F-16 Throttle Grip JA Final REDACT_Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

United States Air Force

AFLCMC/WAM

6072 Fir Avenue, Bldg 1233 Hill AFB, UT 84056

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

A. Upon approval to use other than full and open competition procedures, the United States Air Force (USAF) will enter into a new purchase contract with Mason Controls which is also known as Mason Electric Company. This purchase will provide non-commercial, highly specialized supplies to include two variations of F-16 throttle grips for up to 897 USAF F-16 Aircraft, as well as required spares and additional assets for use in System Integration Laboratories and training devices. Not all 897 aircraft require an updated throttle grip, while some require two throttle grips. The total amount of needed throttle grips across all 897 aircraft is reflected in the the CLIN structure.

The contract will be awarded to:

Mason Controls 13955 Balboa Blvd Sylmar, CA 91342 CAGE code 81579

B. Contract Type and Structure: The Air Force will issue a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity to Mason Controls who will produce up to 987 16P1873-889 and 16P1873-XXX throttle grip assemblies to be installed on F-16 Block 30-52 aircraft by the United States Government. Estimated contract award date is April 2021 the expected period of performance is 5 years from contract award with an additional 4 year ordering option with deliveries not to exceed 12 months with a total 10 year period of performance from date of award. The initial order is to be placed with contract award to meet a program need date of first article no later than July 2021.

C. Estimated Award Date: April 2021

D. Type of J&A: Individual

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

A. The F-16 Throttle Grip acquisition was initiated as a requirement within the Communications Suite Upgrade (CSU) Program. The addition of a third radio, SATCOM data and voice capability, Secure Line of Sight, and Advanced Identification Friend or Foe requires an upgrade in the hands-on-throttle-and-stick control. The 16P1873-889 is a modified version of the 16P1873-867 where the NVIS switch also known as the "shift key" has been extended, but the internal electronics remain the same. Additionally, the 16P1873-XXX is a modified version of the 16P1873-869 with an elongated NVIS switch for use in the aft crew station of the F-16D aircraft. These improved throttle grips will field on approximately 897 F-16's (Blocks 30/32/40/42/50/52) conducting the full range of worldwide F-16 missions.

Mason Controls will supply:

NSN Noun Part Number 1680-01-678-1815 Throttle Grip Assy 16P1873-889 TBD Throttle Grip Assy 16P1873-XXX (TBD)

B:

3010 appropriations will fund this effort.

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C. CLINS: Deliverables for CLINS 0002, 0003, 0004, 1003, 1004 will be the completed Throttle Grip Assembly (Part Number: 16P1873-889; NSN 1680-01-678-1815). Deliverables for CLINS 0006, 0007, 0008, 1007, and 1008 will be the completed Throttle Grip Assembly (Part Number: 16P1873-XXX; NSN not yet associated with this part).

D. Approval for more than one fiscal year requirement is needed as the installs are occurring over a 10 year period (5 year base, 5 year option 1) and it would be too costly and time consuming to create a new contract every year.

Delivery schedules are estimated to be completed no later than 12 months from date of order.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii) - The supplies required by the Government are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies will satisfy the Government's requirements.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

A. F-16 throttle grips are highly specialized supplies. These throttle grips are highly specialized because they have been customized specifically for the F-16 to control the aircraft's weapon systems, communication systems, radar, Identification Friend or Foe System, and flight controls while maintaining hands-on control of the aircraft throttle.

While the USG has the data rights, Mason Controls alone possesses the technical knowledge, special tooling and equipment, current system certifications, airworthiness qualifications required for flight, and personnel required to provide the throttle grip assemblies within the schedule limitations of the F-16 CSU Program. Award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays of up to 2.5 years in fulfilling the Air Force's requirement. Without the required specialized tooling and molding, other contractors would need government furnished equipment in order to develop the necessary tooling and molding; this along with required additional qualification testing and certification procedures would push the delivery time-line beyond acceptable limits. This authority was selected because Mason Controls is the only source capable of satisfying all the program requirements pertaining to the throttle grip upgrade which is a major component enabling combat essential communication links for the F-16 while maintaining the USAF fleet

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IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

No further information.

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

See Section VI for detail.

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

A. As a result of the additional cost and unacceptable delay of developing additional sources per Sections V, there are no known additional actions which can be taken. The government prior to exercising an option will conduct additional market research verifying that the contractor is still the original equipment manufacturer, and request data from the vendor.

B. Additionally, this acquisition effort will conclude Throttle Grip fielding across the entire USAF F-16 fleet, and no further supplies are anticipated.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

The contracting officer's signature on the Coordination and Approval Document evidences that he/she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

By their signatures on the Coordination and Approval Document, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified as accurate and complete all supporting data, which is their responsibility, contained herein IAW FAR 6.303-2(c).