Redacted_JA_Medium_Power_RAM.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16

NOTE: If a Justification and Approval was approved for the preceding acquisition, a copy of the approved J&A for the predecessor action must be included in the staff package for approval of the instant J&A. This applies to J&A staff packages that are submitted for review and approval at a level above the contracting officer. The predecessor J&A will be used as a reference document by the approving official.

Choose the funding level for this J&A Document:

< $700K > $700K and < $13.5M > $13.5M and < $93M > $93M

Contracting Activity: AFTC/PZIEB

Purchase Request / Local ID Number: F1S0AX6117B001

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): Medium Power Radar Absorbing Material (RAM) Replacement

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): Other Contracting

Authority (include full title): FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii)

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): J&A Type: Class Individual

COORDINATION (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

10 May 2016

Contracting Officer Michele D. Cameron

Signature

Date

04/25/2016

Project Lead / Program Mgr / Requiring Activity

Signature

APPROVAL (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

10 May 2016

Contracting Officer Michele D. Cameron

Signature

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16

I. Contracting Activity.

Air Force Test Center (AFTC), Directorate of Contracting, AFTC/PK, 5 South Wolfe Avenue, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1185. The following information is provided as justification for other than full and open competition. The purchase request (PR) for this acquisition is F1S0AX6117B001.

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

This acquisition is anticipated to result in a new firm-fixed-price contract for a total of 2,107 pieces of 24 inches long by 24 inches wide by 24 inches high pyramidal Medium Power radar absorbing material (RAM) and associated radio frequency (RF) Power Handling testing, RF Reflectivity testing and NRL 8093 fire retardant testing at an estimated cost of

The proposed contractor is:

PPG Aerospace/Cuming Microwave Corporation.

264 Bodwell Street Avon, MA 02322

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

Acquisition of Part Number C-RAM SFC-24MP, Quantity of 2,107 pieces (each) of 24 inches long by 24 inches wide by 24 inches high pyramidal Medium Power RAM, at an estimated cost of each (total of ) and testing of power handling of 1 piece of RAM per lot of 252 pieces (9 pieces tested) at 1.5W/in^2 and 2.0W/in^2 at an estimated cost of for a total estimated acquisition cost of Estimated delivery date is 1 October 2016 or 12 weeks ARO, whichever is earlier. 3600 appropriations will fund this effort.

IV. Statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii), which allows other than full and open competition when the supplies or services requested by the agency are available from only one responsible source.

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 772 TS manages testing in the Benefield Anechoic Facility (BAF). The BAF hosts a complete RF chamber environment for a variety of electronic warfare testing which offers synchronized environment monitoring with flexible real-time displays and data reporting for tailored customer applications. The 772 TS has a requirement to provide electromagnetic energy absorption in the medium power handling range for use in the BAF in support of RF testing. This capability requires increased power handling performance to accommodate higher power systems, without major degradation of performance across frequency. The overall use of RAM is to eliminate multi-path reflections back to the System under Test (SUT). This RAM must be of open-cell foam with proportionally consistent pore sizes to help dissipate the heat generated by higher power energy. Market research (which includes vendor site visits, previously purchase RAM functionality, Internet searches, technical evaluations of prior vendor proposals, and attendance at the Antenna Measurements Techniques Association (AMTA) Symposium where discussions with four (4) different RAM manufacturers took place) indicates that only Cuming Microwave has the ability to meet the the power handling requirements of the RAM and is the only company that is able to produce the necessary data proving the product meets the 772 TS unique specifications. Other RAM manufacturers do not have the capability to test the RAM to 772 TS specifications or the foam will not withstand the Medium Power requirements.

Cuming Microwave was previously awarded contracts for Medium Power RAM under contracts FA9302-12-M-K037 and FA9302-14-M-K019. In an effort to maintain power uniformity and specific RAM power requirements during customer testing, the Cuming Microwave product will ensure consistency in power handling performance throughout the Chamber.

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16

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

Effort to locate potential vendors by the acquisition team were made. The following companies responded: AEMI, AP Americas, ETS Lindgren, and Cuming Microwave. However only Cuming Microwave was considered technically acceptable to meet the government requirement.

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

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for this acquisition will be fair and reasonable, and the proposal will be evaluated using price analysis for commercial items in accordance with FAR Part 13.106-3. The proposed price will be compared to similar RAM previously sold by Cuming Microwave to the Government under Contracts FA9302-12-M-K037 and FA9302-14-M-K019, as well as to any other companies or agencies that may have previously purchased the same or similar items. These items have been determined to be commercial items; therefore, IAW FAR 15.403-4, certified cost and pricing data is not required. However, other than certified cost and pricing data will be requested to aide in the price analysis.

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

As mentioned in Section V, market research involved attending the AMTA Symposium and meeting with four (4) different RAM manufacturing companies to discuss vendor capabilities for manufacturing and testing of Medium Power RAM to meet the 772 TS specifications. The four companies included PPG Aerospace/Cuming Microwave, Advanced Electromagnetics, Inc. (AEMI), ETS Lindgren and TDK. Three of the vendors (AEMI, ETS Lindgren and TDK) have not proven or provided documentation/data that their RAM meets the 772 TS specifications.

On 15 December 2015, representatives from the 772 TS made a site visit to AEMI in Santee, California to evaluate their capability to manufacture and test a product to meet the Medium Power RAM requirements. AEMI did not have a product to show us but they pitched a design concept that did not demonstrate a power measurement method. AEMI was unable to produce any data to support our Medium Power needs.

Additionally, past technical evaluations on AEMI, ETS Lindgren, and TDK for previously awarded contract FA9302-14-M-K019 were reviewed to help substantiate the recent market research. Internet searches were performed to find out if any new companies had joined the market and none were found to meet specifications.

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

Cuming Microwave Corporation has also successfully met contractual agreements on FA9302-14-M-K014 and FA9302-12- C-0008. Cuming Microwave has the ability to meet mission schedules and most importantly, mission requirements and specifications for the unique power handling properties that no other company has been able to meet.

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

AEMI has expressed interest in providing RAM to the 772 TS, but has not been able to provide satisfactory data to prove their product's performance is able to meet 772 TS specifications, specifically in regards to power handling and reflectivity.

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.

Due to the unique capability of PPG Aerospace/Cuming Microwave Corporation to provide the required RAM, ongoing market research will be conducted to identify any additional potential sources for future requirements. Market research will consist of Internet searches, review of GSA products, manufacturers and catalogs, technical publications, attending trade shows and symposiums like AMTA Symposium, as well as contacting known RAM vendors to determine vendor capability to provide the necessary power handling capability vital to BAF testing.

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104

Source Selection Sensitive - see FAR 2.101 and FAR 3.104Updated: 15 Mar 16

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