JA_SPRDL1-19-R-0284_Redacted.pdf

J&A SPRDL1-19-R-0284

No previous J&A is available

“Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The Weapon Station Control Unit (WSCU) Assembly, Manufacturer’s Part Number 12490689, is an integral component of the Stabilized Commander’s Weapon Station (SCWS). The WSCU uses sensor and command inputs to operate, control and stabilize the azimuth and elevation drive motors of the SCWS. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is the only qualified vendor at this time. The Government would incur a substantial duplication of cost to pursue a competitive acquisition for this procurement.

The approved source identified above has demonstrated the ability to establish and maintain the processing required to produce this item. An award to any other source would cause a substantial duplication of costs to the Government not expected to be recovered through competition and would cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling Abram's fielding requirements.

This Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly was custom designed to specifically handle the harsh operating environments of extreme heat, cold, shock and vibration of the M1 Tank FOV during battle. The heart of this assembly which is designed with intricate electronics is designed to withstand nuclear environments and its components are made with a process approved for Nuclear Hardness Critical Items (HCI) tested and approved at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) by the HCI testing authority.

There are no current plans to acquire a competitive TDP because funds are not available to acquire the data necessary to support a competitive acquisition. A significant amount of time and money would be necessary to reverse engineer, procure and test prototypes before releasing the design. This delay would severely impact the availability of the Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly in the field.

Duplication of Cost Through Competition

Paragraph Task Cost estimate Est Time to Complete a Reverse Engineer of Application Specific design of Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly

$ 1,550,000.00 33 Months b Testing of Application Specific Design $1,700,000.00 36 Months c Logistical Development $ 500,000.00 18 Months

TOTAL $3,750,000.00 87 Months

Background Data for the supporting analysis:

(a.) Reverse Engineer of the application specific design of GDLS’ Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly: Cost would include the required manpower to try and manufacture a Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly similar to the GDLS Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly. GDLS has a unique process and materials that make the Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly a Nuclear Hardness Critical Item.

(b.) Application Specific Design Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly Testing: Costs would include Operational User testing, Demonstration testing of the Stabilized Commanders Weapon Station after environmental testing of the Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly, and diagnostic tests. Also, the Government would have to witness all First Article Tests (FATs) and Inspections prior to the contractor starting work.

(c.) Logistics Development: New technical manuals will be needed for the new configuration Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

(a) Effective Competition: Per section 7, potential vendors can submit requests to become a source through the Source Approval Process at any time. Per section 9, a Sources Sought Synopsis was posted. Based on the detailed rational provided in paragraph 5 above, the Government has no plans to obtain competition for this proposed contractual action.

(b) Subcontracting Competition: FAR clause 52.244-5, Competition in Subcontracting, will be included in the contract to assure that the prime contractor obtains as much competition as possible in its subcontracting. In addition, the clause at FAR 52.219-9 will be included, requiring a subcontracting plan to increase the amount of small business participation at the subcontracting level.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Due to the costs associated with testing additional vendor parts a competitive TDP cannot be recovered as stated in section 5. The Government is not actively pursuing the development of a competitive TDP for future procurements. The Government would not be able to recover the $3.75M to reverse engineer and qualify the Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly within a justifiable time frame.

This item, Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly NSN: 1015-01-614-6318 does not appear on the Competition Advocates Shopping List dated 15 February 2019. Contractors interested in becoming a source of supply need to meet the requirements of the Source Approval Program including vehicle level qualification testing, at their own expense. The TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Competition Management Office (CMO), is the lead proponent for the Source Approval Program. While interested contractors can contact the CMO for assistance with the Source Approval Program, Engineering requires successful vehicle level qualification testing to support the approval of a new source of supply and the Government has no plans or funding to complete qualification testing at this time.

8. Market Research: Computer based market research was performed by the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Armaments Engineering on 17 May 2019 by using online resources. No vendors other than GDLS were found to be interested in manufacturing this part. New vendors would require extensive analysis, prototyping, and testing as described in section 5 above to ensure that the item will properly meet performance specifications with a new supplier’s hardware. The cost of such analysis, prototyping, and testing would far exceed any cost savings realized by adding another source. In addition, ongoing market research is performed on the higher level Abrams components and no additional sources of supply have been identified. CCDC Armament Center Engineering also contacted the vendor GDLS and verified they still produce the WSCU Assembly.

A Sources Sought Synopsis has been submitted to Fed Biz Opps on May 17, 2019 Item Name: Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly

NSN: 1015-01-614-6318

Part Number: P/N:12490689 End Item: M1 Abrams Tank Sources Sought Notice Number: 2019-406

Fed Biz Opp Link:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c5675b79f225500f6db431df2915 55d8&tab=core& cview=0

9. Interested Sources: As stated above, Sources Sought Notice 2019-406 was posted to Fed Biz Opps on 17 May 2019 for component “Weapon Station Control Unit Assembly, NSN 1015-01- 614-6318, Part Number, 12490689 as required by FAR 5.201. To date, there are no listings on the Interested Vendors tab and no other contractor has responded with interest in providing the item.

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

The CCDC Armament POC for this action is , email:

Name:

Title: APO, Abrams Matrix Support CCDC Armaments Signature:

Date: 5 June 2019 Email:

11. Requirements Certification:

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

Name:

Title: Dir, CM&R PSID Signature:

Date: 7 June 2019

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

Normal acquisition procedures will be followed to determine that the contract price is fair and reasonable. The appropriate forms of cost and/or price analysis will be utilized, and negotiations will be conducted if necessary. Due to the estimated dollar value, an audit may be required from the Defense Contract Accounting Agency (DCAA). In addition, due to the estimated dollar value, certified cost and pricing data will be required in accordance with FAR 15.403.

Typed Name: Cynthia M. Fellows Title: Chief, Acquisition Division A Signature: Cynthia M. Fellows /s/

Date: 19 June 2019

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Name: Cynthia M. Fellows Title: Contracting Officer Signature: Cynthia M. Fellows /s/

Date: 19 June 2019

15. Legal Review:

Concur:

Date: 07/01/2019

Approval Authority for Acquisitions Equal to or Greater Than $13.5M

APPROVAL OF JUSTIFICATION

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Based on the foregoing Justification, I hereby approve the procurement of the following:

a. Noun: Weapon Station Controller Assembly

b. NSN: 1015-01-614-6318

c. LTC Minimum Quantity: 25

d. LTC Maximum Quantity: 500

e. LTC Minimum Dollar Value:

f. LTC Maximum Dollar Value:

This action will be awarded under other than full and open competition pursuant to the authority of 10 USC 2304(c)(1) and subject to the availability of funds. This approval is subject to the provision that the property herein described has otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Mark A. Brown, SES Acquisition Executive

BROWN.MARK.AL

BERT.1041175032

Digitally signed by

BROWN.MARK.ALBERT.104117

Date: 2019.07.16 14:28:02 -04'00'