justification_and_approval_RFO_REDACTED.pdf

This is a Department of the Air Force Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (CUI document) for a sole-source acquisition under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1).

The Air Force Test Center (AFTC), Directorate of Contracting, Installation Contracting Division, located at Edwards AFB, CA, seeks to procure a firm-fixed-price contract for a brand-name Shark R-134a Refrigerant Reclaimer—specialized equipment designed to recover, recycle, and remove contaminants such as oil, acid, and moisture from R-134a refrigerant. The equipment is required to perform maintenance on Polyalphaolefin (PAO) Liquid Coolant Carts used for ground maintenance of F-22 aircraft and current USAF refrigerant reclaimer systems. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) ceased operations in 2018, and existing on-hand units have obsolescence issues. The justification documents that the SHARK refrigerant reclaimer, manufactured by RefTec International Systems, LLC, possesses unique single-pass reclamation technology certified by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) to clean R134a refrigerant to the ARI 700 standard. Market research confirmed multiple vendors can provide Shark refrigerant reclaimers, yet the justification supports sole-source procurement based on the equipment's specialized capabilities. The Contracting Officer certified the acquisition is under $10M. Future acquisitions will include continuous market research efforts to identify alternative products and overcome competition barriers as new technologies emerge.