Sole_Source_Justification_Over_SAT_-_JTAC_ViaSat_Link-16_Radios2_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

25 May 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 2 of 4

I. Contracting Activity.

99th Contracting Squadron

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

JTAC ViaSat Link-16 Handheld Radios

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

8 x P/N-1264823 - PRC-161/Handheld Link-16 Radio Kit 8 x P/N-1256571 - PRC-161/BATS-D Hotshoe Cable, AN/PRC-161, USB(A) Male 1 x Travel and Tech Support at customer facility (Nellis AFB, NV)

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)(2) and required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(4), when supplies or services required by the agency are available from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.

Purchase from another vendor besides ViaSat, would create compatibility issues with the variety of other Link-16 communication equipment currently in use by other JTACs, aircraft, and command and control echelons both in the DoD and NATO militaries. This would create serious safety and operational functionality issues for JTACs not only in training but also in real-world combat situations.

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

The Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Weapons Instructor Course (WIC) is located at Nellis AFB, NV and is part of the United Stated Air Force Warfare Center. The JTAC WIC provides advanced training to select JTACs who then return to their units to train others in a train-the-trainer arrangement. Each graduate from the five-and-a-half month JTAC WIC completes 23 full-mission profiles and devotes 752 total hours in the classroom and on the range. As part of the curriculum, each JTAC WIC student must become an expert using all tools and equipment in the JTAC arsenal.

As part of the Air Force's Battlefield Airmen Force Improvement Program (BA FIP), Air Combat Command recently outfitted 17 Active Duty and 14 Guard JTAC units with a common suite of equipment, ranging from parachutes and communications gear, to range finders and laser target designators. The JTAC WIC at Nellis AFB did not receive the standardized equipment provided to the 31 Active and Guard units. Instead, the JTAC WIC received funding to complete the purchases itself.

In order to properly train JTAC students who will then return to their home units as trainers themselves, the JTAC WIC requires equipment identical to the equipment previously provided to 31 Active and Guard JTAC units.

Link-16 is a military tactical data exchange network used by the DoD branches as well as NATO allowed by the MIDS International Program Office (IPO). Its specification is part of the family of Tactical Data Links. With Link-16, military aircraft as well as ships and ground forces, may exchange their tactical picture in near-real time.

The JTAC WIC requires highly portable hand-held Link-16 radio in order to provide JTAC WIC students with the most realistic training in DaCAS TTPs. The radio must include a rechargeable battery, a Link-16 antenna, a GPS Antenna, and a GPS flex antenna. The radio kit must be capable of surviving a water immersion of up to two (2) meters and carry a two (2) year warranty on all components. The radio must provide situational awareness (including voice) and targeting utilizing the Link-16 jam-resistant Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) waveform. ViaSat is the only company that produces a Hand Held Link-16 Radio.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

25 May 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 3 of 4

Additionally, ViaSat has been awarded a contract by USSOCOM for the hand-held Link-16 radio. Air Force JTACs commonly train and deploy with USSOCOM forces and must be able to effectively communicate with these units in both training and hostile environments. These ViaSat Link-16 radios will allow JTAC WIC students to train on the equipment they will use when they return to their own units and the equipment they will use in future training and real-world deployment engagements.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

None. AFRL confirmed that ViaSat is the only company that produces a Hand Held Link-16 Radio. 99 CONS will solicit quotes from all potential ViaSat distributors.

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

The Contracting Officer will make a determination of price fair and reasonableness in accordance with (IAW) FAR 13.106-3(a) (simplified acquisitions) prior to award.

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

This J&A will be posted to FBO. Market Research was not conducted as the only known source of compatible Link-16 hand-held radios for JTAC operations and training is ViaSat. AFRL confirmed via telephone that there are no other potential providers of this product.

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

None

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

None

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.

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, we certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is our responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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