JA Redacted W911N225D0021.pdf

CUI

Control Number: DSP-J&A25-2096

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Reviews

I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Legal Counsel

Typed Name: . DSN:

Signature Date: ______________________

28 May 2025

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

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA), Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD), CCAM-DSP, Chambersburg, PA 17201-4150.

2. Description of Action: The Joint Munitions Command (JMC), Letterkenny Munitions Center (LEMC) requests a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract with HI REL CONNECTORS, INC. (Hi Rel), 760 Wharton DR, Claremont, California 91711-4800, CAGE Code 34222, UEI K5L8DBZW6M91. The Government projects award for May 2025 and Army Working Capital Funds (AWCF) will be used. An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 207.103(d)(i)(B).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: LEMC has a requirement to procure Hi Rel Connector, Inc. cables, pins and connectors in support of mission requirements at Letterkenny Munitions Center. The proposed contract supports the Joint Munition Service (JMS) programs to include AMRAAM (AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) missiles. These cables, pins, and connectors are utilized by the Munitions Center to complete wire harnesses for missiles. The estimated ordering periods are as follows:

Base Period: 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026 Option Period 1: 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027 Option Period 2: 1 June 2027 to 31 May 2028 Option Period 3: 1 June 2028 to 31 May 2029 Option Period 4: 1 June 2029 to 31 May 2030

The estimated value of the proposed procurement totals . The Government’s minimum US requirement follows:

Part Number Base Year OY1 Price Per OY2 Price Per OY3 Price Per OY4 Price Per

44095-30P-A88 (50 per year)

0010-040-000 (100 per year)

44096-30S-300 (10 per year)

3001024-1 (10 per year)

3003445-1 (10 per year)

3003445-7 (10 per year)

50037W-25-20PNSN-E49 (50 per year)

Base Year Total OY1 Total OY2 Total OY3 Total OY4 Total Total Contract Amount

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting the use of other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2), “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

5. Reason for Authority Cited: This requirement will be negotiated on a sole source basis with Hi Rel Connectors, Inc., 760 W. Wharton Drive, Claremont, CA 91711 (CAGE Code 34222, UEI K5L8DBZW6M91). The Point of Contact (POC) for Hi Rel is Jessica Avalos Garcia at (909) 626-1820. Hi Rel owns the technical data package (TDP). These parts consist of the proper fit, form, and function that is required by Raytheon Missile Systems Company on the AIM (Air Intercept Missile) and AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) systems. There are no other products in the marketplace that would ensure safety, protection and well-being of the personnel who utilize the system during operations. Sourcing in this manner provides the appropriate mechanical and electrical compatibility required when the cables, connectors, and pins are used operationally. Should we explore and exercise full and open competition to procure these parts for the parts from other sources, the risk to the Government increases, and puts the crew members and the integrity at risk due to mobilization issues, inter-operability issues, and mechanical interference possibilities.

Procuring parts from this source enables the Government to secure warranties so that the AIM and AMRAAM is sustained for its intended purpose.

Hi Rel's unique qualification for this contract is that they own the TDP, and their connectors were designed to the specifications desired by Raytheon. LEAD contacted Hi Rel in November 2020 and May 2025 regarding the possibility of acquiring the TDP for these connectors, but Hi Rel stated they still do not wish to sell. Raytheon will only allow Hi Rel to supply these connectors to the Government. If the J&A is not approved, it would result in the inability to test the AMRAAM missiles which would leave the system non-combat operational. This leaves the lives of pilots and soldiers at stake if their air-defense systems are down.

Additionally, the development and manufacturing of connectors is performed by a highly specialized industry, both in the area of skills and equipment, which the US Army Organic Industrial Base (OIB) does not possess. The amount of time, funds, and human capital already invested by Raytheon and Hi Rel, into the development of these connectors, to mate to the AMRAAM system, would require a substantial duplication of

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cost, by another connector manufacturer, that will not be recovered through competition, because Hi Rel is the sole proprietor of the TDP, which will also hinder the ability for other sources to manufacture due to legal liability. With regards to these factors, it is impossible to put a price or a timeframe on the possibility of another source being able to manufacture these connectors.

If this J&A is not approved, production schedules and delivery to the warfighter will be delayed, curtailed, or may stop entirely, which could ultimately result in mission failure.

Any further delay would substantially compromise the current production schedule and prohibit delivery to the units and warfighters that depend upon the technology.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

a. Effective competition. As this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable and will not be pursued at this time for the reasons stated above in Section 5.

The Contracting Officer shall publish the notices required by FAR 5.201 and any bids or proposals received shall be considered. In accordance with DFARS 205.205-71, DFARS 206-302-1(d) and DFARS Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) 206.302-1(d), a sources sought was posted to SAM.GOV on 16 April 2025. One response to the sources sought was received and the interested contractor does not possess the required proprietary rights to the parts required. Distributors that handle electronic components were contacted by phone and email to obtain additional sources or potential sources. No additional responses were received, and no effective competition is anticipated for this acquisition due to the proprietary nature of the parts;

however, all responses to the posting will be considered.

b. Subcontracting competition. Subcontracting Competition: Efforts were made to ensure potential subcontractors were aware of this requirement via posting a synopsis to www.sam.gov on 10 January 2025. Since Hi Rel is a small business, the contractor will not be required to submit a subcontracting plan for approval prior to contract award in accordance with FAR 19.702(b)(1).

7. Actions to Increase Competition: No action is currently planned by LEMC to increase competition because of the proprietary status and the unique technical requirements necessary to manufacture these connectors. Neither the Government nor any Contractor, other than Hi Rel, possess the required technical data. Due to the proprietary and specific technical nature of these parts, procuring parts from HiRel is in the Government's best interest. Competition is not recommended at this time due to the unacceptable risk it would introduce to Army readiness and to the crew operating the system, and the system itself.

8. Market Research: As documented in the Market Research Report and Commerciality Determination (MRR/CD), concurred with by the Contracting Officer, market research was conducted IAW FAR 10.002(b) by the Contracts Acquisition Advocate and Agreements Manager (CAAAM) of LEMC, in the last 12 months. Research methods and results consist of the following:

Market Research Report-Commerciality Determination (MRR-CD) was originally completed February 14, 2025, and determined the parts required to be non-commercial. Upon receiving a signed and dated request for proposal (RFP), the MRR- CD was then revised and updated to reflect the increased pricing, dated 24 March 2025. FAR Part 15 will be used as the basis for this acquisition. FAR Part 12 will not be used for this requirement as the components are uniquely designed for military purposes only and have no commercial application. There is no commercial equivalent to meet the Government’s needs. An amendment to the originally approved small business coordination form (DD2579) was required due to price changes as a result of the additional parts requirements and proposal received by the contractor on RFP W911N2-25-R-0013; pricing in regard to the response was higher than supportable per the approved DD 2579 IGE, IDIQ and Sole Source J&A. This, along with a change to the original requirement submitted, resulted in the addition of another required part, increasing the estimated value to . Pricing changes provided by the sole source contractor were determined to be supportable by the Contracting Officer thus requiring Amendment 0001 to the approved DD 2579.

A sole source J&A is included in DD 2579 request which documents that the U.S Army does not own the drawings for these parts. The Hi Rel W17 connectors/pins and W83/ W9 parts are required to complete wire harnesses for missiles in the JMS programs and are made only by Hi Rel, are specifically called out on the drawing for the wiring harnesses. The part number(s) listed define a HiRel Connectors Inc., Proprietary design. The HiRel products must be used to complete the wiring harness as they do not have distributors for their products. Additional market research was conducted by an ACC Contract Specialist from July to October 2024. The Contract Specialist reviewed the PCF cabinets for both historical contracts, W911N2-22-D-0002 and W911N2-21-D- 0052, and reviewed the documents and the J&As supporting sole source procurements to Hi Rel Connectors. LEMC and ACC RSA LEAD used the “Market Research” application within the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) and searched by cage code and part number and found no historical information on the information that was entered.

Based on the above market research results, this requirement will be sole sourced to HiRel Connectors, a small business under NAICS Code 335931.

In accordance with DFARS 205.205-71, DFARS 206.302-1(d), and DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d), a sources sought notice was posted to www.sam.gov April 16, 2025. As discussed in paragraph 6, it is determined that Hi Rel Connectors Inc, as the OEM for the expertise, knowledge, and unique equipment to produce the cables, connectors, and pins, is the only source capable of providing the required supplies.

9. Interested Sources: To date, one response to the second sources sought was received; however, this is a sole source requirement, and the interested contractor does not possess the required proprietary rights to the parts required. As required in FAR 5.201, this requirement was published on www.sam.gov and an amendment will be processed due to the increase of number of parts added. Any source who expresses an interest will receive due consideration under the law.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history. N/A

b. Other facts

Not Applicable.