J_A.pdf

Sole Source Justification under $250K

PMD Number: FY22-31076

Department: S53

Company Name/Brand: FTG Aerospace, Inc.

Description of Product, Supplies or Services required to meet the agency’s needs:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Sea Sparrow Surface Missile System (NSSMS) procurement for quantity of 14 Flexible Backplane Assembly with part number G743981-2) located in the Tracker Illuminator System (TIS) MK 9 MOD 1/2 which is a part of MK 57

NSSMS. Specifically, a Flex Backplane Assembly is the main channel for communication and high voltage transfer from the Transmitter Controller cabinet to the power amplifier. The Flex

Backplane Assembly is populated with quantity of 12 DC/DC Power supply modules, Built-In-

Test Equipment Circuit Card Assemblies (CCAs), and DC Power Supplies.

Identification of Justification Rationale:

☒ The Material or service must be compatible will aspects (Form, Fit, and Function) with existing systems presently installed.

☐ A patent, copyright, proprietary data, or licensing agreement limits competition.

☒ These are “direct replacement(s)” parts/components for existing equipment.

☐ Urgency.

Identification of the Justification Rationale Explained: **If using form, fit, and function, describe the current equipment and how the new item/service must coordinate or interface.

**If using patent, copyright, proprietary data, describe the proprietary data. **If using direct replacement, describe this below.

The Flex Backplane Assembly is required to support sustainment and upcoming installations onboard Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier (CVN), Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) and

Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) class naval ships. NSSMS technical data package specifically identifies FTG Aerospace, Inc. as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). In addition

FTG Aerospace Inc., is listed on the onboard Allowance Parts List, technical manuals, supported by Naval Education and Training Curriculum and Naval Repair Facility Rotational Pool System.

This Flex Backplane Assembly has been previously tested and verified to be functional with the

MK73 MOD 3 Environmental Support cabinet. No other backplane assembly has been identified or verified to be functional with the Environmental Support cabinet. FTG Aerospace Inc.

confirmed they have no authorized resellers for this item.

Specific Characteristics of the Item or Service required that Limit the Availability to a Sole

Source or Brand Name: **This is the most important section. Explain in detail why this company or brand are the only ones that can meet the requirement.

FTG Aerospace Flex Backplane Assembly produces a (28" X 11.4") bookbinder rigid-flex

Printed Wiring Board that contains an epoxy glass resin or substrate that creates interconnection that has been tested and verified to be functional with the MK73 MOD 3 Environmental support cabinet. No other backplane assembly has been identified, tested, and verified to be functional with this Environmental support cabinet. Furthermore, since FTG Aerospace does not have any authorized third-party resellers, the required Flex Backplane Assembly can only be procured from FTG Aerospace.

Procuring another Flex Backplane Assembly from another source would result in a substantial duplication of cost of at least $75,000 that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

This estimate is based off of the requirement to conduct First Article Testing (FAT) on another non-FTG Aerospace backplane assembly. This FAT would take at least one year and would include Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE), the submission of an Engineering Change Proposal

(ECP), and a prototype that would cost approximately $75,000.

Market Research Conducted:

Requirement generator performed market research in March 2022 researching all Navy Supply resources and no manufacturer was found who can provide a Form Fit Function Flex Backplane

Assembly other than FTG Aerospace Inc. In addition, the requirement generator conducted market research using sites such as GSA Advantage, UNICOR, and Ability One to determine if any other vendors could provide a form, fit function Flexible Backplane Assembly and returned with no results found other than FTG Aerospace Inc. Contracts posted a Sources Sought from

4/22/22 – 5/2/22 with no responses received.

Statement of Actions, if any to Remove Barriers to Competition in the Future:

NSWC PHD Contracts Office will continue to conduct market research as warranted to provide a broader vendor base as applicable for the types of supplies/services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, NSWC PHD will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

Contracting Officer:

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

Contracting Officer Signature:

Signature Print Name, Title and Code Phone No. Date

Legal Counsel:

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

Legal Office:

Julianne Surane, Assistant Counsel Phone No. 805-228-8520 Date