74496 SSJ_Redacted.pdf

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

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

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This Sole Source Justification (SSJ) is to request authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition supporting requirements generated for the Commodities Maintenance Group/CMXG. The contracting activity for this requirement is Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC)/PZIMA. The purchase request number supporting this contracting action is

Due to the circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to acquire Titan Robotics Cyber Support using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by 10 U.S.C. 3572, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901). This acquisition will result in the award of a follow-on purchase order which will be a firm fixed price consisting of one basic and three option years with the Period of Performance (PoP) from 06 November 2024 - 05 November 2028, if all options are exercised.

This sole source requirement will be purchased from the following vendor:

Titan Robotics Inc.

Business Size: Small

This is a commercial requirement for Titan Robotics Cyber Support. This requirement includes all the materials, parts, travel, tools, and labor necessary to provide cybersecurity software and support (Hardware and Software) for all Titan Robotic systems that support CMXG at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia.

This requirement includes contract data requirement list (CDRL) deliverables for on-site status report (multiple), accident/incident report (if needed), and contractor safety plan. It does not require delivery of technical data or intellectual property.

The nominal Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) structure is as follows:

Basic:

CLIN NOUN QTY U/I

0001 Titan Robotics Cyber Support 1 EA 0002 Data - CDRL A001 1 EA 0003 Data - CDRL A002 1 EA 0004 Data - CDRL A003 1 EA

Option Year 1:

CLIN NOUN QTY U/I

1001 Titan Robotics Cyber Support 1 EA

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1002 Data - CDRL B001 1 EA 1003 Data - CDRL B002 1 EA 1004 Data - CDRL B003 1 EA

Option Year 2:

CLIN NOUN QTY U/I

2001 Titan Robotics Cyber Support 1 EA e) 2002 Data - CDRL C001 1 EA 2003 Data - CDRL C002 1 EA 2004 Data - CDRL C003 1 EA

Option Year 3:

CLIN QTY U/I

3001 Titan Robotics Cyber Support 1 EA

3002 Data - CDRL D001 1 EA 3003 Data - CDRL D002 1 EA 3004 Data - CDRL D003 1 EA

The estimated price for the basic period was based on an estimate/Rough Order of Magnitude provided by Titan Robotics on 19 February 2024. The estimated prices for option periods

The PoP for the basic and three option years is projected to be 06 November 2024 - 05 November 2028, if all options are exercised.

Delivery: Electronic delivery of software updates no later than ten (10) days after receipt of contract.

In addition, conduct one (1) 50 hour visit to WR-ALC per quarter year for a grand total of four (4) visits with two (2) emergency 50 hour visit per year, if deemed necessary. Minimum number of visits will be four (4) with maximum number of six (6) visits.

This acquisition will be funded with Working Capital Funds.

DAFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 3572, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901)

The WR-ALC's minimum needs can only be satisfied by Titan Robotics. They are the original equipment manufacturer of the Titan Robotic system. The Titan Robotic system operates using Titan Robotic proprietary data. Updates to hardware/software can only be performed by Titan Robotics because they will not allow any other vendor access to the Titan Robotic system (i.e. robots) and use of other vendor cybersecurity software would cause interface issues. Titan Robotic is the only vendor capable of providing the cyber security software updates.

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Historically, robots were purchased and then used without any software updates or patches. The Air Force has identified that all robots/systems must receive updates and patches to ensure they are protected from cyber threats. These threats may include spoofing by which an adversary could exploit potential vulnerabilities by using a spoofed code-signing certificate to sign a malicious executable thereby making it appear the file was from a trusted, legitimate source. The robot user would have no way of knowing the file was malicious because the digital signature would appear to be from a trusted provider. A type malicious exploit could allow the attached to conduct a “man in the middle” attack which allows them to decrypt confidential information on user connections to the affected software.

This could lead to a non-functioning robot. Due to the aforementioned, the Robins AFB Titan Robotic system requires hardware/software updates to protect against cyber threats. Due to Titan Robotics restrictions on allowing other vendors to install hardware/software updates to the Titan Robotic system, Titan Robotics is the only vendor capable of providing these update(s) to the Government system.

The original source selection competitive effort for a laser depainting system was in 2018. The Titan Robotic system was selected as the best value and Titan Robotics was awarded the contract. To acquire a new laser depainting system would take at least eight (8) months of market research, plus several more months to compete and award a contract. In total, it is estimated to take over two years and would duplicate the original cost of several million dollars along with training and other added costs that could not be recovered through competition. A delay of two years would be unacceptable to CMXG and their mission. CMXG would not be able to depaint the aircraft which will lead to corrosion problems and structural issues. Aircraft would have increased weight which would reduce their performance and fuel efficiency.

Previous Contract:

FA857121P0005- Sole source purchase order to Titan Robotics; PoP: 06 November 2020 - 05 November 2024.

Accordingly, Titan Robotic is the only vendor capable of providing the requirements described in Section III above without Robins AFB experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

A Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) was posted on SAM.gov website on 26 March 2024 with responses due by 25 April 2024. The SSS was posted under Notice ID 74496. The SSS advised industry of the pending acquisition and requested responses from capable vendors.

The SSS resulted in responses from six interested vendors:

1. Black Eagle Technologies- 8(a) - CAGE: 8KG72

2. Tomco Service Group- Small Business - CAGE: 86U82

3. Govbidpro Inc.- Small Business - CAGE: 8UR02

4. Universal Solutions Group Inc-Small Business - CAGE: 9V6N0 5.Fernando Pagan-Small Business - CAGE: 9VW65 6.RV Global Solutions- HUBZone - CAGE: 6TC84

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The six interested vendors were evaluated and determined to not have access to Titan Robotics Inc proprietary data nor authorized to perform cyber security software support on Titan Robotics systems, therefore all vendors were determined not capable.

The overall cost of this acquisition will be negotiated in accordance with procedures in FAR Part 12 and FAR 13.106-3(a)(2) and include a statement of price reasonableness confirming the ultimate price to the Government is fair and reasonable. Additional pricing methodologies to negotiate fair and reasonable price may include reviewing publicly offered catalogs, comparison to historical contractor sales, and/or analysis of limited cost or pricing information provided by the contractor. In the event that limited cost or pricing information is made available, the Government's negotiation objective will be developed using local technical analysis and direct and indirect rate factors recommended by the Defense Contract Management Agency.

Market research was conducted from 22 November 2023 - 01 May 2024 in accordance with FAR Part

10.001 and 10.002. The Market Research Report was completed on 01 May 2024. The market research techniques used are as follows:

As described in Section VI, a SSS was posted to SAM.gov on 26 March 2024 with responses due by 25 April 2024. Six interested vendors responded to the SSS. All vendors were evaluated for their capability and determined not capable.

A Small Business Administration (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) query was conducted using NAICS Code 513210 - Software Publishers with keywords: Cybersecurity software.

This query resulted in thirteen (13) small businesses.

A General Services Administration (GSA) 2nd Generation Information Technology (2GIT) and Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) query were conducted however neither search yielded any capable vendors.

The Titan Robotics system is considered a commercial item as defined in FAR 2.101. The Titan Robotics System is used by both the military and the commercial aviation industry.

The market research concluded Titan Robotics is the only vendor capable of fulfilling the Government's requirement.

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See Section VI above.

In an effort to remove or overcome such a barrier to competition in the future, the market will be scanned frequently for new companies that can satisfy the Government's requirements. Where possible, the Government will prepare future requirement descriptions suitable for full and open competition. Currently, Robins AFB does not have the organic capability to perform the cyber security software support on the Titan Robotics Systems.

The plan to remove barriers to competition in the prior SSJ was to “…continue to monitor the marketplace for companies that can provide this cybersecurity software and support (i.e. for the Titan Robotic system).” This plan was completed via the posting of a SSS on SAM.gov. In addition, market research was conducted via queries on SBA DSBS, GSA 2GIT, and ESI. Based on fulfillment of the prior plan, this SSJ does not require higher level approval in accordance with DFARS 213.501(a)(1).

As evidenced by his/her signature, the contracting officer has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

As evidenced by their signatures, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.