D03_STORM JA_JA-21-C-014_redacted.pdf

Control No: JA-21-C-014 Contractor: AASKI Technology, Inc.

Program/Equipment: Sensor Technology, Operations and Readiness Maintenance (STORM)

The proposed action updates the ceilings on the base and option periods under STORM as listed below:

Previous Ceiling Amount Realigned

Updated Ceiling Period of Performance

Base Period $135,339,582.16 ($37,899,697.00) $ 97,439,885.16 20 JUN 2019 – 19

JUN 2020

Option Period I $114,222,351.57 - $114,222,351.57 20 JUN 2020 – 19

JUN 2021

Option Period II $115,828,517.28 - $115,828,517.28 20 JUN 2021 – 19

JUN 2022

Option Period III $119,204,510.11 ($32,481,192.84) $ 86,723,317.27 20 JUN 2022 – 19

JUN 2023

Option Period IV $ 91,575,550.39 ($20,724,178.16) $ 70,851,372.23 20 JUN 2023 – 19

JUN 2024

Within Scope Effort CLIN

$ 97,000,000.00 $ 91,105.068.00 $188,105,068.00 20 JUN 2019 – 19

JUN 2024

CARES Act CLIN $ 9,243,118.23 - $9,243,118.23 08 JUN 2019 - 30 SEP

Total $682,413,629.74 $ 0.00 $682,413,629.74

The Independent Government Estimate (IGE) for this realignment is based on the upgrading of obsolete sensors as well as the development and integration of an advanced, modular SIGINT architecture to extend the range of the EMARSS and GRCS Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) sensors. The IGE was developed by the utilization of recent positions on similar efforts under the STORM contract including EMARSS-S NRE (Non- Recurring Engineering) and FAI (First Article Inspection), GRCS SIGINT Suite Modification (GSSM), GRCS Communications Intelligence (COMINT) Core Subsystem, and Gen 5 Adder/SIGINT software porting.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The within scope ceiling increase will be in support of two (2) programs that are currently under TO W56KGY-19-F-0025, performing SIGINT sensor upgrades required on the EMARSS and GRCS platforms to meet the Army’s change in direction to address near peer threats in the anti-access/area denial (A2AD) environment.

The EMARSS-SIGINT (EMARSS-S) Modification will include integration onto the EMARSS-S platform of both the air and ground components for the two (2) Common SIGINT Chassis–Army (CSC-R) hardware which will host multiple SIGINT applications, including the COMINT Core Subsystem Banshee, Gen5/Adder, DRT, and PRISM.

Additionally, the modification will consist of the design, development, integration, calibration, and test of a modernized, modular architecture that includes a server intended to increase on-board processing capabilities, interface with the CSC-Rs and lay the foundation for future software integration efforts that leverage PM Electronic Warfare & Cyber (EW&C) investments in MITRE’s Photon framework onto the EMARSS-S Aircraft. The sensor hardware will be provided as Government Furnished Property

(GFP).

The GRCS SIGINT Suite Modification will include integration of both air and ground components for the Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) system known as the SS-4000, XMIDAS V4 Radio Frequency Chassis (RFC) and V4 Processors, Aerial Precisions Geo- Location (APG) Radio Frequency Module 3 (RFM3), and the CSC-R hardware which hosts multiple SIGINT applications, including the COMINT Core Subsystem, COMINT High Accuracy Location Subsystem–Software Defined (CHALS-SD), and High Band COMINT (HBC). The sensor hardware will be provided as GFP.

These efforts will require acquiring new sensor systems, the integration of additional sensor capabilities, modernizing existing sensor system and sub-system components, sensor testing and evaluations, and development of sensor training capabilities.

The efforts upgrade obsolete sensors as well as develop and integrate advanced, modular SIGINT architecture to extend the range of the EMARSS and GRCS SIGINT sensors and easily expand the signal collection capabilities to be more relevant in multi-domain operation (MDO) environments.

This modification to the STORM Task Order (W15P7T-17-D-0100 W56KGY19F0025) supports the SIGINT sensor upgrades required on the EMARSS and GRCS platforms to meet the Army’s change in direction to address near peer threats. The current TO (W56KGY-19-F-0025) is a competitive single award task order under the Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services (RS3) contract vehicle awarded to AASKI Technology, Inc. on 26 February 2019. Due to a protest, the Period of Performance (PoP) of STORM was delayed, and began on 20 June 2019. The within scope efforts under this modification will not extend past the TO end date of 19 June 2024.

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 2304c(b)(3) and FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C), “The order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract, provided that all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.”

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The proposed source for this action is AASKI Technology, Inc., 1 Radar Way, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724-1290, a large business; the STORM O&S prime contractor. TO W56KGY-19-F-0025 was competed amongst all RS3 prime contractors. All the RS3 primes were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the award of TO W56KGY-19-F-0025.

The additional aircraft modification work is a logical follow-on to the NRE and initial upgrades to GRCS and EMARSS aircraft are already underway by AASKI under the current TO.

This modification is critical to the Army Aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AISR) portfolio and the ability to perform the SIGINT sensor upgrades required by the Chief of Staff of the Army for critical intelligence capabilities for the MDO mission. Due to the high priority of these upgrades to meet Army timelines, the Government will not have the appropriate Technical Data Packages (TDP) to provide as

Government Furnished Information (GFI) prior to the contract award and upgrades of the follow-on aircraft to provide to a contractor other than AASKI. If the follow-on aircraft upgrades are performed without the TDP, the technical risk of having divergent technical solutions is extremely high. This will cause substantial cost and schedule increases because of the additional Governmental oversight and testing required, as well as additional costs in the operations and sustainment of the system containing multiple baseline configurations; directly impacting the ability to conduct operational mission requirements. Any schedule delays to these sensor upgrades on the EMARSS and GRCS platforms will negatively impact the Army’s ability to meet Global Force Management Allocation Plan (GFMAP) requirements and the operational availability of the systems, resulting in the loss of critical Communications Intelligence (COMINT) signal collection/tracking/geo-locating capabilities in these AORs concerning near-peer threats and the Multi Domain Operations (MDO) mission.

The timeline to develop an Acquisition Requirements Package and perform the necessary steps to award a new competitive task order under the Army’s RS3 contract is projected to take up to 12 months while a new full and open competition for services contract is projected to take 16-22 months to award. Both of these timelines cause delays that negatively impact the Army and Warfighter due to the compressed timeline required for these aircraft sensor upgrades as described above. This will cause the Army to be unable to support deployments and high priority operational missions in support of the MDO environment threats.

While historically these efforts have been performed by other prime contractors, managing more than one (1) prime contractor is not an efficient use of Program Office personnel or funds. Multiple task orders require multiple supply chains which would remove efficiencies, cause unnecessary administrative burdens, and increase costs to the Government, suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) that support SIGINT sensor upgrades. Due to the lack of TDP available, it is not productive or economical to move current work to a new contractor. As the NRE and initial modification work is being performed under the STORM contract, there is significant technical risk to the Government in divergent materiel solutions being designed resulting in multiple baselines for the aircraft modifications. These multiple divergent baselines will cause unplanned cost increases to the Government for multiple testing and training events and will increase sustainment costs. Additionally, having multiple divergent baselines will also cause confusion to the end user, the Warfighter, and create significant schedule risk in completing the modifications in the timeframe required due to aircraft deployments.

Therefore by continuing with AASKI as the prime contractor, the Government will have no schedule interruptions, will benefit from economies of scale for purchases, and will avoid duplication of efforts and functions; all of which translates to accomplishing the Army’s accelerated priorities.

Based on time constraints and mission requirements, a modification to the STORM Task Order will meet the Army’s compressed timeline and will not negatively impact the Warfighter or the operational mission.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: Task Order W56KGY-19-F-0025 was awarded per FAR 16 Fair Opportunity on 26 February 2019, but due to a protest the period of performance start date was revised to 20 June 2019. The Market Research Report (MRR) dated 07 October 2020 demonstrates the inability for any other vendor to meet Government requirements and timelines. As this modification request is based on the Army’s change in direction to have SIGINT sensors upgraded for near peer threats addressed, there is not adequate time to compete a new award through Full and Open Competition and still meet the Army’s priorities. By continuing with AASKI as the prime contractor, the Government will have no schedule interruptions, will benefit from economies of scale for purchases, and will avoid duplication of efforts and functions; all of which translates to allowing the Army to meet the critical operational requirements for the EMARSS and GRCS systems. Future efforts following the completion of the STORM period of performance are planned to be competitively solicited and awarded. Upon completion of the aircraft modifications, the Government will be in receipt of a TDP with limited data rights, due to the high complexity and low density of the systems and sensors. This TDP will support future acquisitions such that any future Prime Contractor would be able to team or have relationships with the OEMs in order to not limit future competition.

Based on the results from the market research, the Government has determined that market conditions remain unchanged and no other source could provide the required effort without schedule delay, and interruption to service. Therefore, AASKI Technology, Inc, is the only responsible source available to provide the services without negatively impacting schedule or duplicating efforts and costs.

7. Market Research: The Request for Information (RFI), in accordance with FAR Part 10, “Market Research” was released to all prime contractors on the RS3 IDIQ on 18 August 2020. The Government requested white paper responses by close of business on 25 August 2020.

There were eight (8) respondents to the RFI dated 18 August 2020: two (2) small business concerns, three (3) large business concerns and three (3) companies that no bid. The three (3) companies that responded with a no bid stated the decision to not submit a response was based on the inability to meet all the technical requirements. The five (5) responses from industry were: 1) AASKI Technology Inc., Large Business; 2) BAE Systems, Large Business; 3) CDO Technologies, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business; 4) Nexagen Networks, Inc., Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business; and 5) Parsons, Large Business. Details of the assessment are below:

AASKI’s response addressed and met all Government requirements as outlined in the RFI. AASKI is currently contracted for EMARSS-S NRE. The contract for the GRCS NRE for Guardrail SIGINT Suite Modification (GSSM) is anticipated to be awarded in early FY21. Current teammates have experience in sensors/systems relevant to the RFI.

Therefore, the risks for contracting and timelines are low. Additionally, there is minimal technical risk associated with the lack of a TDP.

BAE’s response demonstrated previous experience with modifying EMARSS-like aircraft, but it failed to provide sufficient data substantiating how BAE could actually fulfill requirements of the RFI. BAE failed to identify a technical approach of not having the TDP. Therefore, while BAE’s response provided information which demonstrated they have relevant experience; ultimately, they failed to answer the information requested in the RFI.

CDO’s response addressed Government requirements as outlined in the RFI; however, it failed to provide sufficient data substantiating that CDO could actually fulfill these requirements. CDO failed to identify a strategy to address integrating hardware changes and their low labor cost demonstrates CDO does not understand the level of effort required to do this work. CDO did not provide a viable technical approach for the integration and hardware modifications mentioned associated with not having the TDP.

This approach does not address Government requirements and it fails to demonstrate an understanding of the scope of work.

While Nexagen’s and Parsons’ response did demonstrate their previous experience with modifying EMARSS-like aircraft, the responses failed to provide detail on their approach for GRCS’ modifications. Nexagen and Parsons both failed to identify any sensor specific software development experience.

The Government was unable to provide a complete TDP with the RFI. The design and initial integration efforts for the modifications are being conducted under the current STORM Task Order and therefore, the design is currently on going. The industry responses to the RFI identified the high risk of lack of TDP being available. Therefore, it is not productive or economical to move current work to a new contractor.

8. Other Facts:

Procurement History: The services under the STORM contract were previously conducted under the following contracts and orders:

Contract Contract End Date

Contractor Extent Competed/ Authority

Total Amount

W15P7T-10-D-

D414, T/O KZ02

Sensor Systems

– Aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

(SS-AISR)

11 MAY

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems, Inc.

Competitive/R2 3G

$733,249,777.

W56KGY-14-D-

0004, T/O 0003 Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar Long Term Sustainment

(VADER LTS)

22 SEP

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Sole Source, FAR 6.302-1

$111,324,955.

W15P7T-10-D-

D420, T/O KZ01

Product Director, Airborne Reconnaissance Low Systems Support (PASS)

07 JUL

Adams Communicatio n & Engineering Technology, Inc.

Competitive/R2 3G

$336,789,239.

a. Acquisition Data Availability: Under the STORM action, the Performance Work Statement (PWS) contains specifications and the TDP suitable for competition. Due to the high complexity and low density of the systems and sensors supported by this current TO, the Government has limited data rights. AASKI was able to maximize business relationships with OEMs in order to meet the performance requirements.

Therefore, the Government anticipates unrestricted competition following the completion of STORM.

b. Subcontracting Competition: FAR 52.244-5, Competition in Subcontracting was included in the current contract.

9. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Eric T. Hughes Date:

Deputy Product Manager, MARSS Signature:

10. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

LTC Eric M. Burke Date:

Product Manager, MARSS Signature:

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on cost/price analysis, Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), and negotiations. Additionally, certified cost or pricing data will be obtained.

Erin L. Hynes Date:

Contracting Officer, ACC-APG Signature:

12. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Erin L. Hynes Date:

Contracting Officer, ACC-APG Signature:

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the modification to Contract W15P7T-17-D-0100 Task Order W56KGY-19-F-0025 with AASKI Technology, Inc. for SIGINT sensor upgrades required on the EMARSS and GRCS platforms to increase the “Within Scope Effort” CLIN ceiling of the Task Order for the estimated amount of $91,105,068. The proposed action will be awarded on a sole source basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C 2304c(b)(3), subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services described herein have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Kenyata L. Wesley, Sr.

Senior Contracting Official (SCO)

ACC-APG

Signature:

Date: