HACM_WTT_JA_REDACTEDv2.pdf

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The contracting activity for this individual Justification and Approval (J&A) for an Other Than Full and Open Competition action is the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Eglin Operating Location, Rapid Acquisition Cell (AFLCMC/EBX), Eglin AFB, FL 32542.

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

This individual J&A supports a new contract action in support of the Wind Tunnel Testing for Hypersonic Weapon Inlet Cover Ejection Test Support under the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) program within EBX. The anticipated contract type will be CPFF. Under this J&A, AFLCMC/EBX contemplates the contract action described below.

This acquisition will result in an estimated $1.4M definitive contract with one (1) pre-priced option period for an additional test awarded to CUBRC, Inc., 4455 Genesee Street, Suite 106, Buffalo, NY 14225. The base period of performance will be July 2024 - November 2024, with an option period from January 2025 - May 2025. If there are more capable facilities identified in the future, efforts of this nature will be competed. Contract award is anticipated to be in July 2024.

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

The HACM program requires a blow-down wind tunnel facility capable of matching altitude versus velocity conditions. Wind tunnel tests will require a release of an inlet cover from a full-scale test article to verify on the ground the operation of the systems involved in the cover release event. This wind tunnel test will generate a set of data, in the form of high-speed visible and infrared video, position, and attitude tracking data of the released cover. It will also generate discrete sensor data in the form of pressure, heat flux, and acceleration. This facility must be able to conduct a full-scale model wind tunnel test.

IV. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above.

CUBRC has demonstrated the ability to create the full test environment as required by the Government. The company has demonstrated, on a previous test series, an ability to produce the requested test data products on a full-scale preliminary HACM vehicle model. Additionally, the HACM prime contractor, Raytheon Company, has previously subcontracted with CUBRC to produce the full-scale wind tunnel model to be used for this ejection test series. The CUBRC Aerosciences LENS II ground test facility is the only known hypersonic ground test facility with a demonstrated capability to successfully test the full-scale, flight weight and qualified HACM inlet cover systems. Due to the Government's specific requirement CUBRC appears to be the only contractor capable of providing the services described in Section III above.

V. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under

FAR 5.202 applies.

The Government conducted market research seeking capabilities statements from potential sources, including small businesses (SB), 8(a), HUBZone, Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned (EDWOSB), Woman-Owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOSB) small business that are capable of conducting full-scale model wind tunnel testing for the HACM program.

Small businesses with only partial capabilities of this requirement were also encouraged to submit their capabilities statements demonstrating the portion of the requirement they were capable of providing/

August 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 5August 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 3 of 5 performing. This information would allow the Government to identify areas of possible breakout or possible subcontracting opportunities.

The Sources Sought was posted on SAM.gov on 4 April 2024 requesting capability statements for the requirement to be submitted by 6 May 2024.

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

Prior to award the Contracting Officer will ensure that the proposed price(s)/cost(s) to the Government are fair and reasonable. The following steps will be taken to ensure that the negotiated price/cost is fair and reasonable:

(1) accomplishing a price analysis by comparing proposed prices to recent contract actions for like items; (2) accomplishing a cost analysis by comparing proposed individual cost elements to recent contract actions for like items; (3) using rates set forth in the current Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) and/or Forward Pricing Rate Recommendation (FPRR); (4) analysis by DCMA/DCAA; (5) technical evaluation from the Program Manager that evaluates the proposed labor mix, hours, materials, travel, and shipping for reasonableness; (6) using the Weighted Guidelines tool to determine the appropriate profit/fee; and (7) in accordance with the Truthful Cost and Pricing Statute and FAR 15.403-4, upon conclusion of negotiations, the Contracting Officer will obtain a Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data from the contractor, as applicable. The Contracting Officer will comply with the procedures and criteria contained in FAR Part 30 - Cost Accounting Standards, Part 31 - Contract Cost Principles and Procedures, and Subpart 15.4 - Contract Pricing. The Price Negotiation Memorandum (PNM) will detail the cost/price analysis, document how the price was determined to be fair and reasonable and disclose the final justification for the determination of price reasonableness.

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

On 4 April 2024, the HACM program office released a sources sought synopsis, FA8656-24-HACM-SS_Wind- Tunnel-Testing on SAM.gov for Primary Inlet Cover Ejection Wind Tunnel Test. This requirement will provide the HACM program with a blow-down wind tunnel facility capable of matching altitude versus velocity conditions and testing the release of an inlet cover from a full-scale test article to verify on the ground the operation of the systems involved in the cover release event.

The responses, due 6 May 2024, identified six (6) potentially capable contractors: one (1) large business, four (4) small businesses, and one (1) not-for--profit business.

CUBRC - The company demonstrated the ability to create the full test environment as required by the Government. CUBRC has performed previous wind tunnel testing for HACM and appears to have the only US facility capable of producing the flow conditions, test dimensions, and instrumentation required to execute the test.

- Not Capable. While the contractor did demonstrate experience in scale model separation events, the sources sought was not seeking a company to test a SCALED version of the HACM inlet cover.

The Government is seeking a company with the ability to test a full-scale model Inlet Cover Ejection Wind Tunnel Test. The contractor has no demonstrated experience of HACM testing.

- Not Capable. The contractor does not have an established partnership with a tunnel facility to be able to execute the tests required for the effort. The contractor did not submit a formal capabilities statement in response to the sources sought but expressed interest via email correspondence. The contractor has no demonstrated experience of HACM testing.

- Not Capable. demonstrated experience with image processing, object tracking, test design, and analysis. states that they would have to partner with a large company that

August 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 4 of 5August 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 4 of 5 operates a test facility. The Government does not need someone to conduct a wind tunnel test on our behalf nor to conduct independent analysis of the test. The Government has Hypersonic Combined Test Force (HCTF) at Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) as Lead Developmental Test Organization (LDTO) if needed. The contractor has no demonstrated experience of HACM testing.

- Not Capable. The contractor submission did not explicitly demonstrate their prior experience with HACM or capability to provide/perform the requirement stated in the sources sought notice. The contractor did not submit a formal capabilities statement in response to the sources sought, but expressed interest via email correspondence that lacked any demonstrated understanding of the requirement.

- Not Capable. The contractor's available facilities, cannot meet the Government schedule to execute within this calendar year as a new-start entry and the Government's wind tunnel model is designed for a cold-flow tunnel rather than very high-temperature flow of They are not compatible and would require a new model production, an estimated additional six (6) months of required time as well as unacceptable cost increases.

Additionally, does not have a demonstrated mature optical tracking system that is required for our event.

While the contractor has a demonstrated history of testing similar systems, the contractor has no demonstrated experience of HACM testing.

Based on the available open-source Internet research and reinforced with formal sources sought announcement, CUBRC is the only US facility capable of producing the flow conditions, test dimensions, and instrumentation required to execute the test. Based on the classified nature of the test, non-US facilities were not evaluated. The HACM program office continues to monitor the marketplace for other hypersonic cruise missile weapon technology and support requirements.

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

The Government has a presence in the market for facilities that are capable of producing the required flow conditions and test scale, but the Government facilities are unable at present to eject components into the tunnel flow and are thus not viable for this test series.

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

1. CUBRC, INC.

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X. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

The Government awarded the HACM-SCIFiRE contract (FA8656-22-F-A071) with the intent of receiving the appropriate rights to the technical data. The Government also required that the HACM system comply with the Weapons Open System Architecture (WOSA) to ensure logical interfaces are open and the Government retains technical data rights. This will enable future competition at the subcomponent level. However, the program is still too early in its development for that to occur. There are no intellectual property considerations to address in

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XI. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XII. 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.