F1T0AR9099A101_PushbuttonSSJ_Redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

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Section A: General Contract Information

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

Contracting Activity: AFTC/PZIOAB

Project/Program Name: GRDCS LCD Switches

Purchase Request/Identification Number: F1T0AR9099A101

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options):

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

The requirement will provide equipment through a firm-fixed purchase order with I/O Universal Technologies, Inc. for the following components:

1. Twenty-four (24) CP1204-Eglin Custom control panels with 48 SM6432 Programmable, Inverse LCD Switches; used for additional GRDCS console build @ (24 X )

2. Shipping and insurance (1 X )

TOTAL:

The components will be used by the 96th Range Control Squadron, Target Control Section (96 RNCS/RNCET) tasked with the technical and engineering responsibility to design, install, maintain, and provide mission support for the Gulf Range Drone Control System (GRDCS) developmental and operational system. Additionally, there is an urgent requirement to use some of these parts to build another 8 consoles for Operational Testing (OT) due, in part, to the aftermath of Hurricane Michael on the Florida Gulf Coast. These items are custom-built to meet the exact specification requirements for the GRDCS mission.

I/O Universal Technologies Nomenclature/Description Parameter: Requirement

SM6432 Programmable, inverse LCD Switches (Dimension ~1x1 inch) LCD Resolution/Type: 64 x 32 pixels / Inverse transflective FSTN liquid crystal display LED Backlighting: Over 10,000 RGB colors Maximum Speed: 2 MBaud Operating Supply: 4.9 V to 5.1 V Contact Resistance: < 200 Ohm Keyswitch Type: Tactile, 2.5mm travel with over travel protection Keyswitch Lifetime: > 3.0 million cycles Interface Protocols: USB2.0 and RS232

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source or Brand Name

96 RNCS/RNCET has the primary responsibility for the overall GRDCS system design and development. This group is also responsible for enhancements to the system, such as adding new drones or providing software for special test scenarios, and providing software updates to correct problems or address new or modified requirements.

GRDCS provides real-time command and control capability of full scale and subscale drones, tracks shooters and missiles, and provides flight termination for drones and missiles over the Gulf of Mexico range off the coast of northwest Florida and over the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah. GRDCS automatically launches, flies, maneuvers and recovers drones in an effort to provide aircrew training in fighter tactics and to validate aircraft weapons system capabilities. GRDCS provides direct support for the Weapon System Evaluation Program

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(WSEP) (i.e. COMBAT ARCHER), Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) and Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) missions flown over the Tyndall/Eglin AFB Gulf Range. WSEP evaluates aircrew training in air-to-air missile scenarios; DT&E investigates new developmental missile systems; and OT&E investigates capabilities of air-to-air production missile systems. GRDCS provides enhanced operational aircrew training during exercises such as William Tell and Copper Flag, hosted by Tyndall AFB, FL.

This acquisition is part of an ongoing system upgrade that began in 2005 with the award of contract #FA2823-05-P-3155; contract #FA2823-07-P-3071; contract #FA2823-08-P-0184; contract #FA2823-08-P-0239;

contract #FA2823-13-P-0063; contract #FA2823-15-P-0030; and contract #FA2823-19-P-A009. After the 2007 purchase, all subsequent contracts were sole sourced to I/O Universal Technologies. After the initial purchase of I/O Universal Technologies, Inc. components, it was the starting point of an improvement and modernization effort to GRDCS. This current contract action will support the installation of an additional 8 consoles for future GRDCS operational, test, and evaluation.

The award of a contract to I/O Universal Technologies, Inc. represents the best value to the Government in that they are the only manufacturer capable of providing components which not only satisfy the requirements set out by the 96 RNCS/ RNCET, but are also compatible with the current hardware suite installed on all GRDCS. Past performance indicates that the components currently being used by GRDCS have performed according to expectations. The overriding factor in making this acquisition is that no other known manufacturer produces the pushbutton control panel components that are a drop- in- replacement in terms of form, fit, and functions for the hardware currently installed in GRDCS. Secondly, these control panel components will ensure compatibility and commonality with GRDCS. They were reviewed and accepted by the GRDCS Configuration Review Board (CRB), and are the approved configuration currently in operational use. I/O Universal Technologies, Inc. is the only known company that can provide the pushbutton control panel components that meet the minimum size and performance requirements of the government.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

The initial modules were competitively solicited. Engineers tested two prototypes and determined the modules from I/O Universal Technologies, Inc provided the required unique capabilities. The other prototype from Control Panel Design (Contract FA2823-05-P-3154), did not meet our capabilities after considerable testing. The form and fit of the modules as well as their lack of scalability (inability to be “programmed” to GRDCS mission specifications) rendered them completely unsuitable for our needs and mission requirements.

Our recent market research indicates the possibility of additional providers (ScreenKeys.com, NKKSmartSwitch.com, and RJSElectronics.com) for the material required; however, the cost to prototype/customize to operational specifications, as well as the time needed to evaluate, test, and accept the new product (with approval from the GRDCS CRB) unreasonably outweigh the benefit of continuing with I/O Universal Technologies, Inc. An alternative vendor's product would require a minimum of of system integration, software modifications and testing, with an estimated cost of in required labor.

None of these sources proved to be viable alternatives because the components provided by these manufacturers does not meet the form, fit, and function replacement requirements set out by 96 RNCS/RNCET:

Screenkeys.com has the RGB Screenkey (p/n: RGB24T) with a 36 x 24 resolution RGB ScreenKey, RGB LED; Tactile switch mechanism with a synchronous serial data interface. Although other requirements appear to be met, the resolution does not provide the capability of the switches provided by I/O Universal Technologies, Inc. and it only offers the serial data interface.

Likewise, NKKSwitches.com offers the Wide View/Long Travel LCD 64 x 32 SmartSwitch (p/n: IS15DBFP4RGB) and the Wide View Compact LCD 64 x 32 SmartSwitch (p/n: IS15ESBFP4RGB), but only RGB (64 color) LED Backlighting and both only offer a serial (RS232) interface. Several vendors: Powell Electronics, Swedesboro, NJ; Digi-Key Corporation, Thief River Falls, MN; and Mouser Electronics, Mansfield, TX use NKK Smart Switches in their product offering.

RJSElectronics.com offers switches (p/n: Q5-100) whose footprint is similar to Screenkeys.com and I/O Universal

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Technologies, Inc., however, it only offers a serial (RS232) interface.

The conclusion was that I/O Universal Technologies, Inc. best met the performance, footprint, interoperability, scalability, and flexibility required for the GRDCS consoles currently in operation.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards

96 RNCS/RNCET will continue to monitor the industry through perusal of trade journals, technical symposiums, and contact with industry representatives. Any future requirements will be researched and if a product meeting the requirements is identified then a competitive acquisition for the requirement will be considered.

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

17-Apr-2019

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

REBECCA HOPPE, NH-03

Signature of Contracting Officer