JA_Redacted.pdf

CUI

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) to request authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition supports requirements generated for the Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC), 638 Supply Chain Management Group (SCMG), and the 408 Supply Chain Management Squadron (SCMS)/GULB. The contracting office for this requirement is DLA Aviation at Robins AFB, GA. The purchase request number supporting this contracting action is buy purchase request

FD2060-25-00057.

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Due to the circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to purchase items that support requirements for AN/ALR-56M Digitally Tuned Oscillator (DTO), NSN 5955-01-466- 6451EW, applicable to the F-16 Blocks C/D and the C-130J using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

This action will result in the award of a follow-on buy contract which will be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Requirements type contract with a basic one-year plus four (4) one-year Ordering Periods.

This buy effort is a follow-on to SPRWA1-20-D-0012. Based on the projected contract award date, orders can be issued July 31, 2025 through July 30, 2030. The estimated total contract value

The sole source requirement will be obtained from the following source:

General Microwave Corporation 227A Michael Dr.

Syosset, NY 11791

CAGE: 11332

Large Business

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

This requirement is for the purchase of the Digitally Tuned Oscillator (DTO), NSN 5955-01- 466-6451EW. It is mainly applicable AN/ALR-56M Electronic Warfare (EW) Weapon System (WS) within the F-16 Blocks C/D and the C-130J aircrafts. This part is also applicable to the AN/ALR-56C and AN/ALQ-131 Weapon Systems. The DTO is a sub-component of the AN/ALR-56M SuperHeterodyne Receiver (SHR) Line Replacement Unit (LRU) which accepts and processes data from threats and responds with data that enable receiver tuning. The AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receiver (ARWR) continuously detects and intercepts Radio Frequency (RF) signals in certain frequency ranges and analyses and separates threat signal from non-threat signals. It displays threat signals to the pilot on a priority basis.

Warfare Weapon System within the F-16 Blocks C/D and C-130J aircrafts with an expected lifecycle through 2040. The AN/ALR-56M ARWR continuously detects and intercepts RF signals in certain frequency ranges and analyses and separates threat signal from non-threat signals. It displays threat signals to the pilot on a priority basis.

The Government contacted General Microwave via email on 26 August 2024 to inquire on their interest in selling the Technical Data Package (TDP) to the Government. On 27 August 2024, General Microwave declined to sell the data package.

General Microwave is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the DTO. The OEM owns the TDP and all data rights and are identified on the design requirements and source controlled drawings. A complete TDP is required in order to manufacture the DTO. The Government holds no viable data on the DTO in its Joint Engineering Data Management Information and Control System (JEDMICS) repository, even lacking top-level drawings.

Qualifying a new source would require extensive reverse engineering due to the complexity of the item and the fact that the government does not own internal drawings for the item but merely a source control drawing of the form, fit and function requirements. The source control drawing does not provide sufficient data to enable another source to qualify for manufacture. General Microwave is currently the only source capable of manufacturing the DTO.

The 408 SCMS/GULB Program Office has determined that award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements.

The Government evaluated the feasibility of a reverse engineering (RE) or qualification effort for this instant acquisition. Qualifying a new source of manufacturer would require extensive reverse engineering due to the complexity of the item and the fact that the Government does not own internal drawings for the item but merely a source control drawing of the form, fit and function requirements. The source control drawing does not provide sufficient data to enable another source to qualify for manufacturer. A new vendor would be required to develop a TDP. A TDP development effort is estimated to take a vendor approximately two years to complete based on comparable experience with a similar effort on the AN/ALR-56C Weapon System. The AN/ALR-56C is an analog, less complex version of the AN/ALR-56M. An additional year would be required for Government qualification approval. An effort such as this would only allow the vendor to build new assemblies. This would cause delay in meeting our sustainment needs and cause the current backorder quantities to rapidly increase. There would be ramp up of Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts (MICAPs) and Surges due to no repair coverage for the estimated 3+ years. The mission would suffer due to no repair coverage. The DTOs are significant to the AN/ALR-56M Weapon System. Each DTO is an intricate component within LRU-7. Without the DTO, the aircraft(s) would be grounded due to MICAPs. Surges will begin to appear and supply leveling, kit levels, and asset available will decrease. Without the DTO, there is no function to its associated LRU. If there is no coverage for the DTO then the weapon system's mission will not reach its goal.

The estimated cost for a new vendor to redesign and/or RE this item,deliver a TDP and qualification reports and produce first article test units is estimated to be $1M or greater based on historical data from similar parts within each weapon system.

Accordingly, General Microwave is the only firm capable of providing the supplies and services described in Section III above without the Government experiencing unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements. This requirement cannot be modified nor be satisfied with a commercial or modified commercial item.

V. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

This requirement will be synopsized in SAM.gov in accordance with FAR 5.201, citing conditions which preclude full and open competition. Sources expressing an interest as a result of the synopsis will be investigated for their capabilities to perform on this and/or future requirements and identified to the awardee of the contract for possible subcontracting opportunities.

A Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) for this effort was posted to SAM.gov on 22 August 2024 with a response date of 6 September 2024. No responses.

General Microwave is the only viable source to produce this product.

VI. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

The overall cost of this acquisition will be fair and reasonable to the Government. If the proposed dollar amount exceeds the TINA threshold IAW FAR 15.403-4, the contractor will be required to provide certified cost or pricing data to be used to support the Government’s evaluation of the proposed cost. The proposed skill mix of labor, labor hours, types and quantities of material and other direct costs, and direct and indirect rates will be negotiated by the Government based on recommendations from the Defense Contract Management Agency and System Program Office expert technical personnel supporting the program. The contract price will be negotiated in accordance with the procedures in FAR 15 ensuring the ultimate cost to the Government is fair and reasonable.

VII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market Research was accomplished between 26 August 2024 and 27 September 2024, pursuant to FAR Part 10.001 and 10.002. The Market Research Report was completed on 27 September 2024. The Market Research techniques used are as follows:

A Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) for this effort was posted to SAM.gov on 22 August 2024 with a response date of 6 September 2024. No responses.

The Government performed several queries in the marketplace, as well as in databases listed on the approved Acquisition Center of Excellence (ACE) website. The AN/ALR-56M Systems

Engineering Team searched the database and websites by NSN, part number, and/or item description. Research revealed that there is not a single source capable of meeting Government needs because the Government does not possess the data or facilities required for accomplishment of this requirement by another vendor.

The team conducted a review of several industry-wide searches on the Internet, using the following ACE-recommended component search engines. The key term used was: ALR-56M Radio Frequency Switch.

· https://www.aerospace-technology.com,

· https://www.globalspec.com,

· https://www.datasheets.com

The market research concluded General Microwave Corp is the only vendor capable of fulfilling the Government's requirement.

VIII. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None

IX. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

See Section V above

X. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

The AN/ALR-56M Weapon System life is projected through 2040. The Government evaluated the feasibility of a reverse engineering or qualification effort for this instant acquisition. Due to time constraints resulting from the immediate need for these assets to fill backorders, it is not in the best interest of the Government to pursue a reverse engineering effort. A reverse engineering effort has an estimate of 3+ years to complete, including an approximation of $1M to accomplish the effort.

The Government does not possess the data package for NSNs to support full and open competition. An inquiry for sell of the data package was sent to the OEM on 26 August 2024.

The OEM responded on 27 August 2024 and declined interest in selling the data package.

In the previous J&A, the government expressed overcoming barriers to competition by purchasing the technical data package, the attempt had no success, therefore, the government will continue to pursue acquisition of the technical data from General Microwave. The government will contact General Microwave prior to the next follow-on effort to inquire into their willingness to sell the technical data package to the government. If General Microwave agrees, action will be taken to obtain funding for data acquisition provided that the cost is determined to be reasonable.

XI. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.