Interrogator_SSJ_F1S0AW9073B101_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

18 Jun 2019 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 1 of 5

NOTE: If a Justification was approved for the preceding acquisition, a copy of the approved Justification for the predecessor action must be included in the staff package for approval of the instant Justification. This applies to Justification staff packages that are submitted for review and approval at a level above the contracting officer. The predecessor Justification will be used as a reference document by the approving official.

Is this a new or amended J&A Document? New Amended ( Prior to Award Only! )

Is this a Bridge Action as defined in the AF Bridge Action Reduction Plan? Yes No

Funding level for this acquisition: >SAT and < $700K > $700K and < $13.5M

Contracting Activity:

Purchase Request / Local ID Number: F1S0AW9073B101 / ACQ-19-049

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): Mode 5 Interrogator

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): Other Contracting

Authority: AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 2302b, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901)

AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 2304a, Special Emergency Procurement Authority (41 U.S.C. 1903)

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): Justification Type: Class Individual

COORDINATION (AFFARS 5306.304(a))

Date

23 Jul 2019

APPROVAL (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

24 Jul 2019

Contracting Officer Matthew D. Chartier

AFTC/PZIEA 661-275-4970

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

18 Jun 2019 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 2 of 5

I. Contracting Activity.

The contracting organization that is responsible for the proposed contract action is the , 5 South Wolfe Avenue, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1185.

The contracting officer for this acquisition is Matthew D. Chartier. This is a Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition. The Purchase Request Number is F1S0AW9073B101.

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

The proposed action will result in a new Firm-Fixed Price (FFP), commercial contract, contract number FA9302-19- P-1058.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The is seeking a sole source purchase of a Telephonics AN/UPX-44A interrogator to serve as a interchangeable Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) for the existing system in operation today. The AN/UPX-44A was Edwards Site Certified by the Department of Defense (DoD) Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS), Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Mark XII/XIIA, Systems (AIMS) and has a Stage 4 Radio Frequency Authorization (RFA) from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in 2017. The IFF interrogator will allow for interrogator encoding and decoding of the following transponder modes: 1, 2, 3/A, C, ADS-B, and Mode 5 Level 1 and 2.

CLIN 0001

Technical Specifications

Surveillance Range > 320 NM Antenna Rotation Rate 0 RPM to > 150 RPM Code Performance Availability > 98%, reliability > 99% Target Detection ≥ 99.5% RF Output Power 3.2 kW (with single chassis configuration) Receiver Sensitivity < -87 dBm ATR Format 1½ Weight < 90 lb.

Temperature -15°C and +55°C Range Accuracy < 45 ft.

Range Resolution 225 ft.

Azimuth Accuracy < 0.06° Azimuth Resolution 0.6° (with LVA antenna)

Requirement:

1 each Interrogator, Model # AN/UPX-44A, . Unit must be manufactured to order.

The total acquisition value is estimated at .

Appropriation - 3600 funds.

The estimated delivery date -120 days ARO.

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

The statutory authority permitting this action is 10 USC 2304(c)(1) which specifies, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements," as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(1), and required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(4).

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

The Telephonics AN/UPX-44A interrogator is the cornerstone of the 412 TW IFF test capability. Telephonics provides

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

18 Jun 2019 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 3 of 5 the only Edwards site certified source by the DoD AIMS to serve as an interchangeable LRU that can satisfy the requirement. Changing suppliers for the interrogator would result in a 5-year test delay and a cost impact of $800K for the new development and site certification. In addition to certification requirements, the has built an IFF subsystem that provides reports based upon the data output structure of the UN/APX-44A. Utilizing another interrogator would result in a required software development and modification to the reporting subsystem. The impact to mission support would be catastrophic with the fast approaching 2020 DoD mandates for Mode 5 platform certification.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

BAE Systems was contacted by the buyer on 12 April 2019 as a part of the market research and responded via email on 13 April 2019 stating that they can sell a similar product but different brand name and can provide support on their product as needed. Later, the vendor was contacted by phone and asked about the certification requirement and they stated that the system would require certification for approval to incorporate/use with the current system at Edwards AFB. Additionally, when asked about the time to manufacture the equipment, the vendor stated that they can manufacture according to our specifications but their estimate was that it would take approximately 18 months which would include manufacturing and certification.

Telephonics was contacted and they stated that they are responsible for the ground-station implementation of the AN/ UPX-44A transponder with a current Stage 4 Radio Frequency Authorization which would apply to Edwards AFB and they are the only source capable of providing it since they do not have resalers for this type of equipment.

A Request for Information (RFI) -- Solicitation # F1S0AW9073B101 -- was posted on 23 Apr 2019 with a close-out due-date of 7 May 2019. The background information provided in the RFI was as follows:

The is seeking a sole source purchase of a Telephonics AN/UPX-44A interrogator to serve as a interchangeable Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) for the existing system in operation today. The AN/UPX-44A was Edwards Site Certified by the Department of Defense (DoD) Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS), Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Mark XII/XIIA, Systems (AIMS) and has a Stage 4 Radio Frequency Authorization (RFA) from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in 2017. The IFF interrogator will allow for interrogator encoding and decoding of the following transponder modes: 1, 2, 3/A, C, ADS-B, and Mode 5 Level 1 and 2.

The RFI was amended on 25 April 2019 to update the Requirement to include the following:

1 each; Telephonics Interrogator Unit:

- Item Description: AN/UPX-44A IFF Interrogator

- Part Number: 712-5000-500

- Unit is manufactured to order The due date of 7 May 2019 remained unchanged.

The RFI resulted in two (2) responses; Hensoldt and BAE. Hensoldt provided a response on 7 May 19. The response included a letter from the DoD International AIMS Program Office providing the certification of their Interrogators.

They provided a three (3) page response to the government that specified the AN/UPX-48 interrogator. The package was sent to the Program Manager for review and was deemed unacceptable for the following reasons:

1. No NTIA Stage 4 RFA allowing interrogations (radiation) in the Edwards local area causing a delay of 2+ years.

2. No AIMS platform certification for the Edwards AFB facility causing a delay of 1 year.

3. This item is not identical to the current AN/UPX-44A that is being currently used at GBIIS. Whatever we purchase must be 100% compatible with our current hardware and software. Think of it as a “spare” unit or LRU for the current box.

4. This item does not have the minimum 8 hours of data logging functionality we require.

5. This item would need to be integrated into our current facility (all subsystem hardware, and data formats in/out). It outputs a set of data parameters that are not compatible with our current in-house analysis software that makes up much of our IFF test capability.

6. Using a different box (such as this one) would roughly double all costs and schedule moving forward. It would be a poor decision in both the short and long term.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

18 Jun 2019 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 4 of 5

A second response was received by BAE Systems on 8 May 19. BAE sent a proprietary document that included information on the AN/UPX-45(C). This information was sent to the PM and found to be unacceptable for the following reasons:

1. No NTIA Stage 4 RFA allowing interrogations (radiation) in the Edwards local area causing a delay of 2+ years.

2. No AIMS platform certification for the Edwards AFB facility causing a delay of 1 year.

3. This item is not identical to the current AN/UPX-44A that is being currently used at GBIIS. Whatever we purchase must be 100% compatible with our current hardware and software. Think of it as a “spare” unit or LRU for the current box.

4. This item does not have the minimum 8 hours of data logging functionality we require.

5. This item would need to be integrated into our current facility (all subsystem hardware, and data formats in/out). It outputs a set of data parameters that are not compatible with our current in-house analysis software that makes up much of our IFF test capability.

6. Using a different box (such as this one) would roughly double all costs and schedule moving forward.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

In order to ensure that the anticipated price to the government will be fair and reasonable, the Contracting Officer will request from Telephonics a list of similar purchases made by other agencies and/or previous sales of the same or similar Interrogator needed on this acquisition. Additional, any results yielded from an FBO search on same/similar purchase will be compiled to compare prices. Comparison of the proposed price with previous purchases, current price lists, and comparison with similar items in related industry can be used to prove price is fair and reasonable.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research was performed to seek and identify products that can provide the same features of the ground-station implementation of the AN/UPX-44A and meet the certification requirements of the system.

BAE was contacted and they stated that they are the sole source for the interrogator as they don't sub its sales to other business. BAE Systems was contacted and although the vendor can manufacture an interrogator that can match the Government's requirement their system will need to be certified to work without existing system. Their estimate to make the Interrogator and go through all the testing and certification was for approximately 18 months.

A Request for Information (RFI) -- Solicitation # F1S0AW9073B101 -- was posted on 23 Apr 2019 with a close-out due-date of 7 May 2019. Two vendors responded to the RFI: Hensoldt Sensors, Inc., and BAE Systems. Both vendor's products were found as unable to meet the Government's requirements without additional cost and time delays.

Due to the unique nature of these requirements, Market Research yield that Telephonics is the only source available who can provide an interchangeable LRU which will enable Edwards AFB to sustain the current AIMs certification with minimal to no cost or additional time required for manufacturing and certification of the replacement unit or the entire Edwards AFB system.

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

Current system certification, which was started with a box-certified unit, was started on May 2012 and actual AIMS platform certification of the integrated system was completed on Oct 2017. Acquiring anything from any source, other than Telephonics, will require another system certification with an expected and unacceptable delay.

Additionally, USAF's IFF system is legally required to be IFF Mode 5 capable in year 2020. If a different Interrogator is used, then the requirement for a system re-certification will cause a missed deadline/requirement impacting the mission.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

18 Jun 2019 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 5 of 5

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

BAE Systems was contacted via phone call during market research. BAE demonstrated interest and emailed brochures.

During the phone call, BAE stated that they can manufacture an Interrogator to meet current interrogator in use specifications but the process for manufacture and getting the entire system AIMS re-certified would take approximately 18 months.

Addtionally, in response to the RFI posting, two vendors responded to the RFI: Hensoldt Sensors, Inc., and BAE Systems (above).

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.

Market research will continue throughout the contract period. If it is determined to be beneficial and competition becomes available, the government will use full and open competition for any future acquisition.

At this time, there are no actions planned within the government to remove the restrictive requirement that the system must be certified to operate with current equipment and systems at Edwards. Due to time and funding constraints, new certification periods are not feasible at this time.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.