B1 HQ0516-23-R-0101 (Radio Studio Refresh)_JA Redacted.pdf

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SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.501*

(*Format follows FAR 6.303-2, but modified to reflect FAR Subpart 13.5 procedures)

Purchase Request Number:

Contract Number: TBD Task/Delivery Order Number: N/A Procurement Title: 23SPD-2536-01 Radio Studio Tech Refresh - OCONUS Contracting Office: DMA Acquisition & Procurement 6700 Taylor Ave. Ft. Meade 20755 Estimated Value:

Statutory Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii)

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as the Contracting Officer, hereby approve the use of other than full and open competition of the proposed contractual action pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii),, as the particular brand-name product or feature is essential to the G requirements, and market research indica

1. REQUIRING AGENCY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE:

Requesting Agency:

Defense Media Activity (DMA) Mission Support 6700 Taylor Ave Fort Meade, MD 20755

Contracting Office:

Defense Media Activity (DMA) Acquisition and Procurement 6700 Taylor Ave Fort Meade, MD 20755

2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACTION(S):

The requirement is to procure commercial off-the-shelf equipment and materials as well as brand name equipment and software like currently installed and configured at DMA Fort Meade and DMA Riverside. This requirement will be awarded as a firm fixed price contract using FY23 OP funds.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

This requirement is for a modular Audio over IP Router System (AoIPRS), with Studio Consoles capable of audio and control routing while interfacing with GFE embedded Broadcast Electronics AudioVault automation systems for AFN Stations and Regional Locations as it is a continuation of recent technology purchases, Audio over IP Routing System (AoIPRS) and at

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4. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 41 United States Code 1901 as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.501(a)(1)(ii), Brand Name Sole Source Acquisitions using Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services

A portion of this procurement action items can be satisfied by a multitude of manufacturers and vendors. However, the remaining gear has distinct technical requirements that can only be satisfied by one manufacturer: Wheatstone Corporation, and the use of their proprietary Audio over Internet Protocol (AoIP) technology:

�WheatNet-IP is a network system that utilizes Internet Protocol to enable audio to be intelligently distributed to devices across scalable networks. It enables all audio sources to be available to all devices (such as mixing consoles, control surfaces, software controllers, automation devices, etc) and controlled from any and all devices. WheatNet-IP is AES67 compatible, yet is unique in that it represents an entire end-to-end solution, complete with audio transport, full control, and a toolset to enable exceptionally intelligent deployment and operation.�

- WheatNet-IP-Technology-Overview

WheatNet capable gear comprising radio studio mixer consoles; microphone, analog, and digital audio processors; routing control panels; monitoring applications; configuration and control software; and workstation audio drivers are proprietary items required for this procurement action. These proprietary items are only available from the original hardware manufacturer, Wheatstone Corporation, through the vendor market and therefore precludes consideration of any other brand.

(a) Description of events.

The DMA provides comprehensive internal and external information to the entire Department of Defense through a number of mediums, the most relevant to this procurement action being radio. Through radio, DMA communicates messages and themes from the Secretary of Defense, Service Secretaries, as well as Combatant and Field Commanders to deployed US forces and their families in order to support and improve quality of life, morale, situational awareness, and sustain readiness.

attended to by three subordinate organizations:

Performs a wide array of post-production functions on programming acquired from sources including U.S.

commercial and public broadcast networks, independent producers, and programming distributors. This AFN programming is distributed to DMA

Page 8 of 15 Pages built and installed new radio automation servers and the WheatNet audio processing interfaces at .

In 2020, an near identical ERAS Continuity of Operations (COOP) system was awarded, . Awarded to , this system is being installed at and is near completion.

Also in need of a technical refresh was the DMA enterprise audio infrastructure. In 2021, DMA awarded contract

. This contract refreshes the audio infrastructure at and establish the COOP audio infrastructure at both interfacing with and supporting the ERAS procurements noted above. This required the audio infrastructure to employ the proprietary WheatNet AoIP technology noted previously.

(b) Justification.

(1) Minimum Government requirements.

The requirements for this procurement action are for radio studio gear for the twenty-five overseas AFN stations mentioned in section 5(a) above. Twenty-three of the stations have two studios, and two stations have three studios for operator gear. All twenty-five stations have a technical control space for back-office gear.

Section 3 above, Description of Supplies, provides a detailed list of equipment.

The proprietary gear manufactured by Wheatstone:

Processes and routes the radio studio systems source audios to destinations for playback, recording, monitoring, and distribution all using WheatNet AoIP Technology.

This is comprised of:

o Radio mixer consoles, o Audio processors accepting inputs from sources and providing outputs to destinations, o Control interfaces, o Monitoring, configuration, and control applications, and o WheatNet audio drivers.

Gear that must interface with WheatNet AoIP Technology:

Eventide profanity delay: allows DJ to mute studio audio for sneezes and FCC regulated language before being broadcast.

Other gear:

Telos Hx6 Six-Line Talkshow System: telephone hybrid system allowing for listening audience and guests to call into the radio show/event via telephone.

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(2) Proposed brand name:

Company: Wheatstone Corporation

Address: 600 Industrial Drive New Bern, NC 28560

(3) Discussion regarding cause of the brand name situation.

This procurement action addresses the Radio Studio Systems deployed at the mentioned in section 5(a) above. Today these aging sy technology. This is similar, proprietary, competing WheatNet AoIP technology. and WheatNet do not interface with each being able to be monitored and controlled by the new audio infrastructure at , which is proving to be a challenge.

AFN radio mission are located at . This staff is comprised of veteran civilians with years of experience with AFN radio and have a very low turnover

Broadcast Stations have a dwindling number or knowledgeable and experience veterans.

little to no operational and technical experience or knowledge on the radio systems at their respective stations. This troubling issue paired with the fact these military bodies turnover fairly quickly has resulted in a diminished level of industry and corporate knowledge at

AFN.

Compounding this issue is the fact the most experienced and knowledgeable SMEs in the AFN radio mission at are operating and supporting completely different technology, Wheatstone, from what This is not a negative statement about Axia, they have great technology and have served AFN well for many years now. But that does not help when every month AFN gets a new operator or technician that has never seen Axia before. That problem will still exist when Wheatstone is deployed experienced staff will be available to overseas Wheatstone systems.

This driver for the limited competition requirement would exist regardless of what AoIP Technology DMA had employed at its stateside broadcast facilities.

this justification would be stating the need for . If another competing AoIP technology manufacture had been selected for the ERAS system, likewise this justification would be for that proprietary technology. The important takeaway for this justification is:

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The AoIP technology to be tudios must be the same technology being utilized at the DMAR broadcasting facilities.

broadcast facilities at . To be compatible with these stateside broadcast facilities, so too shall the overseas AFN stations need to employ

. Likewise, DINFOS radio studios shall need to employ will be trained on the same gear deployed across the enterprise.

(4) Demonstration of unique source.

Wheatstone Corporation is the sole owner of the proprietary WheatNet AoIP. No other manufacturer is licensed or authorized to manufacture WheatNet capable audio mixers or routers. Therefore, the Wheatstone items listed in Section 3 above, Description of Supplies, are solely manufactured by Wheatstone Corporation and no others. However, there are a number of vendors available that can source Wheatstone equipment.

(5) Procurement discussion.

As noted above, a portion of the gear in this procurement action, must be compatible with the WheatNet AoIP technology system being utilized at .

This compatibility requirement constrains the noted gear solely to Wheatstone Corporation. No other manufacturer can provide this proprietary gear.

(6) Impact.

Failure to procure the required Wheatstone WheatNet AoIP technology will result in oversea radio studio systems being incompatible with stateside broadcast facilities and ultimately impact n. To identify and deploy a non- WheatNet solution would:

o o

6. SAM.GOV ANNOUNCEMENT/POTENTIAL SOURCES:

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In accordance with FAR 5.102(a)(6), this brand name justification and the solicitation of this requirement will be published under the Contract Opportunities on the SAM.gov website. All vendor responses to the notice received within the time limit will be considered.

7. DETERMINATION OF FAIR AND REASONABLE COST:

The contracting officer will make a final determination of fair and reasonable price based with the independent government cost estimate.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

Between Sept 2022 through March 2023, DMA conducted extensive research to determine the technical requirements necessary for this procurement as well as the commercial availability of products required for the functionality of the system. Some of the required items are brand name Wheatstone, for which a justification has been provided. Others are available through different characteristics are acceptable. All of the items are available through multiple resellers of audio/video equipment, including small business integrators. There is no competition available through existing GWACs or through GSA. It is recommended to set aside this procurement to small business through Open Market channels.

9. ANY OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS: N/A

10. LISTING OF INTERESTED SOURCES:

Company:

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11. ACTIONS THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME BARRIERS

THAT LED TO THE EXCEPTION TO FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

(a) Procurement History.

(b) Actions to Remove Barriers.

facilities at To be compatible with these stateside broadcast technology. Like

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CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

NAME: DATE:

TITLE/ORGANIZATION: Contracting Officer/ DMA A&P

PHONE:

PROCURING ACTIVITY COMPETITION ADVOCATE APPROVAL: I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Since this justification does not exceed $15M, this review serves as approval and my written determination that the aforementioned FAR circumstances apply.

NAME: DATE:

TITLE/ORGANIZATION: Competition Advocate

PHONE:

ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS JUSTIFICATION ARE TO BE REFERRED TO

Contract Specialist: Courtney Russell, courtney.r.russell.civ@mail.mil