Redacted_J A.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

I. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

US Air Force 2d Contracting Squadron 4 1 Vandenberg Ave.

Barksdale AFB, LA 711 10-2079

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING PROCESSED

This acquisition is to obtain . by the use of other than fu ll and open competition. Exel is Inc .. as the OEM of the A LQ-1 72, is tasked with supplying a contractor as a field engineering support of the AN/ALQ-1 72V2 Electronic System, B-52H Aircraft at Minot AFB. ND and Barksdale AFB, LA.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE

AGENCY'S NEEDS

a. Overview of Services: The primary purpose of this contract field engineering service is to provide checkout. troubleshooting, engineering analysis of suspected fa ilures. limited repair of fai led prime mission equipment, and to provide Air Force personnel engineering support for checkout and repair of related support equipment. Additionally, the contractor shal I provide techn ical guidance and engineering services in the evaluation of unusual field problems and render emergency technical adv ice related to the AN/ALQ-172(V) 2 systems. The contractor shall perform engineering analysis to confirm failures prior to returning Line Replaceable Units (LRU"s) to the depot maintenance facility. with the goal on Can Not Duplicate (CND) actions.

b. Detailed: The contractor shall provide field engineering support to Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) in suppo11 of the AN/ALQ- 172 program at Barksdale AFB. Louisiana and Minot AFB. North Dakota. The contractor field engineering support tasks include, but are not limited to the fo llowing:

• Provide engineering services troubleshoot, checkout, and perform limited repair of the LRU 's. Limited repair shall be in accordance with AFGSC guidance.

• Provide engineering support in utilization and testing of AN/ALQ-172(V)2 Test Program Sets used in conjunction with USM-464a.

• Ensure equipment is restored to serviceable condition before it is returned to the aircraft or supply Maintenance Faci lity for repair.

• AN/ALQ- 172(V)2 LRUs include: receivers. transmitters. control lers, antennas. antenna switches, converters. and control display units.

• Accomplish commodity level Time Compliance Technical Orders on ALQ- 172(V)2 LR Us.

• Assist maintenance in troubleshooting ALQ-172(V)2 system aircraft wiring problems.

• Provide training to assist governmenc personnel in upgrade, On-theOJob-Training, and system knowledge on ALQ-172(V)2 system.

• Provide senior level ALQ-172(V)2 hardware and software engineers at contractors main facil ity to support field service engineers with in depth evaluation of LRU and SRU problems. Senior engineers must meet with operators and Maintenance personnel at least annually to discuss system performance problems.

• Must submit quality control plan to contracting office prior to period of performance.

• Ensure all foreign objects are removed from inside LRUs prior to assembly.

c. Personnel Experience: The contractor shall assign personnel who are knowledgeable and experienced in the design, development, operation maintenance and support of the ALQ-172(V)2 system and all associated support equipment to include:

• Detai led knowledge and understanding of ALQ-172(V)2 system intermediate level maintenance involving SRUs with ability to evaluate their performance.

• Access to design, development, hardware .and software engineering to support on site evaluation and repair of the ALQ-172(V)2 and AN/ALM-252 Hot Mock-up.

• Possess a minimum of 8 years experience on ALQ-l 72(V)2 system intermediate level repair with current experience within the last 2 years. Performance level must be met on

I st day of contract performance period with no training required.

• Must have detailed knowledge of ALQ-l 72(V)2 Operational Flight Program/Emitter

Identification Data software, and, ability to detect system problems caused by the software.

• Must have detailed knowledge of ALQ-1 72(v)2 jamming techniques and the abil ity to evaluate interna l system interaction and operation in order to resolve signal output problems.

• Must have knowledge and experience of util ization, interaction, and testing using the USM-464a withALQ-172 TPS/TPIH, ALM-252, and PYM-I CAPRE with Forcing Function Status Display Enhanced Diagnostics software.

• Must have available support from senior ALQ-172(V)2 system engineers for in depth evaluation of LRU and SRU problems.

• Knowledge of training methods to assist supervisors with upgrade, OJT, and systems knowledge training on ALQ-172(V)2 system and support equipment.

d. The estimated cost for this requirement (including 4 potential option periods) is

IV. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

10 USC 2304(c) {I), as implemented by FAR 6.302-l(a) (2) (i) in accordance with FAR 6.303 and 6.304.

V. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES THE USE OF

THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE (APPLICABILITY OF AUTHORITY)

Although several companies have the capability to perform the follow-on B-52 AN/USM-464A Field Support contract, no company has the proprietary and classified information required to perform the actions listed in the contract. The contractor has fully-trained and cleared technicians in place. They possess the proprietary and classified information required to support all terms of the contract. The incumbent contractor also has a highly competent and stable program management staff to ensure uninterrupted support for the US military organizations in at Barksdale AFB, LA and Minot AFB, ND. The award of a contract for this 5-year period to other than the incumbent contractor is impossible to accomplish within the required start date of the new B-52 AN/USM 464A Field Support contract on 1July2014 due to proprietary and classified information.

VI. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE

SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS DEEMED PRACTICABLE

The follow-on contract, B-52 ALQ-1 72 Electronic Countermeasures System Field Support will be properly synopsized as required by FAR 5.202. The acquisition was concluded in a timely manner to make the award prior to expiration of the current B-52 ALQ-l 72 Electronic Countermeasures System Field Support contract. It is solely due to the GAO protest received that the extension of the current B-52 ALQ-172 Electronic Countermeasures System Field Support contract is necessary. Awarding this contract will ensure AFGSC and associated units maintain the serviceable spare LRU levels required to meet B-52 mission demands. Specificall y, awarding this sole source contract wi ll guarantee that the company with proprietary information continues to provide serv ice other companies cannot. Market research has veri fied that the company's information is proprietary and cannot be perfonned by any other entity.

VD. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer has determined, by the signature on the cover page that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based upon the fact that the proposal costs received for material and labor are in line with prices on previous contracts.

Furthermore, certified cost or pricing data will be required from the contractor to make a determination of fai r and reasonable pricing. The service is non-commercial, non-competitive, above $700,000.00, and prices are not set by law or regulation.

VIIl. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE

RESULTS, OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASONS MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT

CONDUCTED

A llowing the current contract to tenninate without a follow-on contract will result in a shortage of serviceable LR Us. Since the AN/ALQ-l 72 system is required for all missions, many B-52 aircraft will be unable to perfonn nuclear, conventional, training and test missions. The cost estimate for a system with the same capability is approximately .. - ew equipment and ~or current coverage). The cost and the time it would take to produce a new system would make this contract exceedingly more expensive to the government than to continue using sole source for the life of this contract. Market research has verified that the company's in format ion is proprietary and cannot be performed by any other entity.

IX. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND

OPEN COMPETITION

The current B-52 ALQ- 172 Electronic Countenneasures System Field Support PWS will be used for the extension of the contract. A PWS, for Barksdale AFB and Minot AFB, have been written for the 8-52 ALQ- 172 Electronic Countermeasures System Field Support acquisition.

The cost estimate fo r a system with the same capability is approximately-(£ hew equipment and-for current coverage). ln addition to the proposal preparation cost, a new contractor would require a phase- in period of up to four months in order to obtain the necessary work pennits, security clearances and the purchase of specialized equipment required by the contract. These costs and added time could not be recovered through competition.

The award to a source other than the incumbent contractor would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Government's needs. These duplicated costs, estimated at _,or the purchase of special equipment owned by the contractor and utilized to perfonn work specified in the contract. The incumbent contractor is the only known company that can meet the requirement to be in place and fully operational at the required performance start date of 01 July 14.

X. LIST OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE

ACQUISITION

In the previous acquisition, an accomplished synopsis of the contract indicated that there were no companies other than the incumbent contractor, Exel is Inc., capable of fulfilling the contract before the expiration of the current contract. Although several companies have the capability to perfonn the fo llow-on B-52 ALQ-1 72 Electronic Countermeasures System Field Support contract, no company has the proprietary and classified information required to perform the actions I isted in the contract. On 21 Jan 20 I ~on firmed that the service was sti II considered proprietary and the process has not been released to any other entity.

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 B-52 A LQ- I 72 Electronic Countermeasures System Field Support acquisition has been conducted using full and open competition. The renewal of the B-52 ALQ- 172 Electronic Countermeasures System Field Support contract is still required to fulfill B-52 conventional and nuclear missions. It is not anticipated that subsequent acquisitions for the services required will be accomplished using full and open competition.

XII. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S CERTIFICATION

The contracting officer's signature on the Coordination and Approval Document evidences that she has detennined this document to be both accurate and complete to t~ best of her knowledge ·and belief (FAR 6.303-2(a)(12)).

XIII. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL'S CERTIFICATION

As evidenced by their signatures on the Coordination and Approval Document, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete (FAR 6.303-2(b)).