JA-20-430-Approved-Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION

J&A_20-0430

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Lakehurst (LKE), NJ.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

This Justification and Approval (J&A) authorizes and approves the issuance of a Firm Fixed- Price contract to Sytronics, Inc. 4433 Dayton-Xenia Road, Building 1, Dayton, Ohio (Cage Code: 1EE69). This procurement is for the upgrade of existing test cell software and data acquisition for two (2) Kemen Test ProTECS test cells. The Kemen Test ProTECS test cells are used for testing various jet engines for the Navy, AirForce, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) as required by the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) in Jacksonville, FL.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

FRCSE, located in Jacksonville, FL, is an industrial facility that reworks, repairs, and overhauls various aircraft, engines, and components. Engine testing is currently en Test ProTECS test cell for various aircraft engines and requires upgrades to integrate capability to test J-85 engines. This integration capability involves upgrades to existing test cell software, data acquisition systems, and hardware including two existing master and slave load cells. The existing test cell operates on ProTECS 3.2 software, which does not currently have capability to test J-85 engines.

The procurement is to upgrade the data acquisition system to attain the ability to integrate J-85 engines into the Kemen Test ProTECS test cell that will be capable of testing current and future workloads for the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Foreign Military Sales.

Estimated Dollar Value in Thousands

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

10 U .S.C. 2304(c)( I ), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

Sytronics Inc. is the sole designer, developer, of the software and control system operating the Kemen Test ProTECS test cells. The Government does not own the data rights or source code for the Kemen Test ProTECS test cells. The Kemen Test Cells, as designed and commissioned by Sytronics, are unique and complex hardware and software system specifically designed to test numerous jet and turbofan engines. Sytronics owns the proprietary information required to update the installed version of the Kemen Test ProTECS test cells. Sytronics has not granted rights to the proprietary information to any other vendor.

The J-85 Program Office has requested that FRCSE become a Designated Source of Repair for the J-85/21 engines to be run in the two Kemen Test ProTECS test cells, and test capability is required to certify the engines as air worthy for the sustainment of fleet readiness.

If another source other than Sytronics, Inc. was selected it would severely impact fleet readiness as the Government does not own any of the data or source code needed necessary for this procurement. Sytronics, Inc. software is currently being used at the two Kemen ProTECS test cells with the capability of running six (6) models of Navy and Air Force engines. If another company other than Sytronics, Inc. was to perform the installation, they would need to build software and control systems for the six current models as well as the J- 85 engine. An additional estimated cost of $6 million dollars would be incurred for the design, build, and testing requirements for all new test cell software and control systems. The resulting costs would not be recouped through competition. In addition to impacting fleet readiness, there would be an additional 36 to 48 months of delay in acquiring new test cell software and control system based on the requirement of re-competing, redesigning, and installing new test cells.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable

FRCSE searched the internet via the Yahoo, Bing and addition, the Performance Work Statement was sent to vendors found on the Equipment Procurement and Sustainment (EPaS) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) vehicle. The vendors were contacted to ascertain their ability to obtain the proprietary information needed to fulfill the G Based on this market research that none of the vendors contacted on the EPaS MAC vehicle would be able to obtain the proprietary information.

The Government released a Request for Information for the procurement of the test cell upgrade required for acceptance testing of the Kemen Test ProTECS on Beta.SAM on 08 June 2020 with responses due back on 24 June 2020. No responses were received. The Government released a pre-solicitation synopsis for the procurement of the test cell upgrade required for acceptance testing of the Kemen Test ProTECS on Beta.SAM on 02 July 2020 with responses due back on 17 July 2020. No responses were received.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

The negotiation and establishment of a fair and reasonable price will be conducted in accordance with FAR 15.4. As stated in FAR 15.402, the Contracting Officer shall purchase all supplies and services at a fair and reasonable price.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NAVAIR has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the types of supplies/services covered by this document.

If another potential source emerges, NAWCAD-LKE will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

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

APPROVED

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve the solicitation of the proposed procurement(s) described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1).