JA_MEA_LI_King_Air Brand Name-CPO Aprvd 5.27.2022_Redacted.pdf

life of the CBP assets. Significant cost avoidance is associated with maintenance, repair, supply, training, administrative costs, and operations of the standardized airframe.

Standardizing the MEA airframe to the existing Textron Aviation, Inc. King Air B300 model airframe reduces the duplication of costs related to operating and sustaining multiple platforms simultaneously. Having the same brand of airframe platform eliminates new training costs as pilot and maintainer training is limited to the existing platform. Training across one platform reduces the possibility of pilot error during critical moments of flight and flight maintenance.

Specifically, if an airframe platform other than the Textron Aviation, Inc. King Air B300 model airframe is awarded, then, in order to satisfy Federal Aviation Administration requirements, all MEA pilots will have to complete an additional initial and additional annual refresher training on how to safely operate the additional airframe platform, as most FAA-certified commercial courses are only for one type of aircraft, as each aircraft has a different cockpit configuration with different instrumentation. Conservatively assuming that AMO does not increase the number of pilots available to fly MEAs, then taking the product of the number of pilots, the cost for training, and the number of years of the lifespan of the MEA, gives an estimated training cost for a new airframe platform of If the new airframe is the same as the existing airframe, no new training costs would be incurred. Also, duplication of costs associated with initial spares inventory is reduced. Awarding an airframe platform other than the Textron Aviation, Inc. King Air B300 model would result in two fleets: one fleet of 29 and one fleet of nine. Using data from the latest DHS-approved Life Cycle Cost Estimate for the MEA program, that represents an estimated duplication of cost of .

Standardizing the airframe platform also increases safety and operational flexibility nationwide.

Having the same brand of airframe platform eliminates new training costs as pilot and maintainer training is limited to the existing platform. Training across one platform reduces the possibility of pilot error during critical moments of flight and flight maintenance. With a non-standard fleet, maintainers must be knowledgeable about additional airframes, introducing higher unacceptable risk of potential human error in maintaining the aircraft properly. A key tenant of operational flexibility is the ability to deploy the MEA to different air bases in response to surge operations, as well as to re-locate its resources to support those locations. With a common airframe operational flexibility is maximized as MEA pilots from anywhere in the country are trained and able to be redeployed to any other MEA location to support. With varying brands of airframe platform, the required pilots and maintainers, as well as the required spares and support equipment, must be found from a smaller inventory, which may delay or deny AMO’s ability to respond efficiently.

Overall, limiting the brand of airframe platform to the existing Textron Aviation, Inc. King Air B300 model will result in an estimated minimum cost avoidance of over the lifecycle of the program. An alternative airframe would not meet the objectives of standardizing the airframe.

7. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited from as Many Potential

Sources as is Practicable.

The AMO Operations and MEA Program Management Office investigated each major component and subsystem of the MEA and limited those that are required to be standardized with the existing

13. Contracting Officer’s Certification. I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Customs and Border Protection

Date

14. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification. I certify this requirement meets the

Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

Portfolio Acquisition Executive Air and Marine Operations

15. APPROVALS:

Contracting Officer

Competition Advocate Customs and Broder Protection

Head of Contracting Activity

Chief Procurement Officer Department of Homeland Security