JA PIF IT_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SP‐SSEL

Control Number: PIF‐23‐17

CUI//SP‐SSEL

(Source Selection Information ‐ See FAR 2.101 and 3.104‐4)

Justification Review Document for Other than Full and Open Competition - FAR Part 6

Program/Equipment: The Prototype Integration Facility (PIF) of the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Command (AvMC), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, has a requirement to purchase Data Acquisition (DAQ) Hardware and Test Equipment for the Modernized Flexible Engine Diagnostics System (MFEDS). This is an unclassified system.

Authority: 10 United States Code 2304(c)(1) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Amount:

Prepared by:

Typed Name: Ellison Barrett DSN: (256) 366-3450

Title: Acquisition Analyst Date: 01 August 2023

E-mail: ellison.g.barrett.civ@army.mil

Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: Linda Murphy DSN: (256) 955-7516

Date Reviewed: 18 Aug 2023 E-Mail: linda.m.murphy.civ@army.mil

Technical / Requirements Representative:

Typed Name: Jarrett Brothers DSN: (256) 876-9551

Title: Government Project Lead (GPL) Date: 01 August 2023

CUI//SP‐SSEL

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition – FAR Part 6

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone, ATTN: CCAM- MZB-B, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000.

2. Description of Action: The Prototype Integration Facility (PIF) of the Combat Capabilities Command (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama requests approval to award a new competitive contract on a Firm-Fix- Price (FFP) basis. The Government requests award for September 2023. Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Operations and Maintenance (OMA) funds are anticipated to be used.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The PIF of the DEVCOM AvMC, Redstone Arsenal, AL, has a requirement to purchase Data Acquisition (DAQ) Hardware and Test Equipment for the Modernized Flexible Engine Diagnostics System (MFEDS). The DAQ Hardware is used to send and receive data from a particular test instrument, as well as control the test instrument. The DAQ Hardware consists of 17-line items to include the following:

A quantity of one (1) NI PIX-6624 Industrial 8 Ch-Ch Isolated 48V Counter/Timer, NI- DAQ; A quantity of two (2) SCB-100A Noise Rejecting, Shielded I/O Connector Block; A quantity of two (2) Cable ASSY, Type SH100-100-FLEX, 2m; A quantity of one (1) NI PXI-6511 Industrial 64 DI, Bank Isol. Digital Input & NI-DAQ; A quantity of two (2) NI PXIe-4302 +/-10V, 32-Ch, 24-bit, 5kS/s/ Voltage Input Module; A quantity of two (2) TB- 4302, Front mount terminal block for PXIe-4302/3; A quantity of one (1) NI PXIe-4322 Isolated Analog Output Module; A quantity of one (1) NI TB-4322 Terminal Block Accessory for PXIe-4322; A quantity of two (2) PXIe-4353 Ch Thermocouple Input; A quantity of (2) NI TB-4353 Isothermal Terminal Block for PXIe-4353; A quantity of one

(1) PXI-2522 PXI Relay Module, SPDT, 53-Channel, 100 V, 2 A; A quantity of one (1) 160 Pin DIN to 4 D-SUB Cable for PXI Switches, 1m; A quantity of one (1) NI PCIe- 8398, x16 Gen 3 MXI-Express for PXI Express, 1 Port; A quantity of one (1) cRIO-9055,

1.33 GHz Dual-Core, Artix-7 100T FPGA, 4-Slot, RT, XT; A quantity of four (4) NI-TBX- 50B, 50 Pin Dsub Screw Terminal Block; A quantity of one (1) PXI-2568 PXI Relay Module, SPST (open), 31-Channel, 150 V, 2 A; A quantity of one (1) NI TBX-62 62-Pin Dsub Screw Terminal Block.

All 17 parts listed above are required for this action and cannot be bought separately. Of these 17-line items, there are parts that will replace those currently on the MFEDS that are failing or obsolescent. The MFEDS DAQ Hardware is responsible for controlling and capturing data on the T700-701C/D and T55-GA714 turbine engines. This Hardware is vital to the continued operation and safety of the Flexible Engine Diagnostic System Program.

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4. Authority Cited: 10 United States Code 2304(c)(1) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The PIF has a requirement to replace the current Data Acquisition (DAQ) Hardware and Test Equipment for the Modernized Flexible Engine Diagnostics System (MFEDS) responsible for controlling and capturing data on the T700-701C/D and T55-GA714 turbine engines. The MFEDS must be upgraded in order to replace the failing and obsolescent DAQ Hardware.

The Flexible Engine Diagnostic System (FEDS) is used to test turbine engines (helicopter engines) off-wing. The software used on FEDS is the Flexible Aviation Laboratory Control Network (FALCN).

FALCN is a government owned and developed software maintained by the PIF. FEDS requires over 100 channels to operate, varying from temps, to pressures digital inputs, analog to digital, relay controls, LVDT/RVDT that all must be calibrated every six (6) months. FALCN is not only used on FEDS, but also on many other test stands throughout the Army, to include CD850 Transmission Test Stand, Climate Control Chamber and RAPTR Test Cell 1. The CD850 Transmission Test was the first that integrated the use of National Instruments (NI) Hardware, and the NI Hardware interfaced with the FALCN software the best out of all other DAQ hardware that had previously been used.

As part of the CD850 Transmission Test Stand project, all NI drivers have been integrated in the FALCN software. Redstone Test Center (RTC) later decided to upgrade the Climate Control Chamber and RAPTR Test Cell 1 to NI Hardware as well.

The PIF worked with these efforts to spec out similar hardware that would interface with the NI drivers in FALCN. These projects were both very successful and both projects replaced the failing and obsolete hardware currently used in FEDS.

The PIF also used the NI DAQ hardware on the legacy FEDS to design the Dynamometer Warning System. The NI Hardware used on that system is still active on all legacy FEDS over ten (10) years after the initial install. Continuing with NI hardware will save the team over 500 hours by avoiding writing new driver source code. Over time the program has used all forms of DAQ equipment, and the NI hardware is the only hardware that will support the FEDS channels needed, the footprint required, the functionality required, the durability, the EOL requirements to sustain a weapon system, and the software (FALCN) requirements.

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6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market Research was conducted through Department of Defense (DoD) Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) Hardware Agreements, Army’s Compute Hardware Enterprise Software System (CHESS) ITES- 3H Program, and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for vendors or existing contracts in which to acquire the hardware required for the FEDS program. No existing contract agreements or vendors through these programs were identified.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: PIF personnel and the FEDS team within the Redstone Test Center are continually conducting market research to evaluate and ensure maximum competition is obtained for emerging technologies to provide capability to the Warfighter. As future requirements become known and / or new services or products become available, market research will be conducted to ensure competition to the fullest extent possible.

8. Market Research: In accordance with FAR Part 10, Market Research was conducted as follows:

A Request for Quotation (RFQ) 460364 was created on 26 July 2023 through Army’s Compute Hardware Enterprise Software System (CHESS) ITES-3H Program consisting of 17 vendors for the purchase of 17-line items as previously stated in section three (3).

No positive responses were received from the RFQ. A Statement of Non-Availability (SoNA) #216799853 was approved on 31 July 2023. A Request for Information (RFI) was submitted through GSA Advantage and revealed one vendor, . A quote was received on 28 July 2023. Upon review of the information provided, four (4) of the 17 line items are becoming obsolete and cannot provide as required. Additionally, the vendor recommended going to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), National Instruments (NI), for receipt of all 17 necessary parts.

9. Interested Sources: National Instruments, Cage: 64667, LB, UES: LKXHMX1K3AC5

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history. A similar effort was executed on 14 September 2022 on

Contract GS-35F-0311R, Order Number W91P4Q-22-F-0978 to procure similar items for the FEDS system.

b. Other facts. Future Competition due to obsolesce. In previous experience with the

OEM, NI, once a part reaches end of life (EOL) the vendor has provided alternate or equivalent parts.