JA_SPRDL120R0276_Redacted.pdf

No Prior J&A Available

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SPRDL1-20-R-0276

JA-00191

1. Contracting Agency: Defense Logistics Agency - DLA Land Warren.

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is to award a contract to Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), CAGE 98247. The actual manufacturer will be General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) - Canada, CAGE 05257 for National Stock Number (NSN) 5998-01-373-0867 Circuit Card Assembly (CCA).

The Sensor Circuit Card Assembly, NSN 5998-01-373-0867, is used on the Computer Electronic Unit Sub-Assembly (Part Number 13010998).

This action is to award a new, one time buy, utilizing a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract for the CCA, as described below, utilizing Army Working Capital Funds (AWCF).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: GDMS-Canada will provide the Circuit Card Assembly, NSN 5998-01-373-0867.

Government Part Number : 12925896

The Sensor Input Circuit Card Assembly (CCA) is one of several CCA's located within the Computer Electronics Unit (CEU) Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) which is part of the the Fire Control System. The purpose of the Sensor Input (CCA) is to receive different analog signals produced by sensors and equipment on the tank and generates an equivalent digital value which is read by the Central Processor. The Sensor Input (CCA) also provides current limited power supplies - that are individually controlled - to some external devices such as the Cant sensor, Wind sensor, and Reticle Drive.

The deliverables for this contract are as follows:

Base Quantity: 150 Each Option Quantity: 150 Each Total Quantity: 300 Each for a total value of estimated value of

Acquisition Method Code (AMC):

3 - Acquire, for the second or subsequent time, directly from the actual manufacturer.

Acquisition Method Suffix Code (AMSC):

H - The Government physically does not have in its possession sufficient, accurate, or legible data to purchase this part from other than the current source(s). This code is applicable only to parts under immediate buy requirements and only for as long thereafter as the deficiency is under review for resolution and appropriate recoding. This code is only assigned at the conclusion of limited screening, and it remains assigned until the full screening process resolves physical data questions and results in assignment of a different AMSC. If one source is available, AMCs 3, 4, or 5 are valid. If at least two sources exist, AMCs 1 or 2 are valid.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this effort is 10 United States code (U.S.C.) 2304 (c) (1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

GDMS-Canada manufactures the Sensor Input (CCA) and has passed all of the requirements of the government qualification testing. GDMS-Canada is the sole owner of the Technical Data Package (TDP) and the United States Government did not purchase the proprietary rights to produce a competitive TDP. GDMS-Canada has the unique and proven qualities and capabilities – facilities, resources,manufacturing, perform failure analysis, develop inspection, acceptance criteria for components, repair/rebuild, test and development experience - to produce the Sensor Input. No vendors, other than GDMS-Canada, have met the required performance standards.

GDMS-Canada has demonstrated the unique and proven manufacturing capabilities to establish and maintain the processing control required to repetitively produce the Sensor Input (CCA).

GDMS-Canada Sensor Input (CCA) is required to comply with multiple specifications and pass extensive testing procedures outlined in Product Fabrication Specification SC12993599. The Abrams Tank, both the M1A1 and M1A2 models including the Australian, Egyptian, Iraqi, Saudi and Kuwaiti specific configurations has to be utilized in order to perform various testing requirements for this component. The Sensor Input (CCA) shall meet the performance requirements with the Sub-assembly Computer Electronics Unit (CEU) to provide continuous monitoring of the performance of the Fire Control System and on demand by the operator, conducts a system self-test and outputs the results to the Computer Control Panel (CCP) display. In addition to the operations, nuclear hardening, functionality, compatibility, and interoperability tests, the assembly shall meet the continuity & isolation, circuit isolation, storage temperature, high intensity shock, basic shock, ballistic shock, submergence and electromagnetic compatibility requirements. The assembly shall be subject to a functional shock exposure test to ensure the intermittent operation does not occur and the shock level shall be 10 +- 1.0g for a duration of 25 +- 2.5 ms. Three shocks shall be provided in each direction of the three mutually perpendicular axes in accordance with MIL-STD-

810. The assembly shall not support fungus growth when exposed to inoculation by spraying external surfaces with spore suspension as defined by the “Specimen Inoculation” followed by exposure to ambient air temperatures of 80 to 84 Fahrenheit at relative humidity between 96 and 100% for a 28 day period in accordance with ASTM G21. Failure to meet all the requirements specified in the Product Fabrication Specification SB12993599 and supporting specifications will jeopordize readiness of the entire Computer Electronic Unit Sub-assembly which is used in the (CEU). Thus, parts that are not properly qualified will cause the CEU to not function properly; causing an Operational Mission Failure and necessitating a mission abort if this part fails during an operational event.

Note 1: The Sensor Input (CCA) cannot be produced without GDMS-Canada proprietary sublevel items. For example: Linear Hybrid 12 Bit Analog-To-Digital Converter Microcircuit (P/N:05275-12913543); CMOS Dual B-Channel Differential Analog Mutiplexer Microcircuit (PN:05257-12913543) as well as the System Test Station (PN:

098352-901,902) which are proprietary and only available from GDMS-Canada.

Note 2: GDMS-Canada stable based mylars are needed to manufacture the Sensor Input (CCA); however, GDMS-Canada will not release the stable based mylars to their competitors.

Based on the above information, sole source procurement to GDMS-Canada is the only method of procurement currently available to insure supportability of fielded tanks.

The United States Government does not own proprietary rights to the TDP for the Sensor Input (CCA) that would be required to produce a competitive TDP. Due to the limited performance and technical data available on the Sensor Input (CCA), reverse engineering is the only recourse the Government could entertain to increase competition through development of a competitive TDP. A significant amount of time and money would be necessary to reverse engineering the Sensor Input (CCA);

conducting engineering verification testing/analysis/inspections; logistical development;

conduct system level testing; and Nuclear Hardness & Survivability Testing. Even if a reverse engineering effort is successful, the United States Government will incur excessive costs and lead-time delays.

Duplication of Cost Through

Competition

Paragraph Task Cost estimate

Est Time to Complete

A Reverse Engineer of Application Specific Design

$450,000 12 Months

B Engineering Verification Testing/Analysis/ Inspections of Application Specific Design

$900,000 24 Months

C Logistical Development $25,000 6 Months D Nuclear Hardness and Survivability

Testing *$60,000 *6 Months

E Conduct System Level Testing *100,000 *6 Months

*The Nuclear Hardness and Survivability Testing and Conduct System Level Testing estimated cost and time are included in the Engineering Verification Testing/Analysis $900,000 and 24 months.

a) Reverse engineering includes but not limited to the following: identify all the deficiencies; conduct market research on available parts and components; work in conjunction with General Dynamics Land and Systems (Abrams Tank system integrator); obtain existing parts; tear down and understand the design; redesign parts that are unavailable from approved sources; redesign parts that may be obsolete at the time of the reverse engineering effort; create a prototype and generate a new TDP. The new TDP would include components complete drawings, performance specifications, and qualification procedures. Thus, this effort could run as high as $450,000 and an estimated delay could take up to 12 months.

b) Engineering verification testing includes but not limited to detection probability, range rate, system response, range accuracy, target discrimination, false return rate, electrical protection, power isolation, signal isolation, activation time, ripple and noise, dynamic & steady state current, circuit continuity, durability test and system level/ higher level assembly testing required to test Sensor Input (CCA). Analysis includes but not limited to reviewing the engineering data and preparing technical reports. Inspections include but not limited to Document control, Traceability, Lot Control, Manufacturing Process Control, Test Control, Calibration Control, Corrective Actions & Control or Non-conforming Material, Internal Audits, Records Control and Product Control. Also, there would be costs for test facilities and extensive M1A1 and M1A2 (Australian, Egyptian, Iraqi, Saudi and Kuwaiti specific configurations) Abrams Tank systems tests to ensure proper field operation of the (CEU) Sub-Assembly (PN:13010998) which is the end item for the Sensor Input (CCA). Thus, this effort could run as high as $900,000 and an estimated delay could take up to 24 months.

c) Logistical Development includes but not limited to updating Technical Bulletins, provision part (assigning NSN), developing new technical manuals for the new configuration (Sensor Input CCA) will cost at least $25,000 and could take up to 6 months.

d) The Sensor Input (CCA) is a Nuclear Hardness Critical item which means (NH&ST) is required. NH&ST includes nuclear testing, physical testing in a simulated environment, modeling, simulation, and analysis. The NH&ST, as well as the Nuclear Survivability Assessment (electronic microcircuit test phase, system analysis test phase, and system level test phase), would be conducted at the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command through White Sands Missile Range for nuclear hardness compatibility and survivability. The estimated cost to conduct NH&ST could run as high as $60,000 and could take at least 6 months to complete.

e) Conduct System Level Testing: Weapon system level testing will need to be performed at a Government testing facility, such as Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), to

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

a. Effective competition efforts:

Due to the reasons cited in section 5 above, the Government is not pursuing competition for this item.

SOLE SOURCE: Notices required by FAR 5.201 will be posted.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: There are no plans to increase competition for future procurements due to the reasons cited above.

No vendors are in the process of being qualified at this time, nor will be prior to the contract award.

The Government intends to solicit only from GDMS-Canada based on the rationale provided in paragraph 5 above. The notices required by FAR 5.201 shall be published for this effort, and any bids or proposals received will be considered. There has not been any expressed interest by any known contractors to become a qualified source to produce this Sensor Input (CCA).

To ensure the contractor competitively awards subcontracts to the maximum extent possible, the contract will contain FAR Clauses 52.244-5, “Competition in Subcontracting,” and 52.244-2, “Subcontracts.” GDMS-Canada will not be required to submit a subcontracting plan based on the projected dollar value.

8. Market Research: Market Research efforts included:

Posted a Sources Sought/Request for Information on the Beta.Sam.Gov website on: 10 August 2020. Results of the posted are described below:

Responses received, assessment of the responses below:

This procurement action was synopsized in Beta.Sam.Gov on 10 August 2020 as required to improve access to acquisition information and to enhance competition by identifying subcontracting opportunities. To date, no responses have been received.

The Sole Source Manufacturer, GDMS-Canada (CAGE 05257), has confirmed that they are able to supply P/N 12925896, Sensor Input (CCA), to the United States Government. This information was captured via email on 04 March 2020 by the Contract Specialist and the Engineer assigned to this case.

Performed Internet searches for suitable competition, described below:

During July 2020 Combat Capability Development Command Armaments Center - Rock Island Configuration Management Officer/Engineer conducted a computer-based online search of known suppliers looking for published material on a new built customized military grade Sensor Input (CCA). In addition, market research was performed by utilizing IHS Haystack Gold, Ability One, and UNICOR.