FD20602600586_Redacted.pdf

Department of the Air Force: Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

CUI

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I. Agency and Contracting Activity (RFO 6.104-1(a)(1)):

This Justification and Approval requests authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition for requirements generated for the Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC), 638th Supply Chain Management Group (SCMG), 411th Supply Chain Management Squadron (SCMS)/GULAA. The Contracting Authority for this requirement is Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Robins Air Force Base. The PR Number is

FD20602600586.

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved (RFO 6.104-1(a)(2)):

This document approves the award of a Firm Fixed Price One-time buy on a sole source basis as prescribed by RFO 6.103-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency In Accordance With (IAW) the Urgent Justification Letter dated 24 April 2026 which is approved by the Squadron Director, Mr. Joseph Hudson. This action will result in the award of a one-time procurement contract for 171ea assets to be delivered starting October 30 2026 to Air Cruisers Company, LLC (CAGE 71067) LRU-33/A 20 Man Life Raft, Inflatable (also known as life raft, inflatable), NSN 4220-01-505-8727SO in support of the AC/HC/MC-130 aircraft with delivery scheduled to conclude within the 13 monthly Period of Performance of this effort. This justification is made on an Individual basis.

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

Air Cruisers Company, LLC

1747 State Route 34

Wall Township, New Jersey 07727-3935

Large Business

CAGE 70167

Air Cruisers delivery email 19 May 2026 stating they have capacity at two facilities to expedite delivery of the Life Rafts that required 171 life rafts within 12 months .

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (RFO 6.104-1(a)(3)):

This acquisition is for a one-time purchase. The total buy value is estimated to be $ .This will be executed utilizing a Firm Fixed Price one-time contract utilizing RFO 6.103-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2), which states that "Agencies may contract without providing for full and open competition when the agency's need for the supplies or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured, financially or otherwise, unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits or proposals." It will be executed as a sole source award to Air Cruisers Company, LLC (CAGE 70167).

Additional details for this effort are summarized in below.

NSN: 4220-01-505-8727S0 Noun: Life Raft, Inflatable (AKA LRU-33/A Person Life Raft, Inflatable)

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Unit Price: $ QTY:171ea

Total Cost: $

The unit price of $ was derived from Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) that was received direct from Air Cruisers Company, LLC. In addition, it was compared to current price data in Service Parts Management (SPM) for reasonableness which is currently reflecting $

Sole Source to:

Air Cruisers Company LLC 1747 State Route 34 Wall Township, New Jersey 07727-395 Large Business

CAGE 70167

This effort will utilize Working Capital Funds, Appropriation Code 4930.

IV. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(4)):

10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(2), Unusual and compelling urgency.

V. Rationale for Use of Authority (RFO 6.104-1(a)(5)):

The Government does not own or have access to the data for this item. Air Cruiser Company, LLC (CAGE 70167) is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for this asset and the data for this asset is proprietary to their company. These requirements cannot be met by the commercial market sector and Air Cruisers Company, LLC is the only qualified source.

The AMC/AMSC for this NSN is 3/R

AMC 3-Acquire, for the second or subsequent time, directly from the actual manufacturer.

AMSC R-The Government does not own the data or the rights to the data needed to purchase this part from additional sources. It has been determined to be uneconomical to buy the data or rights to the data. It is uneconomical to reverse engineer the part. This code is used when the Government did not initially purchase the data and/or rights. If only one source has the rights or data to manufacture this item, AMCs 3, 4, or 5 are valid. If two or more sources have the rights or data to manufacture this item, AMCs 1 or 2 are valid.

The critical urgency of this acquisition is driven by three compounding factors:

• Reduction in Asset Shelf Life: A recent technical directive reduced the maximum allowable shelf life of these life rafts from 15 years to 12 years. This regulatory change instantly triggered the mandatory condemnation of a significant portion of currentshelf stock, turning standard inventory cycles into an

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• Active High-Priority Back Orders: Because existing stock had to be condemned immediately, the program is experiencing an acute shortage. Multiple H/M/AC-130J aircraft are currently operating with outstanding Back Orders for these essential survival systems, directly impacting squadron readiness. Anticipated future demand in support of Operation Epic Fury and Personnel Recovery will be 16 monthly.

• Immediate Mission and Seasonal Demands: The H/M/AC-130J fleet is actively deployed in high-tempo readiness environments,including direct support of Operation Epic Fury. Furthermore, the rapid approach of the hurricane season exponentially increases the likelihood of over water search and rescue (SAR) and humanitarian relief operations, making fully certified life-saving equipment an immediate operational necessity.

Procuring these rafts from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) on a sole-source basis is the only viable method to prevent an active safety-of-flight deficiency. Qualifying alternate sources at this juncture is highly detrimental to the government's interests for the following reasons:

• Prohibitive Qualification and Testing Timelines: As critical life-saving equipment, any alternate source would be required to undergo rigorous engineering evaluation, environmental testing, and airworthiness certification. This qualification process typically spans 12 to 24 months, an unacceptable timeline when the fleet requires immediate delivery to maintain operational status.

• Unacceptable Operational Delays: Merely initiating a competitive source-qualification effort would introduce catastrophic delays into the supply chain. During the time required to solicit, evaluate, and qualify a non-OEM source, the H/M/AC-130J fleet would be left without adequate survival equipment during peak hurricane season and active contingency operations.

• Proprietary Technical Data: The OEM retains proprietary rights to the specific design, materials, and manufacturing tolerances required to meet the precise physical footprint and deployment parameters of the H/M/AC-130J survival stations.

VI. Integrated Market Analysis and Efforts to Solicit Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(6), (8), and (10)):

This will be executed utilizing a Firm Fixed Price one-time contract utilizing RFO 6.103-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2), which states that "Agencies may contract without providing for full and open competition when the agency's need for the supplies or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured, financially or otherwise, unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits or proposals."

A Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) was posted to SAM.Gov under #SPRWA1-26-00586 on April 23, 2026 which closed on April 30, 2026. Both Air Cruisers Company, LLC and The Wing Group/Patten responded showing interest. Air Cruisers LLC responded on April 24, 2026 that Air Cruises DBA SEV has been manufacturing the LRU-33/A Life Raft - NSN:4220-01-505-8727SO (Part Number 65260-103), for more than 20 years with a perfect Safety Record. Air Cruisers LLC stated that, that Air Cruisers Company, LLC, dba SafranAerosystems Evacuation can provide the U.S. Air Force with top level drawings for our 20-person C-130 life raft (P/N 65260-103). They are not able to provide additional detail drawings as they contain proprietary IP data, however. The Wing Group/Patten responded on April 29, 2026. Wing Group/

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Patten CO. stated they are currently a trusted and reliable supplier for Life Rafts including the F2-B NSN 4220-00-563-3567 and LRU-33A/AMPLR-20C-130J NSN 4220-01-687-0178. The Logistics Manager inquired if either would be willing to sell the data to which, Wing Group/Patten stated they would.

However Engineering has determined that The Wing Group/Patten is not able to compete for this acquisition due to their variation of life raft not being approved by the United States Air Force (USAF).

This requirement is NSN specific to NSN4220-01-505-8727SO and in order for the Wing Group/Patten to qualify their life raft they would have to complete the actions listed below which at the date of completion, they have not. The Wing Group/ Patten's NSN does not match the LRU-33/A Life Raft.

While Wing Group/Patten has come forward requesting to compete for this effort in response to the SSS, at this time Engineering, who has Operational Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E) has concurred that they have not provided the required documentation to become qualified with the USAF and therefore are not a viable source. If The Wing Group/Patten would like to be considered for future requirements they would need to provide the following and the Government would need to complete the following:

Requirements:

1. Receive full approval letter from the Navy.

2. Technical data proving the raft meets the specification.

3. Full drawing package from Patten.

4. Full Technical Order package from Patten.

5. Depot training from Patton.

Time Line

1. Configuration Control Board process (6-8 months).

2. Technical Update (3 months)

3. Process Manual updates for Depot (6-9 months)

4. Depot activation of new raft (12 months)

5. Contracting process (12-18 months)

Patten's F2-B NSN: 4220-00-563-3567 and LRU-33A/A (MPLR-20 C-130J) NSN: 4220-01-687-0178 are only Qualified with the US Navy.

Air Cruisers Company, LLC is the only qualified source capable of providing the specific NSN required without the U.S. Air Force experiencing unacceptable delays in fulfilling its current requirements. This is due to the current Urgent requirements of the Air Force supporting increased demand in direct support of readiness operation due to the reduced life cycle of the asset.

VII. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost (RFO 6.104-1(a)(7)):

The Contracting Officer is responsible for evaluating, determining, and documenting the anticipated contract cost/price is fair and reasonable in accordance with RFO Subpart 15.4, Contract Pricing.

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VIII. Any Other Facts Supporting the Justification (RFO 6.104-1(a)(9)):

Air Cruisers Company, LLC has been manufacturing the LRU-33/A life raft - NSN: 4220-01-505-8727SO (Part Number 65260-103), for more than 20 years with a perfect safety record. The LRU-33A fully complies with all requirements of MIL-PRF-18494F, providing out-of-water support for 20 people plus a 50% overload safety factor. Their dual tube design includes a self-erecting canopy, dual boarding ramps that support up to 200 lbs., and an insulated foam lined floor. A single carbon wrapped zero-leak inflation cylinder is used to inflate the life raft, canopy arch tube and boarding ramps in less than 30 seconds, providing immediate protection from the elements. The oversized ballast system provides superior stability with built in support to ensure the ballast bags fill rapidly when the raft is deployed, a feature not found in competitive rafts.

Air Cruisers provided the estimated cost on one each quantity Life Raft with the cost of $ The total cost will be $ for the quantity of 171 Life Rafts.

While The Wing Group/Patten is certified through the USN for NSNs: 4220-00-563-3567 and 4220-01-687-0178, they are not certified with the USAF and their specific NSN is not the same. This effort is NSN specific as a new configuration would require Operational Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E)qualification and approval through the steps listed in Section V. At this The Wing Group/Patten has not completed these requirements.

Failure to award this urgent requirement direct to Air Cruisers Company, LLC would result in the USAFs inability to meet immediate demands in direct support of Operation Epic Fury as well as to be able to conduct Personnel Recovery with hurricane season rapidly approaching.

Government harm, Operating an AC/MC-130J without its full complement of four life rafts strictly prohibits the aircraft from conducting over water flights, a restriction that severely degrades Special Operations Forces (SOF) mission readiness. This limitation directly compromises the MC-130J's ability to execute critical aerial refueling for HH-60G/W Combat Search and Rescue operations, while also crippling the AC-130J's capacity to deliver decisive, precision firepower. Ultimately, the inability to project these vital capabilities across ocean waters jeopardizes mission success and directly risks the lives of warfighters supporting real-world contingencies, including Operation Epic Fury.

IX. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition (RFO 6.104-1(a)(11):

A sole-source contract award to the Original Equipment Manufacturer, Air Cruisers Company, LLC, is critical and fully justified due to immediate operational demands. Procuring these assets without delay is necessary to support Operation Epic Fury and to ensure the execution of Personnel Recovery missions during the rapidly approaching hurricane season. Failure to award this urgent requirement directly to Air Cruisers would result in the USAF's inability to meet these life-saving and contingency mission requirements.

While the Government previously anticipated that the Patten Company (now The Wing Group/Patten) would be a viable competitor for future buys following their 2023 USN certification, they remain uncertified by the USAF. Pursuant to the Operational Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E) authority under AFLCMC/WIU Engineering, Patten has not provided the mandatory documentation to be

April 2026 CUI Page 7 of 7April 2026 CUI Page 7 of 7 considered an approved source. Specifically, they have failed to supply the technical data proving they meet required specifications, a full drawing package, a full technical order package, and the necessary depot training documentation. Furthermore, Patten's 2023 USN-certified life raft was manufactured in grey, which is a technically unacceptable configuration for the Air Force. USAF life rafts must possess high-visibility coloring to provide stark contrast against ocean water, which is a critical requirement for rapid aerial spotting during search and rescue operations.

In addition to these technical and documentation deficiencies, the administrative and engineering lead time required to qualify a new vendor is fundamentally incompatible with current operational urgency. Even if a vendor were to correct design flaws and submit all required documentation immediately, the USAF onboarding process, which encompasses configuration boards, technical and manual updates, depot activation, and contracting processes --requires an estimated 39 to 50 months to complete. The USAF cannot absorb a three-to-four-year delay for equipment required for immediate, real-world operations.

Despite this urgent sole-source requirement, the Government remains committed to removing barriers to competition for future acquisitions. The Government will continue to engage Air Cruisers Company, LLC to determine if they are willing to sell their Technical Data Package at a reasonable cost.

Additionally, the market will remain open to any vendor willing to meet the strict design specifications, submit the required OSS&E documentation, and undergo the 39- to 50-month qualification process, ensuring that future procurements can benefit from full and open competition once additional sources are fully vetted and activated.