AWBS_Option_Year_1_J A_FinalRedacted.pdf

FD2020-13-50975

29 July 2013

COORDINATION AND APPROVAL DOCUMENT

CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: AFLCMC/WWAK

PROGRAM/PROJECT: Automated Weight and Balance System (AWBS) Automated Form F (AFF), FD2020-13-50975 AUTHORITY: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1

ESTIMATED CONTRACT COST: $164,300

TYPE J&A: Individual

COORDINATION:

Program Manager :

Jake McKeon AFLCMC/WWAPC Date

DSN: 586-3187 COMM: 801-586-3187

APPROVED:

Contracting Officer:

Tim Arbon AFLCMC/WWAK Date

DSN: 586-1707 COMM: 801-586-1707

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER

THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

I. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

United States Air Force A-10 Contracting Branch (AFLCMC/WWAK) 6072 Fir Ave, Bldg 1233 Hill AFB UT 84056-5820 Contracting Officer: Tim Arbon

DSN: 586-1707

FD2020-13-50975

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING

PROCESSED

Upon approval to use other than full and open competition procedures, the Air Force will exercise the first option year of FA8202-12-C-1010 to update the A-10C AFF. This requirement is for support of the A-10 Automated Weight and Balance program and will be used by crew chiefs at all bases prior to each flight. A contract has been awarded sole source to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. Lockheed Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76101 in September 2012. Contract Type & Structure: A service contract for engineering services to update the A-10 AFF software using Firm-Fixed-Pricing arrangement. The estimated date to exercise the first option year is September 2013 with delivery expected 12 months ARO, or sooner.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET

THE AGENCY’S NEEDS:

A. Under the contemplated contract, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has and will continue to provide the engineering services to update the A-10 Automated Weight and Balance System (AWBS) program. The A-10 operational units will receive an updated AFF software that incorporates any applicable changes to Technical Orders.

The AFF software is a critical piece of the A-10 pre-flight checklist to verify the aircraft Center-of-Gravity (CG) is within the safety specifications. The AWBS generates a Form F verifying that the A-10 aircraft stays within the CG window throughout the duration of flight. This requirement provides updates to the software currently in use, along with training and technical support to field units required to generate Forms F. The AFF uses known aircraft effectivity data to calculate the forward and aft limits and determine fuel tank capacities. It calculates all CG limits, in-flight limits, and fuel weights and moments. The AFF also calculates the most forward and aft conditions and verifies they are within limits. Prior to the AFF, Weight and Balance Technicians faced the complex task of generating Form F's for the aircraft by hand. Over time the limiting weight and balance factors have become more complex resulting in errors interpreting the weight and CG. Increases in the number of weight limits, in-flight limits, tire limits, nose wheel steering limits, and fuel capacities have compounded the problem. Additionally, multiple limits make identifying unsafe aircraft even more critical and complicated without automated software.

B. The PoP will be 12 months after receipt of order (ARO) for this exercised option.

C. Total Estimated Cost (for this option year): $152,205.00 based on base year costs and historical financial data. This action is using appropriated funds 3400.

IV. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND

OPEN COMPETITION:

10 USC 2304(c)as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 - Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

V. DEMONSTRATION OF THE CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES THE

USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED

SUPPLY/SERVICE (APPLICABILITY OF AUTHORITY):

A. Because Lockheed Martin Aeronautics completed a nearly identical effort in terms of scope, dollar value, and PoP in 2010 and the previous 5+ years, the government awarded a multi-year contract, FA8202-12-C-1010, to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in September 2012. Continuing with the same contractor is in the best interest of the government both economically and efficiently. Lockheed Martin is the original owner and designer of the AWBS software since 1992, and owns 100% of the data rights. Over the years Lockheed Martin has implemented specific AFF software not only on the A-10, but on ten other USAF platforms as well as multiple Army/Navy aircraft. The initial A-10 AFF contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in the 2000 timeframe due to their history and success of their AWBS program. The AFF software was designed to incorporate the A-10’s unique flight profile in combat and addresses all of the flight stores that are defined in TO 1A-10C-1, 1-1B-50, and 1A- 10C-5. Since the AWBS was originally developed, Lockheed Martin has maintained, upgraded, and delivered new versions of the software and currently owns all of the data rights to the software. In addition to owning the data rights to the software, Lockheed Martin is the only available source that employs software engineers that have access to the software and are trained to update the specific code.

B. The A-10 System Program Office (SPO) estimates that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government, which is not expected to be recovered through competition. While the Government maintains unlimited usage rights over the A-10 AFF software, a vendor other than Lockheed Martin does not have the access or knowledge of the system sufficient to update the software code. Based on other commercial Automated Weight and Balance systems available it is estimated that the Government would incur an estimated $2M in development and start up costs, and a minimum of $600K to implement their own software system to the various flight lines. This estimate is based on costs of software development and the complexity of fighter/attack aircraft and the wide variability of stores i.e. bombs, munitions, pods, external fuel tanks, etc, that change through duration of flight. A critical piece of software like this must also go through extensive testing and validation/verification processes before implementation increasing cost risks. Since stores on the aircraft are continuously changing and being added to the aircraft, year to year updates would be necessary to keep a government purchased and maintained AFF software current. The cost for annual updates to government purchased software would be just as much as the costs to update a contractor owned software, if not more. Developing a new AWBS system would have significant time and safety impacts as well as expected costs would be extremely higher than the cost of using the current developed software for this effort.

VI. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERORS

ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS DEEMED

PRACTICABLE:

A. At time of initial acquisition market research was performed and Lockheed Martin was the only source to reply with adequate evidence to support their ability to satisfy our agency's requirement. As discussed above, they have proprietary data (software code) that is needed to be able to complete this effort. The Government allowed all interested Vendors the opportunity to provide evidence of their capabilities prior to contracting with Lockheed Martin. This requirement is to exercise an already awarded option on contract that is built upon the existing baseline efforts already performed by Lockheed and will not be able to be performed by any other Vendor.

B. The Government has and will continue to review various options including alternative solutions offering the same or similar form/fit/functions and procuring the data rights to allow for future competition if it represents the best value to the Government.

C. Other Actions: None

D. Qualifying Country Sources: None

VII. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND

REASONABLE:

The following steps will be taken to ensure that the anticipated cost of this acquisition will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer will comply with the procedures and criteria contained in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) under Part 30 - Cost Accounting Standards, Part 31 - Contract Cost Principles and Procedures, Subparts 15.4 - Contract Pricing; to include technical evaluations and audits, as appropriate. Additional steps to ensure price reasonableness will be under the guidance of the Contract Pricing Reference Guides, jointly developed by the Federal Acquisition Institute and the Air Force Institute of Technology. The Government will obtain certified cost and pricing data IAW FAR Subpart 15.403, when required. The Final Step is to include the Price Negotiation Memorandum (PNM) in the contract file. This detailed documentation and justification of price reasonableness will be disclosed in the official PNM, to be prepared upon completion of negotiations.

VIII. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AMONG ALL

AWARDEES AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON

MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED:

A. Market research was conducted in February 2012 by the AWBS Program Manager, Capt Zachary Metz and Lead Engineer, Travis Moulding. Market research consisted of internet searches, procurement history, and communications with T-38 and other AF platform program offices. While other commercial weight and balance programs exist for commercial aircraft, the complexity of the A-10 and the various amount of stores and combinations, combined with multiple CG and moment limits excluded them from consideration. After review of industry sources, it was determined that there were no other available software sources, either commercial or otherwise, that could produce an A-10 AFF without duplication of effort, significant cost to the government, and adversely affect flight safety. There is no other known source other than Lockheed Martin that possesses the software and expertise to update the current A-10 AFF software.

IX. OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE JUSTIFICATION:

None

X. LIST OF ANY AWARDEE THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE

ACQUISITION:

See section VI above

XI. ACTIONS THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME

ANY BARRIERS TO INCREASING FAIR OPPORTUNITY BEFORE ANY

SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

REQUIRED:

The A-10 SPO is researching the cost trade-off and feasibility of implementing a government owned AFF software. Some of the options include, design of a completely new software system, purchase complete data rights of current system and hire/train new software engineers to provide updates organically, or possibly modify a system that is in use by other platforms. More market research needs to be completed on the most cost effective way forward, and implementation into the following Suite 8 upgrade.

XII. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION:

The contracting officer’s signature on the signature page evidences that he/she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief, in accordance with FAR 6.303-2(a)(12).

XIII. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL’S CERTIFICATION:

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