DA FOE_Redacted.pdf

This document is a Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity (J&A) for a sole-source task order to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) under the Advanced Aerospace Systems Technology Research (AASTR) multiple award IDIQ contract. The task order supports the Demonstration of ACP Performance and Effectiveness (Demon APE) program for continued research and development of the XQ-67A aircraft, awarded under contract FA2391-23-D-0003 on April 4, 2023.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RQKPC) at Wright-Patterson AFB requires GA-ASI to provide research, data, hardware, and software for integrating specific mission systems and upgrading the XQ-67A vehicle's power generation and thermal management capabilities. GA-ASI is deemed the only capable source as they developed and own the sole existing XQ-67A aircraft, having completed the Flight Approval Process and previous engineering work under the Off Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program. The J&A cites FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) as the exception basis, arguing that duplicating the existing work with another contractor would result in substantial cost and schedule impacts. The document indicates this is an Enterprise-type program with individual determination rather than class determination, and includes detailed market research and cost reasonableness evaluations to support the sole-source justification.