sole_source_for_Persistent_Systems_-Final_Redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

<$150,000

1. Contracting Activity.

a. Requiring Activity:

b. Contracting Activity: AFRL/RIKO, 26 Electronic Pkwy, Rome NY 13441

c. Purchase Request #:

2. Nature and/or Description of Action.

a. Description of Requirement: Six (6) Man Portable Unit Gen 5 (MPU5) Wave Relay Radio Kits with hardware and accessories.

b. Sole source company:

POC: Adrien Robenhymer; 646-627-8156; arobenhymer@persistentsystems.com Persistent Systems, LLC 5042 Technology Parkway, Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO 80528

3. Description of Supplies or Service.

MPU5 Chassis, Qty: 6; S-Band RF Module, Qty: 6; GPS Antenna, Qty: 6; S-Band Gooseneck Antenna, Qty: 23; Juggernaut Case & Armor Mount, Qty: 10; USB Cable Assembly, Qty: 10; Galaxy S7 with Wave Relay APK, Qty: 10; HD Camera Kit, Qty: 2; Speaker Mic, Qty: 11; Audio Cable, Qty: 6; Video Input Cable, Qty: 2;

HDMI Data Cable, Qty: 1; Ethernet Cable, Qty: 1; Micro USB Adapter Cable, Qty: 9; USB/Audio Cable, Qty: 5; Battery, Quantity: 6; Batter Charger, Qty:

6; Tier 1 2-year Warranty. Estimated value: $102,400.

4. Statutory Authority. 10 USC 2304(c)(1) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement.

5. Justification or Authority for Action.

The Wave Relay System is a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless MANET networking solution. The MPU5 is the Next Generation Wave Relay platform. Leveraging multiple leading edge technologies such as MIMO and Android, the MPU5 is a Smart Radio that delivers increased performance, reliability, and capability to the end user in a small, package that allows streaming multiple HD Video feeds, running commercial and custom apps, viewing situational awareness, and communicating with high quality audio all with a single device and a minimal number of accessories. This product is field proven and utilized by AFRL’s special operations customers and other military agencies and partner organizations. In order for AFRL’s to develop and test Android software applications designed for use by warfighters, this software must be field tested with the same exact hardware (in this case, MPU5 radio kits) being used by our end users prior to deployment to ensure suitability to military tactical operations.

The Wave Relay System is a networking solution in which there is no master node. If any device fails, the rest of the devices continue to communicate using any remaining connectivity. By eliminating master nodes, gateways, access points, and central coordinators from the design, Wave Relay delivers high levels of fault tolerance regardless of which nodes might fail. The system is designed to maximize the capacity of the RF spectrum and to minimize the network overhead. While optimizing efficiency, Wave Relay also implements techniques that increase multicast reliability. The advanced multicast functionality allows the system to support both multicast voice and video over IP. Wave Relay is designed to maintain high bandwidth connectivity among devices that are on the move. The system is scalable, enabling it to incorporate unlimited meshed devices into the wireless network, where the devices themselves form the communication infrastructure. Even in highly dynamic environments, the system is able to maintain connectivity by rapidly re-routing data as necessary. Wave Relay is a self-forming and self-healing network where nodes can move freely within the network. Critical information flows reliably throughout the network while individual data paths are able to adapt at sub-second intervals. This unique approach creates an ideal environment for maximizing performance across the available communications medium. These are extremely unique characteristics and capabilities that cannot be found in any alternative radio product offering.

The Government has determined that no other source can meet this requirement;

as the capabilities of the MPU5 Wave Relay. The Wave Relay is an advanced mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) solution that goes beyond the standard “self-forming” and “self-healing” mesh network and is an extremely capable tactical radio that offers unique features unavailable in other tactical communications systems that are proprietary products manufactured solely by Persistent Systems LLC. The MPU5 is the world's first Smart Radio with features and functions that include: Android Computer (1 GHz Quad Core Processor, 2GB RAM, 128 GB Flash), HD Video Encoder (3G-SDI, Composite, HDMI Inputs), HD Video Decoder (Hardware based H.264 Decoding), Push-to-Talk Voice (16 Channels of Voice), RoIP Radio Interface (Tether Legacy Radios into the Network), USB ((3) USB Ports) and 10/100 Ethernet (Network Devices). This product is field proven and utilized by AFRL’s Special Operations customers and other military agencies and partner organizations. In order for AFRL’s to develop and test Android software applications designed for use by warfighters, this software must be field tested with the same exact hardware (the MPU5 radio kits) currently being used by our end users prior to deployment in order to ensure suitability to military tactical operations.

If these products are not procured, this would adversely impact the risk of developing AFRL technology products that are not capable of being fielded and transitioned to the warfighter. Retrofitting the current inventory of WaveRelay radios with a different kind of radio ble duplication of cost to AFRL in the form of over required to train about a dozen personnel t and accessories at an estimated labor cost of .

6. Efforts Made to Ensure Offers are Solicited from as many Sources as Practicable.

A Notice of Contract Action (NOCA) was synopsized as a Pre-solicitation Notice on the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.FBO.gov) from 09-26 June 2017. No responses were received indicating that Persistent Systems LLC is the only source that can provide the Wave Relay Radio’s essential for this requirement.

http://www.fbo.gov/

7. The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. By a comparison of the commercial prices showing the Government discount, redacted invoices for price comparison and price comparison to previous awards for same/similar items.

8. Market Research/Other facts. Market research of the products and associated characteristics required for a contractor to provide a Wave Relay radio with the necessary performance characteristics has been conducted by the customer.

In conclusion, the attempts to acquire such a unique commercially available product from other sources would fail to yield favorable results. Pre-solicitation Notice, conclude the Government’s determination that no other known manufacturers or products exist that can fulfill this requirement.

9. Any other facts supporting Other than Full and Open Competition. NONE

10. List of Sources that have Expressed in Writing an Interest in the Procurement. Persistent Systems, LLC.

11. Statement of Actions to Remove/Overcome Barriers to Competition. AFRL/RISA will continue to research the market for changes in technology and availability of new products that are capable of meeting the Government’s needs for future acquisitions. Any company capable of providing a product which meets the required specifications will be considered for procurement.

12. Contracting Officer’s Certification. The contracting officer’s signature below evidences that he/she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

13. Technical / Requirements Personnel Certification. As evidenced by the signature below, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

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APPROVED / DISAPPROVED

CO R T G OFFICER