JA Rev 1 22E-615A-RF_signed 020722_Redacted.pdf

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

AFLCMC/WNMK/AFMETCAL, 813 Irving-Wick Dr W, Heath, OH 43056 Michael Hickey, DSN 366-5043, Com 740-788-5043

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

This J&A is for a new Sole Source Firm-Fixed Price acquisition to provide an Inductive Voltage Divider to the Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory (AFPSL). The proposed contractor is Tegam Inc (Advanced Energy).

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

The Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory (AFPSL) currently has an RF Inductive Voltage Divider (IVD) Attenuation Measurement System at National Metrology Institute (NMI) uncertainty levels. The IVD has the capability to operate at 50 MHz and 1 GHz. The drawback with operating at two frequencies is the approximate calibration time for each frequency is 22+ hours which would equate to nearly two days of calibration time per test instrument and the AFPSL supports over 100 programmable step attenuators that could require this calibration. The primary objective of this effort is to add additional attenuation measurement capability to the AFPSL. This will be accomplished through the purchase of a second RF IVD Attenuation Measurement System.

Year Qty Est Unit Price Est Subtotal Funding Description

FY22 1 $ Inductive Voltage Divider (IVD)

Our strategy is to have the contractor deliver the item 140 days after contract award. The unit will be acceptance tested at the AFPSL utilizing existing calibration procedures.

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

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements and required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(4).

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

The IVD is highly specialized and has resulted in one possible source. It is highly specialized in that it is used primarily by National Metrology Institutes (NMI's) to perform calibrations at the smallest scientifically possible uncertainties. Normally IVD's are created at NMI's by scientists for the expressed use at that particular NMI. They are rarely developed in the commercial market. For this reason in FY15 AFMETCAL awarded a research project to Tegam Inc. to develop the first commercial IVD. This project was a success and the unit is still operational at the AFPSL. Due to workload demands the AFPSL is in need of another IVD. Tegam is still the only commercial producer of an IVD. Additionally having a second similar system, in operation and specifications, will provide savings to the Air Force. A similar system will result in less training and development of calibration procedures. As well as simplify life-cycle support to one vendor.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under

FAR 5.202 applies.

All efforts taken to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible are outlined in the Market Research Report performed for the AFPSL - Inductive Voltage Divider (IVD) 22E-615A-RF. The survey of the market place confirms that no other vendor has the capability to meet the requirements for the AFPSL - Inductive Voltage Divider (IVD) 22E-615A-RF (FAR 6.302-1). A Sources Sought Synopsis was posted on April 5, 2021 to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible. The Sources Sought Synopsis provided the

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This Sources Sought Synopsis describes the state-of-the-art Inductive Voltage Divider (IVD) attenuation measurement system. The overall system target uncertainty is ±0.001 dB ±0.0001 dB/dB + (0.0001 dB/dB > 50 dB) at the 95% confidence interval throughout a dynamic range of 100 dB total DUT attenuation. The IVD attenuation system will provide flexibility in the frequency measurement to mutiple frequencies, which will provide for attenuation measurements at 50 MHz and 1 GHz. This will allow the AFPSL to have world class attenuation measurement uncertainties at several frequencies commonly used in traceability chains. An IVD attenuation system is expected to provide a stable attenuation measurement system that has more robust and reliable performance with less system maintenance than legacy systems. The IVD attenuation measurement system will be fully automated via an external controller and system software.

Only Tegam Inc responded to the Sources Sought Synopsis.

As required by FAR 5.2, the proposed contract action will be synopsized in Sam.gov. We intend on posting this proposed contract action on, or around, Nov 21 2021.

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

A cost analysis will be performed to determine if the proposed amount is fair and reasonable. Price Analysis will be based on comparison to the Government estimate, current price lists, and historical buys per FAR 13.106-3 (a) (2).

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

As described in Section VI of this document, market research IAW FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis to advise industry of the proposed acquisition and to solicit inquiries from interested parties. Based on the results of this market research, the Air Force Technical Team determined the unit from Tegam Inc (Advanced Energy) provides the best value to the government as no other vendor was found to be able to provide a unit meeting Air Force requirements.

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

Supporting facts for Other Than Full and Open Competition are outlined throughout this document. No additional facts have been identified. There is a reasonable basis to conclude that the agency's minimum needs can only be satisfied by unique supplies or services available from only one source or only one supplier with unique capabilities as indicated in market research.

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

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.

The Air Force will monitor the market for future acquisitions of the supplies or services being acquired. Techniques used to continuously monitor the market will include; Internet Searches, FedBizOpps searches, trade journals, and contacting known sources of products or services. Additional techniques shall include reviewing publications as they become available and attending trade shows if the agency's budget allows.

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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.