Justification and Approval FAR Part 6_Q-Star _KO signed_Redacted.pdf

Control Number: MZB-B-J&A24-1845

Justification Review Document for Other than Full and Open Com petition - FAR Part 6

Program/Equipment: The Systems Readiness Directorate of the Aviation and Missile Center, Combat Capabilities Development Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, has a requirement to purchase Q-Star (QTEC Solutions Inc.) Tool Subscription Software Maintenance License.

Authority: In accordance with FAR 6.302-1 (a)(2) & FAR 6.302-1 (c)- Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements and name brand description.

Prepared by:

Typed Name: Amanda K. Cole DSN: ________ _

Title: Program Analyst Date: 28 May 2024

E-mail: amanda.k.cole5.civ@army.mil

Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: Dianna Cooper DSN:

Date Reviewed: ________ E-Mail: dianna.cooper2.civ@army.mil

Technical Representative:

Typed Name: Amanda K. Cole DSN: ________ _

Title: Program Analyst Date: 28 May 2024

Requirements Representative:

Typed Name: Amanda K. Cole DSN: ________ _

Title: Program Analyst Date: 28 May 2024

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

1 AUG 2022

Reviews

I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Program Manager (1)

Typed Name: Heidi Preston DSN: _________ _

Signature:

(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3. 104-4)

AUG 2022

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition - FAR Part 6

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command - Redstone (CCAM-MZB B, Modernization Directorate), Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000

2. Description of Action: The Systems Readiness Directorate of the Aviation and Missile Center, Combat Capabilities Development Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, requests approval to award a sole source, firm-fixed-price contract. The Government projects award for September 2024.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Systems Readiness Directorate of AvMC requires the QStar Obsolescence Management tool to evaluate electronics manufacturing trends to assess microcircuit and component obsolescence risks for Army aviation and missile systems and other DoD products. This includes interfacing with part/component manufacturers, vendors, and government personnel to monitor manufacturing and supplier trends against military life cycle production needs (including spares and multiple users).

4. Authority Cited: This justification meets the requirements of FAR 6.302-1 (a)(2) - This item is available from only one responsible source and no other type of supply will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The Q-Star subscription is proprietary and only available through QTEC Solutions, INC. The tool must contain the following attributes:

a. ROHS Management

b. Die Availability

c. Second Source and alternates

d. Lifecycle Availability analysis

e. BOM upload, risk analysis f . Proactive PCN alert Push

g. Unlimited Research Request

h. Secure, data-centric forum to collaborate on common part problems

i. COTS:

(1) Ability to import COTS bill of material information

(2) Single COTS part look up capability

(3) COTS BOM Risk analysis ( 4) COTS lifecycle predictions

(5) COTS product alerts

(6) Unlimited research requests

(7) Ability to add parts to COTS library Web based

j. 508 compliant

(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3. 104-4)

Q-Star is the only subscription tool providing the above required information and COTS Lifecycle predictions. It is the only tool providing proactive PCN alert push and only known tool to recognize COTS parts in the current Army part library, a critical requirement when considering the time/funds saved by NOT having to research the remaining "unrecognized" percentage of components. By having additional parts added to the Q-Star library the "recognition rate" will be increased thus reducing the amount of time and funds required to research "unrecognized" components. The Q-Star tool is the only tool currently available which provides the Life Cycle Code (LCC) with the amount of accuracy required per the standards of the Obsolescence Engineering Branch and the ability to collaborate on common part problems. The tool is also unique in the amount of information associated with process and material changes. This tool also has a larger library of COTS and mil- standard devices than other tools. Q-Star also provides a secure, data-centric forum to collaborate on common part problems. Q-Star is the only tool that provides this collaborative environment and can meet the obsolescence branch's requirement. This information is critical for the effective management of obsolescence at a component level. Failure to obtain the Q-Star tool would result in the inability of the Manufacturing and Electronics Technology Division, SRO, DEVCOM AvMC to perform its' mission efficiently and would result in negative impacts to cost, schedule and readiness to the systems supported by the Manufacturing and Electronics Technology Division, SRO, DEVCOM AvMC.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Other software researched (via internet searches), tool demonstrations and correspondence with tool representative were TPP, Silicon Experts, BOM Manager, and WindChill; however, they did not meet the government requirement standards for the auto research process and required algorithms. There are no other known predictive tools on the market other than those mentioned in this review.

https://www.sourceintelligence.com/ https://www.siliconexpert.com/ https://www.mrpeasy.com/bill-of-materials-bom-software/ https://www. ptc. com /en/products/w indc hil I

7. Actions to Increase Competition: In the future, any new developments in this technology area will be evaluated to determine whether the requirement can be procured under full and open competition and competed to the fullest extent possible.

8. Market Research: Product list for DoD ELA and ESI were reviewed with no findings.

Request for Quotes via ARMY CHESS RFI #492155 was initiated on 7 May 2024 through ITES-SW2 (25 vendors) and no positive responses were received. GSA Advantage was also searched with no results found. Approved CHESS Statement of Non-Availability #216807984was received on 23 May 2024. Historical acquisitions (listed in section i.) indicate vendor, QTEC Solutions, Inc.

(Now Part Of Source Intelligence) as a provider. Contacted Sole Source Vendor and requested information about approved government resellers (email attached).

(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

9. Interested Sources: To date, no other sources have written to express an interest.

The notices required by FAR 5.201 shall be published in the Sam.gov and any proposals received shall receive due consideration in accordance with regulatory guidelines.

10. Other Facts:

Procurement history.

11. Technical Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. -Signature: Oate: 2024.07.2413:01:10-05'00' Date:

Typed Name: Amanda K. Cole Title: Program Analyst

12. Requirements Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. ---Date: 2024.07.24 13:01:45 -05'00' Signature: Date: ----------- Typed Name: Amanda K. Cole Title: Program Analyst

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

Signature: _ llll■.IL . Date: -------

Typed Name: Dianna Cooper Title: Contracting Officer

{Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Dianna Cooper Title: Contracting Officer

{Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)