Summary: Department of the Air Force Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

This is a Justification and Approval (J&A) document for a sole-source contract award to Baxter Aerospace for Tactical Airborne Communication Kits (TACKit) in support of Operation Epic Fury. The contracting activity is DAF PAE C3BM/C3K, and the acquisition value falls in the $10M to $100M range. The justification is based on Unusual and Compelling Urgency under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(2).

The USAF requires immediate TACKit capability to support Operation Epic Fury, which commenced on February 28, 2026, following presidential direction to conduct operations against Iran. TACKit comprises airborne communication systems with integrated digital subscriptions and field service representative (FSR) support for a period not to exceed a specified timeframe. Baxter Aerospace is the sole qualified vendor, having co-developed, tested, and qualified the TACKit system and already possessed operational aircraft equipped with the technology. A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) was awarded on March 27, 2026, with a Not-to-Exceed value and includes options for additional kit procurement. The USAF anticipates exercising procurement options as early as May 2026 and plans to definitize the UCA by August 6, 2026. Baxter Aerospace is identified as the only vendor with the requisite technology, platform experience, and staffing to immediately support the operation, and awarding to any other source would cause unacceptable delays in delivering operational systems.