JA for Acapulka Sled_Redacted.pdf

CCAP-MDR

PROJECT TS245: MOBILITY OVER SNOW TERRAIN TACTICAL SQUAD PULK

SYSTEMS

c. FCT participation does not itself constitute a blanket exception from competition.

The use of other than full and open competition is based upon the requirement to obtain the specific foreign technology designated for evaluation under the approved FCT program.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Authority

a. FCT Program TS245 was established to evaluate foreign snow-mobility technology that may address identified Army operational capability gaps. The United States Army faces an urgent operational requirement to conduct sustained operations in extreme arctic environments (at or below -20°F). The 11th Airborne Division's current logistics sleds—paired with the legacy 10-person arctic tent—are heavy, bulky, prone to hull cracking, and incompatible with tactical airborne door-bundle deployment.

b. AAL/11th Airborne Division is concurrently evaluating a prototype five-person

Arctic shelter (currently at TRL7) intended to reduce the size and weight of the current shelter capability. Effective employment of the smaller shelter requires a correspondingly compact, lightweight, and durable mobility platform capable of transporting the shelter, stove, fuel, and associated equipment in an operationally representative Arctic environment.

c. The Acapulka 170cm Tactical Squad Pulk has been approved for evaluation under Program TS245. Accordingly, the Government’s requirement for this acquisition is not for a generic sled or pulk. The requirement is for the particular foreign test article necessary to conduct the approved comparative evaluation. Acquisition of another manufacturer’s pulk would not permit the Government to evaluate the designated Acapulka technology and therefore would not satisfy the Government’s requirement to execute the approved FCT test.

d. Market research additionally identified characteristics of the Acapulka system relevant to the approved evaluation, including its 10-kilogram empty weight, 170-centimeter length, hand-laid fiberglass hull construction, and integrated tactical harness configuration. Accordingly, only Acapulka AS can provide the specific test articles required to execute the approved FCT evaluation.

e. Consequences of Non-Acquisition: Conducting the prototype shelter test using legacy heavy sleds will invalidate the experimental data. Because the shelter and the pulk function as an integrated tactical ecosystem, testing them in isolation or with mismatched equipment would prevent the Army from gathering meaningful data on unit mobility, tactical dispersion, and operational tempo.

6. Justification for Quantity (Brigade-Equivalent)

a. To achieve statistical significance during a singular, unpredictable 10-day cold-weather training window, the 11th Airborne Division must equip a Brigade-equivalent force of 501 tactical units.

b. Experimental Design Requirements: Power analysis dictates that testing at smaller echelons (such as a single platoon or company) cannot generate enough data points to statistically disprove the null hypothesis.

c. Unpredictability of Arctic Weather: Climatological history near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, provides precisely one 10-day operational window per training year where temperatures remain reliably at or below -20°F. Because force-on-force maneuvers are dynamic and temperature drops are localized, pre-positioning the equipment with only a select sub-unit introduces an unacceptable risk of zero utilization during critical cold windows.

d. Operational Readiness: Equipping the entire Brigade (501 systems) ensures that whichever sub-element is forced to halt or establish a patrol base during a sudden cold snap will immediately have the prototype shelter and the Acapulka pulk system available to capture critical performance metrics.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

a. The Contracting Officer will determine the final negotiated price to be fair and reasonable prior to award by comparing the quote to commercial list prices and conducting historical analysis of specialized military-grade mountaineering gear.

b. Price Analysis: The quoted total of reflects a complete mission-ready kit—including structural dragging bars, quick-release harnesses, backup ascenders, custom MOLLE integration, in-field repair parts, and comprehensive logistics transport from Norway directly to Anchorage, AK. The Contracting Officer will analyze the cost elements of individual components against commercial rates to verify the package discount.

8. Market Research

a. Market research conducted in support of the requirement included vendor demonstrations, industry engagements, and operational assessments involving Arctic mobility equipment. The research identified the Acapulka system as possessing characteristics relevant to the Army’s mobility-over-snow requirements, including low empty weight, compact dimensions, cold-weather hull durability, and an integrated tactical harness and towing system.

b. The market research supports the suitability of the Acapulka system for FCT evaluation. However, the basis for the proposed sole-source acquisition is the requirement to obtain the particular test article approved for evaluation under Program TS245, rather than a determination that FCT acquisitions are categorically exempt from competition.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition

a. FCT Program Approval: On 17 June 2026, Director of Foreign Comparative Testing, OUSD(R&E), approved an increase in the scope and duration of Program TS245. The acquisition file contains the approval and supporting documentation establishing the relationship between the approved scope increase and the Acapulka tactical squad pulk technology.

b. Quantity Required for Testing.

(1) Testing is intended to occur during a limited cold-weather training window with the 11th Airborne Division and requires sufficient test articles to obtain operationally meaningful data across participating elements and environmental conditions. The requiring activity has determined that testing at a smaller echelon would not generate sufficient observations to accomplish the approved test objectives.

(2) The acquisition file contains the applicable test plan, power analysis, or equivalent technical documentation substantiating the requirement for 501 test articles. The quantity is being acquired for testing and evaluation under Program TS245 and is not intended to constitute operational fielding of the system.

c. Availability of Foreign Test Articles.

(1) The Government initially anticipated use of an Acapulka configuration capable of satisfying applicable domestic-source requirements. Acapulka subsequently advised the Government that availability of that configuration within the required test schedule was uncertain and identified existing European-manufactured inventory as available to support the required November 2026 delivery.

(2) Because the purpose of the proposed procurement is to obtain the Acapulka technology for evaluation under the approved FCT program, the requiring activity requested consideration of the available European-manufactured test articles to mitigate schedule and supply risk to the planned test.

d. Program Approval: Director of Foreign

Comparative Testing (OUSD(R&E)), signed the formal Scope Increase and Project Duration Approval for Project TS245 on 17 June 2026.

PROJECT TS245: MOBILITY OVER SNOW TERRAIN TACTICAL SQUAD PULK

SYSTEMS

e. Legal Sufficiency: The United States Army Transformation and Training Command Legal Office (TTHQ-JA) completed a fiscal legal review on 17 June 2026, confirming that the procurement of 500 Acapulka sleds using FY26 Budget Activity 4 RDT&E funds is legally compliant and free of fiscal objections.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVALS

Technical and Requirements Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Program Manager, Army Applications Lab

Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Procurement Contracting Officer US Army Contracting Command -APG-RTP Division (CCAP-MDR)