JA17-008_ViaSat_CSS0062_JandA_Final_Redacted.pdf

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL (J&A)

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) PART 8 ACQUISITIONS

Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)/Multiple Award Contract (MAC) Orders under MAS/General Service Administration (GSA)/Federal Supply Schedules (FSS)

FAR 8.405-6

Purchase Request Number: CSS0062 Contract Number: To Be Determined Task/Delivery Order Number: To Be Determined Procurement Title: Project Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T) Airborne Communications Support Estimated Value:

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

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

J&A Number: JA17-008

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as Procuring 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.

1. REQUIRING AGENCY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE:

(a) Requiring Agency:

United States (U.S.) Army Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO

C3T) PM WIN-T

Building 6010, Aberdeen Proving Ground Aberdeen, Maryland 21005-1846

(b) Contracting Office:

Contracting Office: Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)/ Defense Information Technology Contracting Office (DITCO), PL8222

2300 East Drive, Building 3600 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225-5406

2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACTION(S):

This acquisition is for the award of a firm fixed price (FFP) task order under GSA Information Technology Schedule 70, Special Item Number 132-55, for broadband airborne communication on the move (COTM) Ku-band satellite service. This single subscription of the ViaSat Global Network (VGN) priority Ku-band subscription service is required to support the Key-Leader Enroute Node (KEN) of the Enroute Mission Command (EMC) Program. This task order is will replace the service provided to EMC under CSS0044. This acquisition will utilize fiscal year 2017 Army, Other Procurement funding.

PM WIN-T Airborne Communications Support – JA17-008

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

The Government has a need for coverage of Ku-band satellite service that is capable of speeds up to 1 megabits per second (Mbps) on Return Link and 4 Mbps on Forward Link (FL). The service must allow for the utilization of applications such as simultaneous video teleconferences, multiple streaming applications, a large number of users performing command and control, enroute planning, or other enterprise level activities. Additionally, the service must be licensed to operate on ViaSat VMBR 1520 modems. The ViaSat Global Network (VGN) priority Ku-band subscription service is required to meet this need.

The period of performance (PoP) is an 11-month base period with two 6-month and two 1-year option periods. The duration of option periods one and two are a result of PM WIN-T funding constraints. The estimated life cycle cost is , as shown below.

Period of Performance Cost

Base Period (January 01, 2017 – November 30, 2017)

Option Period 1 (December 01, 2017 – May 31, 2018)

Option Period 2 (June 01, 2018 – November 30, 2018)

Option Period 3 (December 01, 2018 – November 30, 2019)

Option Period 4 (December 01, 2019 – November 30, 2020)

Total Life Cycle

4. IDENTIFICATION OF LIMITED SOURCE AUTHORITY AND DEMONSTRATION OF

CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS:

(a) Circumstances Justifying Limiting the Source: FAR 8.405-6 (a) (1) (i) (B), only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

(b) Description of the Justification: In response to an approved Department of the Army Operational Needs Statement to support the Global Response Force’s (GRF) need for enroute internet protocol (IP) communications while traveling on USAF C-17 aircraft, the EMC Program was developed. Under separate efforts from United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the GRF C-17s were certified with the ViaSat-integrated TECOM Industries, Inc.

Ku Stream 1500 Antenna. This antenna has been certified for use on the C-17 fuselage by the US Air Force’s Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and the Air Mobility Command. In addition, the antenna comes as a kit with a pre-installed ViaSat Mobile Broadband Router (VMBR) 1520 modem. The VMBR 1520 modem is the only modem that contains the terminal control software that controls the TECOM Ku Stream 1500 Antenna. PM WIN-T previously purchased the VMBR 1520 modem as a part of the Flexible in Vehicle Equipment (F-IVE) kit.

The F-IVE kit has been integrated into the KEN for satellite communications. Therefore, the VGN is the only subscription service that the ViaSat VMBR 1520 modems are licensed to operate on. The only provider capable of the required subscription service using the VMBR 1520 modem is ViaSat.

(c) Justification:

(1) Minimum Government requirements. The VGN Priority Level Service provides up to 1 Mbps on the RL and up to 4 Mbps on the FL. This service will be provided for up to five planes with only one plane being able to use the service (which includes the use of all applications) 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.

(3) Discussion regarding cause of the limited source situation. The TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna was purchased by the PM WIN-T for use in the EMC to provide the broadband reach-back necessary to provide adequate bandwidth needed to support Mission Command and Intelligence application while enroute. The TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna is the only fixed installed satellite antenna, providing Ku bandwidth that has been certified on the C-17 aircraft fuselage.

(4) Demonstration of limited source. The VGN is the only subscription service that PM WIN-T can use to fulfill this requirement. The VMBR 1520 modem and the TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna are currently installed on the five C-17 aircraft and are proprietary to ViaSat. The VGN is the only service subscription available for use with this equipment, and therefore is the only service that can meet the Government’s need.

(5) Procurement discussion. The TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna and VMBR 1520 modem are supported by the VGN due to proprietary software that resides in the modem.

The VMBR 1520 modem was tested and proven a reliable source of network reliability by USSOCOM, and as such, was integrated into the KEN.

At this time, ViaSat is the only contractor that can provide the required a subscription service to the proprietary VMBR 1520 modem that is included with the TECOM 1500 Ku Stream antenna.

ViaSat is the only provider of this service and does not offer the service through resellers.

(6) Impact. Without the ViaSat service, EMC will not be able to provide video teleconferencing, full motion video feed, and multiple radio links to troops in the air. The impact of this lack of communication is that soldiers may not gain operational understanding while in the air which could lead to a lack of preparedness and execution at the area of operation.

5. BEST VALUE DETERMINATION:

In accordance with FAR 8.404 (d), GSA has determined the prices of supplies, 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 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:

Market research was conducted to determine if another brand or product could meet the government’s need. Market research revealed only the identified VGN subscription services will satisfy this requirement. Only the VGN subscription services is interoperable with the previously purchased proprietary VMBR 1520 modem. This requirement is for proprietary products and/or product support, and no competitor functional replacement products exist in the market at this time to meet the government's need.

Market research performed specifically for VGN subscription services includes a review of multiple existing DISA-wide and DoD multiple-award contract vehicles and other Government wide contracts, a review of all source lists of DISA, a search of the system and award management toll, and participation at multiple industry days. In the review of existing Government contracts, two other contracts were found in which it was demonstrated that ViaSat was the only contractor able to support virtually identical requirements with the same equipment.

While reviewing the source lists, it was determined that there were no other contractors offering the services needed for this requirement. At several industry days, based on responses to questions and briefs on airborne broadband services, no other contractor was found to be capable of bidding on this requirement. The Sources Sought seeking information from potential sources for airborne communications satellite services was issued on July 09, 2015 for a total of 14 days.

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. On July 20, 2015 the Government received confirmation from ViaSat that there are no other providers or resellers for this service. On October 25, 2016, the Government confirmed that ViaSat was still able to provide this service and that there were no other providers or resellers for the service. The conclusion and recommendation of the market research is that only ViaSat can provide the required COMSATCOM services. Additional market research is currently underway, and will continue throughout the duration of the contract as necessary, to investigate the use of non-proprietary equipment in the PM WIN-T architecture.

7. ANY OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS:

Not Applicable.

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

RESTRICTED CONSIDERATION:

Market research will be conducted prior to exercising all option period(s). The results of this market research will be presented to the contracting officer to determine if exercising the option period is in the best interest of the Government or if alternative/competitive option has entered the market. PM WIN-T will continue to conduct market research for alternative airborne communication on the move solutions throughout the duration and prior to the final PoP in hope that any follow-on requirements may be procured through full and open competition.

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

Not Applicable.