Redacted_J_A_for_FBO_Redacted.pdf

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

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16

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

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Contracting Activity: AFTC/PZIEB

Purchase Request / Local ID Number:

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): Initial Live RPA Ground Control Station upgrade/Sensor Planning

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): Other Contracting

Authority (include full title): 41 U.S.C 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii)

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): J&A Type: Class Individual

COORDINATION (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

19 Jan 2017

Contracting Officer

Signature

Date

18 Jan 2017

Project Lead / Program Mgr / Requiring Activity

APPROVAL (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

19 Jan 2017

Contracting Officer

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16

I. Contracting Activity.

Department of the Air Force Air Force Test Center, Directorate of Contracting

AFTC/PZIEB

5 South Wolfe Avenue, Bldg. 2800

"Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition"

Purchase Request Number:

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

This will be a new Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Purchase Order, This award will provide the necessary software updates to the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Simulators that the Test Pilot School has as part of their curriculum.

The proposed contractor is:

ZedaSoft 2310 Gravel Dr.

Fort Worth, TX 76118-6950

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

Under the contemplated contract, ZedaSoft will provide the following services to accomplish the software that it needed in the RPA Initial Live Ground Station Control & Sensor Control Simulation:

RPA Sensor Control Compatibility.

CLIN 0001: Add interface to allow avionics simulator sensor control workstation to interface with TBD electro-optical sensor.

Workstation should have the ability to display sensor video in real time, capture images as appropriate, and generate sensor pointing angles based on vehicle state and known/estimated “target” coordinates

CLIN 0002: Add functionality to enable current RPA entity to develop and execute an automatic sensor collection plan. The planning tool should allow building a “target deck/list” plus collection geometry tools to either allow the planning tool to select the “shot” automatically or allow user to define platform position at the time of the “shot”. The execution function should automatically task and point the sensor at the appropriate time, collect and store “spot” images for either “near real time” (link latency only), or download image files either on command, or automatically at a later time.

CLIN 0003: Initial RPA Ground Station Interface

Add functionality to enable current mission systems simulator RPA control simulation to interface with an appropriate datalink transceiver and remotely control the TBD fixed wing type RPA vehicle/autopilot and flight critical subsystems such as fuel/engine controller, nosewheel steering, brakes, flaps, spoilers, and collision avoidance/heads-up camera display.

· Host a “ground station working group” with TPS pilots and engineers to develop concept for RPA autopilot (assume

PixHawk or PixHawk2 module or similar autopilot communicating with MAVlink Small remote vehicle control protocols) and flight critical subsystems graphical interface

· Develop simulator software functionality to control the RPA autopilot and critical subsystems (throttle, fuel cutoff, flaps) via communication with the simulated ground station. Software should be hostable on either the TPS RPA sim/Mission console, or smaller portable workstation

· Provide appropriate interfacing hardware and transceiver to allow the TPS Avionics Sim or portable workstation to

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16 communicate with the autopilot in the RPA.

· Provide/retain capability for autopilot or aircraft servo mechanisms to revert to manual control from a standard RC

Controller box

· Perform development integration and testing of the developed software at ZedaSoft on a representative avionics simulator/mission console, similar ground station datalink, and autopilot configuration

· Demonstrate capability to remotely control a small UAS (SUAS) using the small portable workstation and/or the RPA avionics sim

· Travel to Edwards AFB to perform integration and testing of the software in the TPS avionics simulator/mission console

· Document the “as built” capability and add to the current Avionics Simulator/Mission Console Operations Guides

CLIN 0004: RPA Experiment Payload Interfaces.

Add interface to allow avionics simulator sensor control workstation(s) to interface with TBD sensors or equipment. This interface should provide up to (6) discrete ON/OFF signal capacity and a TBD digital communications channel.

CLIN 0005: RPA Sensor Control Compatibility:

Add interface to allow avionics simulator sensor control workstation to interface with TBD electro-optical sensor.

Workstation should have the ability to display sensor video in real time, capture images as appropriate, and generate sensor pointing angles based on vehicle state and known/estimated “target” coordinates.

CLIN 0006: Additional RPA Interfaces:

Add interface to allow avionics simulator sensor control workstation(s) to interface with a TBD state commanded type RPA such as a quad/hex/octo-copter.

IV. Statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition.

41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii), which allows other than full and open competition when the supplies or services requested by the agency are available from only one responsible source.

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

This is proprietary software and the TPS Avionics Simulator is a unique configuration not used by any other customers. The manufacturer of this particular equipment is solely qualified to maintain and provide assistance for troubleshooting and is considered the only company that can provide this service. Other commercial RPA ground control stations with pilot and sensor operator positions are configured for contractor specific vehicles and would likely require extensive modification to work with the FQ RPA, which would an undue burden financially on TPS and would require a new RPA simulator which would cost in addition to down time which would drastically affect the curriculum at the Test Pilot School.

The curriculum is approved before the students arrive at the school to ensure their is a sound plan in place and to provide the students with a schedule and graduation date. The inability of an operable simulator would drastically affect the curriculum, as students would not get the education requirements, thus, less test pilots would graduate. The flexibility of the ZedaSoft simulator, could not be used in a totally unclassified environment, or provide simultaneous dual operator stations for the pilot and sensor operator for similar costs.

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

TPS currently has a dedicated curriculum track for educating Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). Although TPS has some access to RPA vehicles to illustrate or teach test techniques, the level of access is not sufficient to be reliable for scheduled academic purposes. TPS recently updated the Mission Systems Avionics Simulator to include an RPA "entity" giving the school an initial limited capability to demonstrate RPA vehicle and sensor control manual control schema, but this capability is still very

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16 limited when compared to the capabilities of the MQ-1/9 and Global Hawk RPA aircraft. TPS looked at dedicated simulators for both the MQ-1/9 and RQ-4 series RPAs, but neither of those encompassed the flexibility of the ZedaSoft simulator, could be used in a totally unclassified environment, or provided simultaneous dual operator stations for the pilot and sensor operator for similar costs.

As this is a proprietary software upgrade to the existing ZedaSfot developed and maintained TPS Avionics Simulator, Zedasfot was the only company that is capable of meeting TPS needs. This software adds functionality to enable current RPA entity to develop and execute an automatic sensor collection plan. The planning tool should allow building a “target deck/ list” plus collection geometry tools to either allow the planning tool to select the “shot” automatically or allow user to define platform position at the time of the “shot”. The execution function should automatically task and point the sensor at the appropriate time, collect and store “spot” images for either “near real time” (link latency only), or download image files either on command, or automatically at a later time.

Several other vendors were looked at to see if they would be capable of meeting the TPS needs which is further detailed in the Market Research Report.

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

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government for this acquisition will be fair and reasonable, and the proposal will be evaluated using price analysis for commercial items in accordance with FAR 13.106-3.

The proposed price will be compared to other companies or agencies that may have previously purchased the same or similar items. In additions, the requirement will be compared to several requirements for simulator software upgrades that have previously been purchased according to FPDS. This software upgrade has been determined to be commercial in nature, therefore, IAW FAR 15.403-1(b)(3), certified cost and pricing data is not required. However, other than certified cost and pricing data will be requested to aid in the price analysis.

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

Efforts were made to obtain interest from as many sources as practicable. During market research, there were no other vendors that were found to be qualifies and capable of performing the required software upgrade. ZedaSoft does not have any authorized resellers or partners that they work with. The Program Manager, Glenn Ballentine, and contracting Specialist, Angelica Hibbert, made numerous searches of the Internet to ensure there are no other companies with this same exact setup as to eliminate sole source contracts. The searches were futile due to the fact that this is proprietary equipment and any attempt to use another source would require a significant amount of money (in excess of $1mil) and down time (probably 6 months) due to unfamiliarity with the new system.

This is proprietary software and the TPS Avionics Simulator is a unique configuration not used by any other customers. The manufacturer of our equipment is solely qualified to maintain and provide assistance for troubleshooting and is considered the only company that can provide this service. Other commercial RPA ground control stations with pilot and sensor operator positions are configured for contractor specific vehicles and would likely require extensive modification to work with the FQ RPA. The flexibility of the ZedaSoft simulator, could not be used in a totally unclassified environment, or provide simultaneous dual operator stations for the pilot and sensor operator for similar costs.

As described in section VI above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10 was conducted. A synopsis of the proposed acquisition advising the industry of the pending contract award will be posted.

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

There an no additional facts.

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

FOUO - Source Selection Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16

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

Zedasoft is the only capable company that has the required expertise needed, see section VI 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.

For future acquisitions, the market will continue to be monitored. Ongoing market research will be conducted to identify any additional potential sources for future requirements. Market Research will consist of Internet searches, review of GSA products, manufacturers and catalogs, technical publications as well as contracting known vendors to determine vendor capable to provide the required software upgrade requirements.

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.