Sole_Source_J&A_Redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

20 Apr 2017 Page 1 of 3

Section A: General Contract Information

Contracting Activity: 49 CONS

Project/Program Name: XM Weather Subscription

Purchase Request/Identification Number: F2ETG57289B101

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options):

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

The XM Satellite Weather Package will provide the all the following capabilities listed below to conduct test and evaluation to include storm advanced warning, icing, precipitation, cloud cover, temporary flight restrictions, wind advisory, lighting strike data and safety-of-flight. Due to the varied test conduct requirements it is necessary to have up-to-date weather and terrain information. The package is the Sirius XM weather aviator package per Garmin antenna per month. Cost of the contract for six (6 ) antenna’s will be per year and total cost is for a base and four options. The activation fee will be waived because is already registered, on account number 1-6919772254.

Requesting a base period of performance of 15 May 18 - 14 May 19, to ensure no service interruption. Four one year options are also being requested. Sirius XM Radio, Inc. service goes through the same day of the renewal month for end and start date.

The Garmin XM antenna numbers are: (1) GQL3K0M8 (2) 04HHR08Q (3) GYLB028C (4) ER28B2H3 (5) 5ARZJ0HM and (6) Z37C8287. The minimum services the will require are stated below:

i. High Resolution Doppler Radar

ii. Radar Coverage

iii. Precipitation Type (at SurfaGe)

iv. METARs (Meteorological terminal aviation routine (weather reports)

v. TAFs (Terminal Area Forecast)

vi. TFRs (Temporary Forecast Restrictions)

vii. County Warnings

viii. City Forecasts

ix. Freezing Level

x. Winds Aloft (at altitude)

xi. Echo Tops

xii. Severe Weather Storm Tracks

xiii. AlRMETs (Airman Meteorological information)

xiv. SIGMETs (Significant Meteorological information – tornados , thunderstorms)

xv. Surface Analysis currently has:

Two (2) Garmin 296 that are not XM weather capable due to purchased prior to existing XM capability Five (5) Garmin 496 that are XM weather capable One (1) Garmin 696 that is XM weather capable One (1) Garmin 796 that is XM weather capable

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

This requirement being requested will be a follow-on contract from a previous contractual effort, reference contract FA4801-16- P-0070. A six month extension is being accomplished with a Government Purchase Card (GPC) since the current contract

20 Apr 2017 Page 2 of 3 expires on 15 Nov 17. would like to have a follow-on contract to include a base year and four (4) one-year options. XM is the only authorized weather satellite provider accepted by Garmin Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers in use and Garmin is the only Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation approved provider that meets FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-129/C129 as well as TSO 145/149 requirements as outlined in AFI 11-202v3 paragraph 5.8.3.3. Sirius XM Radio, Inc.

subscription provides all of the required capabilities and critical elements.

Purchasing a different subscription package from another vendor is not available as XM is the sole source for in-flight weather as they bought out SIRIUS and removed the competition. Purchasing new antennas and receivers would not remove the sole source requirement as XM is the only vendor with a subscription for all required critical elements. Minimally estimated costs would be well over for new receivers and antennas, but doesn't include time delays to the mission and additional training costs for the new subscription, if one was available. The approximate replacement costs are as follows:

-Five (5) GDL-39 receiver antennas @ 0 -Seven (7) Garmin 296/496 replacement units (Garmin 660 -One (1) Garmin 796 replacement for current 696 (Garmin 795 -Miscellaneous items required such as extra batteries and mounts = -Total estimated cost for replacement if current equipment to allow ADSB-IN weather limited capability is approximately

The initial Garmin 296 and 496 GPS units were specifically purchased for form size and function to allow attaching the unit to the dash of the T-38's and allows manipulation of the unit controls with flight gloves on. Replacement of receivers almost entirely function on touch-pad technology which is not compatible for T-38 operations requiring crews to wear flight gloves.

Other GPS manufacturers exist, but these units are less capable than what is currently required for the Air Force mission.

Appareo offers free weather subscriptions but does not provide the critical elements or required capabilities to meet the 586 FLTS mission.

could new GPS equipment, that would likely still be from Garmin and receive less pertinent weather information from Appareo that offers ADSB-IN subscription. Note hail or lightning damage to one aircraft will by far out-weights any marginal savings based on the "one of a kind" aircraft assets the Test Group operates.

Authority for this purchase is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the requirements.

This contract can be awarded as a firm fixed-price Commercial Purchase Order. requests a sole source – XM Weather subscription purchase.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

Other units were researched but currently the only unit that provides the most accurate and in-depth weather for in-flight at this time that is FAA aviation approved for weather updates and downloads is the Garmin. Seven (7) of the Garmin units on hand have all critical elements to the mission and are specific to Air Force weather. The only other source for XM weather subscription in conjunction with Garmin is ADSB-IN, but is limited in scope and cannot provide lightning, icing or turbulence information which is considered hazardous to flight operations IAW AFIs. The three elements are critical to the mission in order to minimize damage and possible injury to aircrew. Also, Appareo's ADSB-IN subscription does not provide base reflectivity, radar echo tops, cloud tops, surface winds, and surface analysis.

XM capability at present is the only subscription that provides all of the critical elements accepted by Garmin and Garmin is the only FAA aviation approved GPS provider with all critical XM capabilities. XM subscription also meets FAA TSO C-129/C129 as well as TSO 145/146 requirements as outlined in AFI 11-202v3 paragraph 5.8.3.3. will continue to research to see if other alternatives arise.

20 Apr 2017 Page 3 of 3

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

XM is the accepted industry standard for in-flight weather information which the uses with the Garmin GPS units and antennas on hand. An alternative was found, ADSB-IN, but they cannot provided required critical elements as listed above.

The XM subscription allows aircrews to make an an educated decision in-flight based on the most reliable in-flight weather data available with the all required weather capabilities. It is not to say that in the future a more capable solution will emerge, but based on current facts and equipment already on hand, XM is the best solution which gives aircrews the most accurate and up-to-date information on severe weather which impacts local and deployed operations for the

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

16-Nov-2017

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

Widdoss, Robert J, GS-12

Signature of Contracting Officer robert.widdoss.1@us.af.mil Digitally signed by robert.widdoss.1@us.af.mil DN: cn=robert.widdoss.1@us.af.mil Date: 2017.11.16 10:07:47 -07'00'