single_source_justification.red.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

Section A: General Contract Information

Contracting Activity: AFTC/PZIEA Purchase Request/ Identification Number:

F1S0AE5321B001

Project/Program Name:

(JAII) Program

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options):

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

1 each Portable Air Vehicle Bus Tester, P/N W1518076A0507PS - 1 each Rackmount Air Vehicle Bus Tester, P/N W1518077A0507RS -

Monitors, records, replays, simulates and troubleshoots 32 channels of ARINC 429 bus, 8-dual redundant channels of MIL-Std-1553 bus, ARINC 708 bus, Gigabit Ethernet and one Fibre Channel port. One software package shall provide setup and control of all bus cards.

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source The requirement of the Aircraft Data Bus Analyzer is to have a single unit capable of supporting concurrent operation of all interfaces such that each port can moni tor/record/replay/ simulate all avionics bus data simultaneously. In addition, the analyzer must be operated by a single software application package and include a graphical user interface to facilitate setup/control of all interfaces within the system. Having one software application will allow us to run all interfaces in the system without having to start/stop multiple programs. We will have one license to update instead of dealing with multiple licenses. Improves system performance by using less systems resources for critical functions like recording/playback, IRJG B time stamping of date and display updates. Data from all interfaces can be displayed together. Data from multiple interfaces can be merged , processed and recorded or played back together. Data/events can be time correlated with more accuracy. The system functions must also have the ability to be programmable using common scripting languages.

Although numerous vendors offered aircraft bus analyzer equipment, all except one by AIM-USA, LLC was able to meet the requirements of the complete single analyzer package. The result was multiple software packages, licenses and no single user interface. Other products were able to analyze bus data but not simulate or record it. Demonstrations of analyzers that showed potentia l of meeting aJl req uirements were also conducted in the ENI lab by Avionic Interface Technologies (AIT) and AIM-USA LLC. AIT was not able to test the ARINC 708 bus while AIM was the only vendor to fully meet al l requirements.

As a result from the research and demonstrations, AIM-USA, LLC was the only vendor that met all the government's requirements.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition Market research for the Aircraft Data Bus Analyzer was conducted through the internet and known vendors in the business. Vendors were approached at the 2015 ITC conference in Las Vegas. AIM and AIT provided demonstrations in the lab. A technical solutions provider company. Elotek Inc., was also approached to identify other sources of aircraft data analyzers. It was through Elotek Inc. that only two vendors were possible candidates to meet the government's analyzer requirements. Continuous market research to identify other sources of analyzers to meet the government's needs may prevent brand name situations for future requirements. Forum groups, technical conferences, and industry days in which government requirements are discussed with vendors may encourage innovative future product models to meet government and industry requirements.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source Awards

Due to the exclusivity of the required supply product and exactness of the requirements, future actions include continued Internet market research , communication within the Air Force community, communication with industry and other monitoring of the market for possible alternative sources. Efforts to remove any barriers that restrict consideration from other vendors shall be accomplished via of continuous market research utilizing forum groups, technical references and industry days.

Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date

01-Feb-2016

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

Tylan J McBride, NH-03, Chief Engineering Support Branch

Signature of Contracting Officer