JA R.pdf

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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

I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

AFTC/PZIOA (OL-EGLIN), Eglin AFB, FL 32542 Contracting Officer: Kristina B. Brannon

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

The Government intends to establish a new, Firm-Fixed Price contract for the purchase of Liquid Robotics' SV6 unmanned surface vehicles. This requirement will be sourced to the manufacturer, Liquid Robotics.

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

The 96 TSSQ requires a total of twenty (20) commercial unmanned surface vehicles with related control software, payloads, and peripheral launch and recovery equipment must be delivered to meet the required needs. The estimated cost of the aforementioned equipment and software is

Wave Glider SV6 (Qty 20 Ea) Unit Price: xtended Price:

The systems will meet the requirements cited in the Technical Requirement Document dated 18 April 2025.

Delivery: first unit delivery within 360 days, final unit at 720 days

3600 RDT&E Appropriations

IV. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above.

In accordance with (IAW) FAR 6.302-1 -Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Liquid Robotics can provide a proprietary and highly specialized commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) system in a timely manner that will meet our exact requirements as described in the TRD dated 30 August 2022. The system has been proven in support of both Air Force and Navy missions, and it will be integrated into our existing capability that already includes 14 of Liquid Robotics' unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) [FA2823-16-C-0008 - purchase of two (2) SV3 Wave Gliders;

FA282320C0029 - purchase of six (6) SV3 Wave Gliders; and FA2823-23-P-0003 - purchase of six (6) SV3 Wave Gliders]. As all USV systems on the market are distinct and proprietary systems that require specialized training, integrating a different platform type to the OWIL fleet will introduce added training cost (as a reference, training for Wave Gliders cos person) that would be unnecessary if uniformity in the fleet is maintained. More importantly, a great deal of effort has been made on previous contracts to build and integrate specialized payloads onto this specific platform, and obtaining additional platforms from Liquid Robotics will prevent the redesigning of these payloads, which would incur additional, non-reimbursable development costs. With development cost per unit approximatin! hus far, to re-institute development cost by introducing new USV systems would incur close tc n additional development cost.

Specifically, 150ft thin wire winch and towbody payloads integrated onto current platforms must be able to be easily integrated onto newly acquired platforms. Lastly, in addition to increasing cost, integrating alternative USVs other than Wave Gliders onto the fleet would also require additional development time, slowing down program development and increasing overall program pricetag.

V. 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.

In the market research conducted, an Internet search was primarily used in addition to trade shows, and technical meetings to single out four (4) companies which seem to provide a capability. Team meetings involving Maritime Tactical Systems (Jupiter Beach, FL) on the T&E/S&T AIST SynchroRanger Quarterly Stakeholders Meeting Oct 2024, Feb 2025 & May 2025, BOSS IPT meetings 26 June 2024, 03 October 2024 & 09 June 2025, TRMC Ground Test IPT Gaps Meeting (Laurel, MD) 19 September 2024. Gathered capability information for vendor capability at trade shows and conferences that included ITEA Multi Domain Operations Workshop (Alexandria, VA) 17 July 2024, ITEA Test Symposium (Huntsville, AL) 06 November 2024, August2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 2 of4