FY26 Merlin Sole Source Justification_Redacted.pdf

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

July 2025 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 2 of 3July 2025 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 2 of 3

I. Contracting Activity.

590th Contracting Squadron, Whiteman AFB MO 65305

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

The 509th Bomb Wing Safety Office is responsible for ensuring the MERLIN Avian Radar System remains working and in good order for use by Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB). The Bomb Wing Safety Office is requesting a five year extended service agreement for its current MERLIN Avian Radar System. The cost for this request is $35,500 for the first year, $35,500 the second year and $38,500 each year, for the remaining three years.

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

The Bomb Wing Safety Office and Air Traffic Control frequently utilize the MERLIN Avian Radar System to monitor daily avian activity on and near the runway during flying operations. This extended service agreement includes all costs for labor, materials and other costs for system preventive maintenance, and repair or replacement of any failed parts or component for the MERLIN Avian Radar System. Additionally, DeTect, Inc. will provide remote system monitoring, software upgrades and maintenance, and 24-7 telephone and internet technical support.

Without this service agreement, Whiteman AFB and the flying community could face extended downtime during unexpected repairs while funding is secured.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is located in 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (1), Contracts: Competition Requirements in accordance with FAR – Part 6 Competition Requirements, section 6.302-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

This purchase will be made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures and Other Than Full and Open Competition as authorized by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(A) – Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

DeTect, Inc. manufactured the MERLIN Avian Radar System and holds proprietary technical data and parts required to provide MERLIN Avian Radar System maintenance and repair, with no authorized representatives or distributors to provide service on the system in place. Due to the system’s unique and highly specialized equipment, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

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

Market research indicated that this specific aviation system is not manufactured or sold by any other vendor. The MERLIN Bird System is exclusively manufactured and maintained by DeTect Inc. Any means to use another vendor would come at a much higher price to the Government due to the need to duplicate the system already in place. This maintenance service can only be satisfied by one source.

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

DeTect Inc. is the current sole source provider of this same system to Whiteman AFB MO.

Fair and Reasonable price will be determined using any of the techniques outlined in FAR 13.106-3(a) (2), for example: using comparison of the proposed price with prices found reasonable on previous purchases, A comparison with similar items in a related industry, or market research. The contract

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

July 2025 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 3July 2025 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 3 awarded in 2020 was $17K less for the first two years, and $3K less for the remaining 3 years; than the estimated value for this contract. As such the CO will take into consideration inflation since that time if using this data point as a means to make the determination.

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

No other source can be used for this service unless DeTect Inc. shares their design with another company. Any means to bring in another vendor can more then double the cost of the current contract. Considerable consideration was given to other similar systems. A sources sought was posted to SAM.gov on 8 Sep 25 and received no indication of interested vendors with the capability to perform the service on the current system. Due to the current use of DeTect, Inc. MERLIN Avian Radar System, and the knowledge base of these systems with the users, other courses of action will not provide the same economic value at this time. Market Research did not reveal a product with adequate/regulatory requirements without the purchase of similarly expensive hardware. At the end of the current life cycle of existing equipment and software, consideration will be given.

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

DeTect Inc has been the sole source provider of the software for the radar system for over 5 years to Whiteman AFB MO. To replace the system from MERLIN Avian Radar System to something different, means the entire system would have to be replaced. As well as the additional training hours needed to train all users to use the new system. This would cost in the range of $1M or more to switch vendors and hardware/software platforms. This cost estimation is over double the cost of the service for the full five years.

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

N/A

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.

See Section VIII and IX above.

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