JSSSO JA 3db Labs Redacted.pdf

Document Number: 24-141

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity.

The requiring activity is the Joint Staff Security Office (JSSO) Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM); the contracting activity is NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk Contracting Department, Pentagon Directorate

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This is a sole-source action to be awarded as a new commercial items contract pursuant to the simplified procedures for certain commercial products and commercial services set forth at FAR Subpart 13.5 with 3dB Labs, Inc. The award of a Firm Fixed Price purchase order is anticipated.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The proposed acquisition is for the procurement of two Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Analysis Suites for JSSO TSCM. The JSSO TSCM team requires two (2) MONARCH RF Spectrum Analyzer Suites with SCEPTRE RF analysis software. The MONARCH RF Spectrum Analyzer Suites provide a customizable hardware and software package for secure communications that are uniquely configured and can be adjusted based on the JSSO TSCM mission requirements and temporary duty travel locations and conditions. The specific customizable suites that JSSO TSCM requires are the MONARCH-LT-16-PRO- USGITAR- SM435CX-8TB and the MONARCH-LT-16-10G-ITAR-SM435CX-8TB, along with the following accessories: two (2) MONARCH Omnidirectional Antenna Kits capable of receiving up to 40GHz, and one (1) Software Defined Radio (SDR) capable of RF analysis up to 6GHz with a PowerLine Adaptor Kit. JSSO TSCM also requires the procurement of two (2) 5-day training courses from 3dB Labs, Inc. on the new equipment and software to train JSSO TSCM personnel without interrupting operational missions. The Independent Government Estimate for the Monarch RF Spectrum Analysis Suites, inclusive of the SCEPTRE RF analysis software and accessory kits, and training courses totals

The resultant Purchase Order will be funded with FY24 Operations & Maintenance, Defense-wide (O&M, DW) appropriations. These funds are currently available. The required delivery date is 140 days after date of Award. The requested supplies and services represent the minimum requirements of the government.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Sole Source.

The statutory authority permitting this sole source action is 41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified acquisition procedures - a sole source acquisition using simplified acquisition procedures for the acquisition of commercial items, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The Joint Staff (JS) Security Directorate (JSSO) Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) Branch is responsible for ensuring that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS) and all Joint Staff facilities and activities involving sensitive information are properly safeguarded against Foreign Intelligence operations, technical surveillance penetrations, or hazards and physical security weaknesses which could result in the unauthorized access to classified or sensitive material. Compromising emanations and unauthorized signals pose a significant threat to the sensitive and classified information processed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The JSSO TSCM team requires the sophisticated, configurable and customizable hardware and software tools manufactured by 3dB Labs, Inc. to detect, analyze, and thwart these technical security threats.

The required RF Spectrum Analyzer Suite and associated software and accessories must be configured to support a frequency range up to at least 40GHz, as well as contain an omnidirectional antenna capable with a frequency range up to at least 40 GHz. The powerline adapter must have a frequency range up to 6GHz. Additionally, the RF Spectrum Analyzer Suite software must be compatible with multiple Software Defined Radios (SDR) for customization based on JSSO TSCM mission requirements and existing equipment, and be capable of the following: Software-driven wideband swept spectrum scanning > 200 GHz/second; Recording of spectrum, pre-demodulation, audio, PDW; Analog and Digital Demodulation of Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM), Phase Modulation (PM), Single Sideband(SSB), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), Amplitude Shift Keying(ASK), Phase Shift Keying (PSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) as well as a double demodulation capability;

Configurable processing and displays; Ability to pause real time, look back, zoom, place markers; Digital video demodulation and decode; and Database of recordings with flexible tagging. The required RF Spectrum Analyzer Suite must also maintain light weight and small size for worldwide portability within the JSSO TSCM team kits which are limited in weight and dimensions due to airline luggage restrictions.

3dB Labs Inc., is the only company capable of meeting JSSO TSCM’s requirements. 3dB Labs Inc. is the sole manufacturer of the MONARCH Spectrum Analyzer suites, which are customized to the mission needs of JSSO TSCM as defined herein and can be configured as a small, lightweight spectrum analyzer capable of scanning a vast portion of the RF spectrum quickly and in robust detail. 3dB Labs Inc., also manufactures and maintains the powerful software tools included in the SCEPTRE Software suite allowing technicians to effectively analyze signals of interest. 3dB Labs, Inc. exclusively owns and developed the SCEPTRE software code. Other vendors offer RF spectrum analyzers, but the MONARCH suites with SCEPTRE RF analysis software are the fastest, most capable, most customizable and feature-rich product with a portable form factor on the market. JSSO TSCM has conducted side-by-side comparisons during operational missions with other comparable commercially available options, the results of which have shown the MONARCH RF analysis suites and SCEPTRE software are the only suite of products that possess the requisite wider range of capabilities as specified herein to satisfy JSSO TSMC’s mission requirements.

The MONARCH RF Spectrum Analyzer Suite configured with SCEPTRE RF analysis software is essential to the Government's requirements and market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the features, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's needs.

3dB Labs, Inc. is the only source capable of satisfying JSSO TSCM’s mission needs.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable, including a Description of Market Research, if applicable, and a List of Interested Sources, if any.

The results of JSSO’s market research confirmed that the required MONARCH RF Spectrum Analyzer Suite consists of proprietary equipment that is exclusively owned, manufactured, and configured by 3dB Labs Inc. Based on its knowledge and expertise, JSSO TSCM has determined that no companies other than 3dB Labs, Inc. have the knowledge and technical capability required to provide the configurable RF Spectrum Analyzer Suite. The lack of any responses to a synopsis of the planned contract published on the SAM.gov website on 10 June 2024 validates JSSO TSCM’s determination.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by this Justification will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Contracting Department, Pentagon Directorate has no plans at this time to compete future contacts for the types of supplies/services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Contracting Department, Pentagon Directorate will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

9. Contracting Point of Contact. The NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Contracting Dept, Pentagon Directorate, point of contact is Kevin Brennan, who may be contacted by e-mail at kevin.m.brennan21.civ@us.nayy.mil.