JA TACKit_Redacted.pdf

This is a Department of the Air Force Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (CUI) document for a contract modification award to Baxter Aerospace.

The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is approving a modification on a sole source basis to Baxter Aerospace for Tactical Airborne Communication Kits (TACKit), spare units, spare parts, test assets, and field service representatives supporting Air Force aircraft platforms. The estimated contract value is $58.9 million under a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract. The justification cites 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as statutory authority, establishing that only one responsible source can satisfy agency requirements. The current contract number is FA861226CB002, and this modification is being awarded on an individual basis.

The rationale for sole source award centers on Baxter Aerospace being the only proven vendor capable of manufacturing, delivering, and sustaining TACKits in the current configuration without unacceptable delays. The original contract was awarded under the Unusual and Compelling Urgency authority of RFO 6.103-2 to support Operation Epic Fury. Market research indicates that standing up another vendor would cause unacceptable delays to fielded TACKit support, with competitive development estimated to require additional months and $4.344 million in non-recurring engineering costs. Baxter is currently producing and shipping TACKits weekly for downrange installation, with multiple units already deployed. The justification notes that the subscription service for Space X, previously cited as a sole source justification barrier, is no longer exclusively licensed to Baxter Aerospace. The Air Force anticipates TACKit requirements extending beyond March 2027 and plans to continue assessing intellectual property posture while pursuing competitive efforts through Air Force Research Lab programs for long-term technology advancement.