Sole_Source_Letter_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS 96TH TEST WING (AFMC)

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE FLORIDA

11 June 2013

MEMORANDUM FOR AFTC/PZIOC

FROM: 96 CES/CED

SUBJECT: Sole Source Justification for Kraft Equipment Repair

SUGGESTED SOURCE: Kraft Telerobotics 11667 West 90th Street Overland Park, KS 66214 Ph: (913) 894-9022

ESTIMATED COST: $ 70,000

JUSTIFICATION:

1. 96 CES/CED has a requirement for services and parts needed to repair our $305K Kraft “Predator” manipulator system. Proprietary digital communication electronics used to control the manipulators were originally purchased in 1998 and have far surpassed their warranty term and life expectancy. Critical components of this electronic system have failed with no existing spares or suitable substitutes. To reduce total cost, working components will be salvaged and built into a new electronic system to fit our manipulators.

2. The manipulator system is used to provide disassembly and data package recovery of hazardous explosive munitions during testing and development. Loss of this capability removes the primary purpose of a $1.3M robotic platform and severely limits our support for the 96 Test Wing mission.

3. Kraft Telerobotics is the only source that can service and build proprietary Kraft equipment to maintain compatibility with the manipulator arms. The equipment being repaired and rebuilt falls under US Patents USD461484, USD545334, US7783384, US4648782, US7623945, US5024116, US7550966, and US20110094325. Furthermore, the equipment returned to Kraft to significantly reduce cost is embedded with Kraft Intellectual Property and would be unlawful to send to potential competitors for modification.

4. Every attempt was made at finding additional solutions to regain our mission capability. We will continue to search for other future solutions, from any competitive source, that can satisfy our requirements.

5. For any questions about this matter please call SSgt Brian Westgate/MSgt Steven Bailey at 882-3225.