JA -SPRDL123R0059_redacted.pdf

SPRDL1-23-R-0059 (JA-00630)

Previous J&A: SPRDL1-20-D-0028

Valve and Bottle Assembly. This unit is a specialized and developed specifically for the United States (U.S.) Government use and Kidde Technologies Inc., has tested, and gained approval for use of this item in the M88 FOVs.

The Government has a Technical Data Package (TDP) with a specification, but it is not a build to print TDP. Due to the risk associated with this and the criticality of the part, the Government requires qualification prior to source approval.

The Fire Extinguisher Valve and Bottle Assembly is specialized and developed specifically for the U.S. Government’s use and Kidde Technologies Inc., has tested, and gained approval for use of this item in the M88 FOVs. Kidde Technologies Inc. has been a leader in fire detection and suppression equipment and uses their expertise to create systems unique for each vehicle requirements. Parts that have not been qualified, and verified on vehicles during test would present the program with high safety risks and could jeopardize the end user. If another possible source of supply for this item were identified, qualification testing would be required.

To make the Fire Extinguisher Valve and Bottle Assembly competitive, the Government would need to initiate a reverse engineering effort, which would require significant duplication of cost. The estimated cost to develop a competitive TDP for this item through reverse engineering could run as high as $1M, which includes fabrication and testing of the prototype hardware and releasing a validated TDP. In addition, there would be added costs to qualify another source. Vehicle level qualification, durability and safety testing would be required to prove out this item if manufactured by a new source at an estimated cost of an additional $1.75M. The total estimated duplication of cost including all the tasks to reverse engineer and test a new item would be approximately $2.7M and a .

A total estimated cost breakdown is as follows:

Reverse Engineering Effort Development of TDP

Obtain sample set of new bottle assemblies: $ 3.5K Dry Chemical Development: $200K Technical data development: $500K Design activity: Prototyping, Integration, Test: $250K

Vehicle Level Qualification RAM Testing of 5,000 miles: $750K Safety/Fire Event Testing: $500K Vendor Qualification: $500K

Total: $2.7M

The Government would not be expected to recover, through subsequent competition, the duplication of costs to qualify additional vendors to the drawings within a reasonable timeframe. At an estimated usage rate of units per year, average unit price of and assuming % savings achieved thorough competition, the $ in annual savings would take approximately to offset the estimated $2,700,000 cost of reverse engineering the item and validate the TDP.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

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

b. Subcontracting competition: Unless the contract is awarded to a small business, the solicitation and resulting contract will include FAR clauses 52.219-8, "Utilization of Small Business Concerns"; 52.244-5, "Competition in Subcontracting"; 52.219-16, "Liquidated Damages--Subcontracting Plan";" and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.219-7003, "Small Business Subcontracting Plan (DoD Contracts)," to maximize small business opportunities and utilization.

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.

As stated in Section 5, above, there is no reverse engineering effort planned to support a competitive procurement. Due to the costs associated with developing a competitive TDP that cannot be recovered also stated in section 5, the Government is not actively pursuing the development of a competitive TDP for future procurements.

8. Market Research: A Sources Sought Notice was posted to SAM.gov on 28 February 2023 and was open for 15 days. No responses were received.

In accordance with the tenets set forth in FAR 10.002(b)(2)(vii), market research was performed by Ground Vehicle System Center (GVSC) Sustainment Engineering on 8 February 2023 by web search. Search criteria included pressurized fire extinguisher for automated systems and automated fire suppression systems. Many systems exist that combat the issue of fire suppression with automated solutions, however, none returned would conform or met the tailored fit, form and function of the source-controlled assembly used on the M88 FOVs. Additionally, the various chemicals and agents would need to be tested to ensure they are safe around end users. Most products reviewed did not indicate whether it would be safe to be present in event of a fire suppression event. The following are examples of the various systems reviewed:

Keyword(s): Pressurized fire extinguisher for automated systems

Website: https://www.incontrolsystems.net/automatic-extinguishers

Findings: Products available include automated systems that work by mechanical means of detecting heat and releasing an agent. Bottle for containment purposes would look to be feasible, but system interfaces and deployment mechanisms would require extensive redesign and testing to work with the existing M88 system.

Keyword(s): automated fire suppression systems

Website: https://www.firepro.com/en/fire-suppression-technology

Findings: The results of this search provided alternative extinguishing solutions with new compounds to suppress fire events. The chemical system appears to leave oxygen in the affected area, which could test favorably for user safety. Similar to the prior system reviewed within Control Systems, the bottle design and release mechanisms would need extensive redesign and testing to work with the existing M88 system.

In addition to the online market research conducted, Kidde Technologies was contacted on 5 June 2023 for completion of a Commerciality Request and any supporting information in asserting this product as commercial or noncommercial. In response dated 21 June 2023, Kidde Technologies provided a completed Commerciality Request indicating this product to be of a type in the commercial marketplace, with modification.

The information provided by Kidde Technologies in supporting this assertion was against a comparable system under Kidde P/N 475090-1 Fire Extinguisher Valve and Bottle Assembly (Fire Extinguisher) available in the commercial marketplace, and also against which “high level modifications” may be made, such as to the shape of the pressure vessel to meet certain weight and interface requirements, the type of valve and suppression agents used to support varying commercial customer requirements.

As a result of the overall Market Research conducted, NSN 4210-01-605-5218, Government part number (P/N) 12510283 / manufacturer P/N 422114-1, Fire Extinguisher Valve and Bottle Assembly (Fire Extinguisher) is considered of a type offered for sale to the public in the commercial marketplace and, therefore, meets the definition of a commercial product at FAR 2.101.

9. Interested Sources: To date no additional sources have expressed interest in this item.

10. Other Facts: Procurement History:

Contract Number: SPRDL1-23-F-0021 Contract Award Date: 12 November 2022 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $476,316.28 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-20-F-0341 Contract Award Date: 29 August 2020 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $629,559.84 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-20-F-0129 Contract Award Date: 6 February 2020 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $883,864.80 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-13-D-0041 0007 Contract Award Date: 12 July 2018 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $241,542 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-13-D-0041 0006 Contract Award Date: 25 April 2018 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $192,339 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-13-D-0041 0005 Contract Award Date: 27 February 2018 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $192,339 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-13-D-0041 0004 Contract Award Date: 25 August 2017 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $187,695 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-13-D-0041 0003 Contract Award Date: 3 May 2017 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $187,695 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-13-D-0041 0002 Contract Award Date: 14 December 2016 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $187,695 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source

Contract Number: SPRDL1-13-D-0041 0001 Contract Award Date: 25 September 2013 Contractor: Kidde Technologies, Inc.

Contract Value: $224,100 Competitive Status: FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source