DF- 527 SAS SM- Redacted_Redacted.pdf

This is a Determination & Findings (D&F) document for a sole-source acquisition of the Comtech EF Data Model SLM5650B Satellite Communications modem for the 527th Squadron of the United States Air Force. The contracting officer, Alejandro Castellanos (TSgt, USAF), approved this determination on August 19, 2026, under the authority of RFO 11.204(a)(2)(ii) (Brand Name), which permits sole-source procurement when a particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to government requirements and no other similar products can meet the agency's minimum needs without prohibitive cost options or modifications.

The findings establish that no other modem manufacturer meets the 527th SAS mission and system requirements without adding prohibitive cost options and alternative models. The Comtech EF Data Model SLM5650B is fully warranted as a single part number item and uniquely complies with all specified requirements, including MIL-STD-188-165A terminal types and IESS commercial standards. The modem is designed to support the widest range of U.S. Government and commercial standards, with the largest number of satellite modems in the industry. The justification emphasizes standardization benefits including reduced training and troubleshooting time, minimized operational risk during critical National Security tasks, and factory-configured upgrades that meet five-year forecasted objectives, thereby eliminating the need for continuous hardware and software purchases to maintain technological currency.