LSJ E-ABE_11 Sept. 2026._Redacted.pdf

Control Number: AVB-B-LSJ26-2471

FAR Part 8 Limited Sources Justification

Requiring Activity: U.S. Army Project Management Office (PMO) Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (ACC-Redstone).

Description of Action: Request approval to award a new noncompetitive Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) delivery order to N+1 Technologies, LLC, CAGE: 59W11, Sterling, Virginia. The delivery order will be fully funded using appropriate Fiscal Year (FY) Army ( ) funds. The action represents a single hardware acquisition for , System Integration Plus (SIP) Greyhound Interim Processors with a required delivery date of 145 days After Receipt of Order (ARO). No option periods or FAR 52.217-8 extensions are associated with this action.

Description of Supplies/Services: The requiring activity has a need to purchase 100 each, System Integration Plus (SIP) Greyhound Interim Processors. This hardware runs the Embedded Aircraft Survivability Equipment B-Kit Emulator (E-ABE) software, which emulates ASE cockpit displays and audio indications on Army rotary-wing aircraft.

This capability allows pilots to train realistically in a simulated Integrated Air Defense System (IADS) threat environment without the need to install physical, high-cost ASE B-kits or sensor hardware.

The interim processor is rugged, conduction-cooled, and specifically configured to fit into the physical envelope of the Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) Generation 3 Electronic Control Unit (ECU), utilizing the existing CMWS A-Kit wiring and interface.

The configuration includes dummy connectors to secure loose, unused aircraft cables.

Technical requirements include MIL-STD-461 power input, 28V DC MIL-STD-704 power hold-up, CEC24 computer architecture, 8GB DRAM, 256GB SATA SSD (2.5” removable), ATR and Tray mounting chassis, LCD front panel (16x2 MIL-grade), and a 4-position MIL-grade selector switch. Input/Output (I/O) is provided via MIL-38999 connectors (J1, J2, and J3) and includes maintenance ports (RS232, USB 2.0, DVI-D, and Gigabit Ethernet), two dual-redundant full-function MIL-STD-1553 channels (conformal coated, extended temperature), analog Audio Out, and at least 8 digital I/O channels for monitoring 28V Aircraft Discrete Lines.

5. Authority Cited: Title 41 U.S.C. §4106(c)(2) as implemented in FAR 8.405- 6(a)(1)(i)(B), “Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.”

6. Reason for Authority Cited: The SIP Greyhound Interim Processor is the only processor currently qualified, certified, and airworthy to execute the E-ABE software on legacy Army rotary-wing platforms. It has successfully completed Safety of Flight Testing and received an Airworthiness Release (AWR) for Fort Rucker and the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site for Utility Helicopter-60 (UH-60), Attack Helicopter-64 (AH-64), and Cargo Helicopter-47 (CH-47) platforms. Additionally, the SIP Greyhound has received formal Cybersecurity Authorization to Operate (ATO). The only authorized reseller of the SIP Greyhound interim processor is N + 1 Technologies, LLC.

Developing and qualifying an alternative COTS processor would require repeating the entire suite of engineering modifications, electrical/mechanical integration, Safety of Flight testing, airworthiness certifications for three different rotary-wing airframes, and cybersecurity ATO certification. Based on comprehensive market research and engineering analysis, qualifying another processor would cost the Government approximately in duplicate testing and engineering costs, approximately 1.5 years for research, development and Integration, and would cause a delay of at least 12 months (1 year).

Since there is an immediate and critical need to provide pilot training on legacy aircraft in simulated threat environments, a 1.5-year delay would result in severe training gaps, compromising pilot survivability and aviation unit mission readiness. Therefore, procuring any other hardware platform is unacceptable due to the duplication of cost and the critical training delays it would cause.

a. Background: In 2017, PMO ASE contracted Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation (GTARC)—a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC)—under the DTIC IAC MAC IDIQ to develop the E-ABE software. This software emulates ASE cockpit displays and audio indications to allow realistic simulation-based training without needing physical B-kits.

In 2022, GTARC worked with PMO ASE under a Firm-Fixed-Price contract to identify and qualify an interim Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) processor to run this software.

Four hardware options were initially reviewed: the GETAC x500 laptop, the Curtiss- Wright Parvus DuraCOR 8043, the GriDCASE 1505, and the SIP Greyhound.

While both the SIP Greyhound and Curtiss-Wright Parvus DuraCOR 8043 were selected for formal testing, Curtiss-Wright was unable to fulfill orders due to severe supply chain constraints. System Integration Plus (SIP) successfully configured the internal commercial components of the Greyhound processor to fit into the CMWS ECU mounting envelope and interface directly with the legacy A-Kit. This custom form-factor modification has since completed all testing and qualifications, establishing the SIP Greyhound as the sole qualified and airworthy processor for this program.

b. Alternatives:

Alternative 1: Conduct a competitive solicitation for a different commercial processor. This alternative is not acceptable. A different processor would lack the physical form-factor and connector configuration to fit in the CMWS ECU location and interface with the CMWS A-Kit. Re-engineering and re-testing another processor would require duplicate Safety of Flight testing, airworthiness certification on three airframes, and cybersecurity certification, costing approximately in duplicate testing, approximately in duplicate testing costs, approximately 2.5 years for research, development, Integration, testing and qualification.

Alternative 2: Suspend E-ABE training support. This alternative is not acceptable.

Failing to provide these processors would prevent legacy aircraft pilots from receiving realistic simulation training in IADS threat environments, directly impacting pilot survivability and aviation combat readiness.

Alternative 3: Use in-house resources. This alternative is not acceptable. The Government does not possess the technical data, specialized design tooling, or manufacturing capabilities required to produce ruggedized, conduction-cooled processing units that interface with the CMWS A-Kit.

c. Impact if not approved: If this justification is disapproved, PMO ASE will be unable to procure the required interim processors to support pilot training. Pilots at Fort Rucker and the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site will face immediate training degradation, impacting operational readiness and aircrew safety. In addition, the Government would be forced to absorb the unnecessary cost and time.

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(3), the Contracting Officer will publish the required notice and make this justification publicly available on the Government Point of Entry (SAM.gov) within 14 days of contract award.

Any bids or proposals received in response to the posting will be fully considered.

a. Effective competition: Due to the highly specialized nature of the E-ABE training hardware integration and the airworthiness/safety qualifications unique to the SIP Greyhound, competition is not possible for this immediate requirement. PMO ASE will continue to monitor the market for new processor technologies to determine if future competitive opportunities emerge.

b. Subcontracting competition: The proposed contractor, N+1 Technologies, LLC, is a small disadvantaged business. Since this procurement is for a commercial-off-the-shelf product with minor modifications, subcontracting opportunities are limited.

However, the prime contractor will be encouraged to seek competitive pricing for any sub-tier components or manufacturing support where applicable.

8. Actions to Increase Competition: PMO ASE will continue to monitor the commercial computer manufacturing industry for ruggedized, small form-factor processors. If another commercial product emerges that can interface with the CMWS A-Kit, meet legacy aircraft physical mounting restrictions, and achieve the required airworthiness and cybersecurity certifications, the Government will evaluate it for future competitive procurements.

9. Market Research: Market research was conducted within the last 12 months by searching GSA Advantage, NASA SEWP, SAM.gov, Google, consulting with PMO ASE Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and corresponding with GTRI.

The research verified that the SIP Greyhound interim processor can be acquired through GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) contracts. N+1 Technologies, LLC (CAGE: 59W11), a small, disadvantaged business, holds these contract vehicles and can supply the required hardware. No other commercial source provides an airworthy, certified processor that meets the specific physical, electrical, and cybersecurity requirements of the E-ABE program.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history. The SIP Greyhound processor has been previously acquired through FFP sole-source orders to GTARC part of Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) using the DTIC IAC MAC IDIQ vehicle under the authority of FAR 6.302-3 (Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services). These orders supported the initial testing, software integration, and pilot qualification phases. Unusual Patterns / Protests: There are no unusual procurement patterns or active/prior protests associated with this requirement.

All signature pages are separate from the body of the document.

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.

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.

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price/cost to the Government for this contract action represents the best value and will be fair and reasonable consistent with DoD Class Deviation 2014-O0011- Determination of Fair and Reasonable Prices When Using Federal Supply Schedule Contracts, dated March 13, 2014. This determination will be made using price analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b).

14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.