mobility Command.

(4) Demonstration of limited source. The VMBR 1520 modem is one of the few

ViaSat modems that are licensed to operate on the ViaSat Worldwide Network and the only modem that is licensed to operate with the TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna. The VMBR 1520 modem contains licensed and certified software and programming tools that are required to communicate with the TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna and operate on the ViaSat Worldwide

Network. The VMBR 1520 modem is required as it is the only modem that works with the antenna system that will be installed on the first aircraft in December of 2015 that will come online in January of 2016. The other two other aircraft are scheduled for installation in March and June of 2016 and will be available for access of the network immediately afterward.

(5) Procurement discussion. The TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna is supported by ViaSat’s Global Priority Broadband Service due to proprietary software that resides in the modem allowing communication to the antenna. The VMBR 1520 modem was tested and proven a reliable source of network reliability by U.S. Special Operations Command, and as such, was integrated into the C-37. Using a different modem would require utilizing a different antenna as the modem, antenna, and antenna control unit are all propriety to ViaSat. Modifying the equipment would involve development, testing, and acquisition costs, as well as additional time. This would provide for unacceptable delays in the fielding of the C-37 and additional funding for licensing and certification. It is estimated that it will take an additional months, from contract to fielding, and the cost may be up to $ to get a separate modem certified for use on the C-37 fuselage. These estimates do not include the modem installation time and costs.

Because the users need this capability as quickly as possible, any additional lead-time or costs in fielding the system would not be recovered through competition. Broadband services are required to begin for this effort on January 01, 2016. Since ViaSat is the only contractor that can provide broadband service that is compatible with the VMBR 1520 modem, which is the only licensed modem certified to operate with the TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna, any other

Page 4 of 6 Pages interested party would have to modify or replace antenna to make it work with their broadband services.

(6) Impact. HQDA ECT will not be able to meet the data rate requirements without the ViaSat solution because the only other broadband option, Inmarsat’s Swift

Broadband C-band service, is only capable of providing a maximum data rate of 432 Kbps. In comparison, VGN’s throughput at the Priority level of service is 5 Mbps or 5120 Kbps. If

ViaSat services are not procured and HQDA ECT must rely solely on Inmarsat’s Swift

Broadband C-band service (which utilizes a different antenna, modem, and frequency), HQDA

ECT will continue to experience a 91.56 percent drop in available data. This drop in data rate will not facilitate HQDA ECT meeting its requirements as defined in the August 8, 2012 Joint

Letter, described in paragraph 4(b) of this document. This will severely limit the communications available to Senior Leaders while en route aboard these aircraft.

5. BEST VALUE DETERMINATION:

In accordance with FAR 8.404(d), GSA has determined the prices of supplies and fixed-price services, and rates for services offered at hourly rates, to be fair and reasonable for the purpose of establishing the schedule contract. In addition, the Contracting Officer will seek a price reduction in accordance with FAR 8.405-4 and will make a determination of fair and reasonable pricing for this task order by utilizing the analysis techniques at FAR 15.404-1.

6. MARKET RESEARCH:

Through market research, conducted from July 9, 2015 through November 3, 2015, it was determined that only ViaSat can provide the required services due to the proprietary ViaSat-manufactured communications equipment that will be installed on the first aircraft in December

2015. This market research consisted of the commercial satellite communications

(COMSATCOM) center attending multiple conferences and trade shows, review of GSA’s

Special Identification Number (SIN) 132-55 for COMSATCOM Subscription Services, reviewing similar requirements, and release of a sources sought announcement in the Federal

Business Opportunities website. The Sources Sought was issued on July 9, 2015 for a total of 14 days seeking information from potential sources for airborne communications satellite services to be provided by the contractor specifically for ViaSat subscription services. The Government received one response, which was from ViaSat. ViaSat is the only provider of this service and does not offer the service through value-added resellers. This is due to the communications equipment utilized on the airborne terminal being proprietary and is only capable of operating with ViaSat Subscription services. ViaSat is a prime contractor on GSA Schedule 70 SIN 132-

55.

7. ANY OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS:

Not Applicable.

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8. ACTIONS THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT LED TO THE

RESTRICTED CONSIDERATION:

This is a new firm fixed price contract. The period of performance is a base period only. HQDA

ECT will continue to conduct market research during this time period for alternative airborne communication on the move solutions that meet their requirements through the equipment architecture to be installed on the aircraft, and may be procured through full and open competition at the conclusion of this contract. Additional market research will continue throughout the duration of the task order to investigate the use of non-proprietary equipment in the HQDA ECT architecture.

9. REFERENCE TO THE APPROVED ACQUISITION PLAN (AP):

In accordance with the exceptions under DARS 7.103 (S-91)(h), an AP is not required.