N00164_170831_FBO.docm

J&A Number: 18-010

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

CRANE DIVISION

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

300 HIGHWAY 361

CRANE INDIANA 47522-5001

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

This justification and approval authorizes, on a sole-source basis, an award for a firm fixed price indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with CPI Radant Technologies Division, Cage 3J847 for production of AN/ALQ-99 EA-18G Extended Low Band Radomes (GELBRs) (Model: CW-1265/ALQ-99(V)).

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The EA-18G Extended Low Band Radome (GELBR) is an aerodynamic cover for the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System pod and is a broadband Radome for flight vehicle applications. The Radome designation is AN/ALQ-99(V) GELBR CW-1265/ALQ-99(V), National Stock Number 1680-01-571-8369.

The Governments minimum requirements have been verified by the appropriate certifying technical and requirements personnel for 25 units to be produced during FY18 and a maximum of 65 units through the end of FY22. The chart below shows the funding appropriation for production:

Estimated Dollar Value

SCN

RDT&E

O&MN

FMS

Total

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Only one identified responsible source allows for this life-cycle cost savings to satisfy the fleet requirements. IAW FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

The rationale behind this sole source to Radant Technologies is to reduce duplicative first article costs and avoid unacceptable delays n fulfilling the Government’s requirements that would be incurred by awarding to another manufacturer. Awarding this contract to another vendor would add considerable time delays for delivery of these GELBRs to the fleet. A current NAVAIR contract with Radant Technologies for GELBLR production, N00019-09-R-0297, is in performance and is set to conclude, with no further production, on 30 SEP 2017.

The performance specification for the GELBR requires that if production ceases for more than six months or production location changes, then a first article is required. This would require a first article destruct unit to be produced and destructively tested prior to new production beginning. Past destruct testing has taken approximately two years (the current vendor took ~two years from a post-award conference to approval of the first article). The learning curve for “first time” construction of this unit is very steep. Production commencement is contingent upon a successful result. If the results are unsuccessful, the manufacturer must repeat the process and re-perform destructive testing. In addition to the two years schedule delay (or possibly more dependent upon the results of the testing), awarding to any other vendor would be cost prohibitive for the Government in that, at a minimum, it would require an additional $858,500 (2 Engineers X 2 years @ $125/Hour) to qualify them for this requirement.

Additionally, all ALQ-99 Radomes are cured with the aid of a bond jig tool and occurs within an autoclave. In order to ensure proper cure environments for a specific autoclave, a Radome manufacturer must run a thermal survey on the existing bond jig. Past thermal surveys have taken approximately seven months to determine if a bond jig is of the proper temperature. This also includes the generation and review of a report. In addition to the seven month schedule delay, awarding to another vendor would be cost prohibitive in that it would cost the Government, at a minimum, an additional $250,000 (2 Engineers X 7 Months @ $125/Hour) to qualify them for this requirement.

Also, a new vendor will have to perform a complete antenna range characterization in order to establish baseline range attributes in preparation for acceptance test procedures for production units. Past antenna range characterizations have taken approximately one year to complete, which also includes generation and review of a report. Range characterization will require the Government to provide Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) in the form of ALQ-99 antennas. In addition to a one year schedule delay, awarding to another vendor would be cost prohibitive in that the Government, at a minimum, will spend an additional $429,250 (2 Engineers X 1 Year @ $125/Hour) to qualify them for this requirement.

Antenna range characterization also includes range correlation which involves the comparison of data from other ranges and utilizes a current production Radome. The last correlation effort at Radant Technologies took approximately eight months and included the generation and review of a report with GFE. In addition to an eight month schedule delay, awarding to another vendor would cost the Government, at a minimum, an additional $286,166 (2 Engineers X 8 Months @ $125/Hour) to qualify them for this requirement.

Furthermore, all Radome tooling is currently located at Radant Technologies’ facilities. If Radome production work were to be moved, several tons of large tools would have to be packaged, shipped and re-calibrated/inspected upon arrival at a new facility, meaning additional costs and schedule impacts that would certainly be incurred by the Government.

In summary, the issues noted would be major cost and schedule hurdles. Also, the issues discussed do not convey the many intangibles that exist in regards to the know-how and expertise with the Government’s requirement that only Radant Technologies has gained during the current NAVAIR contract. The Government expended an extreme amount of time and money teaching, clarifying, tailoring, and modifying the (Build-to-Package) process for success with Radant Technologies.

Per the figures provided in the previous paragraphs, the total estimates cost that would be duplicated by the Government if it were to contract with a different vendor to manufacture and test the production GELBRs units is $1,823,916 (not including the packaging and shipping costs of moving the Government Furnished Equipment). This amounts to an additional 20-30% cost over the anticipated total value of this contract action which the Government does not expect to recoup if it were to pursue a competitive procurement.

Furthermore, although the different tasks identified can all be performed in parallel, the Government anticipates two years in schedules delays (at a minimum) in the event of award to any other source. These production GELBRs are required by the fleet to fill current operating deficiencies and ensure that future deficiencies are avoided. If competition was pursued on this effort, then resulting delays would negatively impact the ALQ-99 program causing the fleet to operate with critical risks.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable

A sources sought synopsis was posted on November 8, 2017 on the Federal Business Opportunities (FEDBIZOPS) website and a regular synopsis was posted on 7 December 2017 on the FEDBIZOPS. No other market research was conducted, because it is not practicable for the reasons discussed in paragraph five above, for any other company other than Radant Technologies to provide the required supplies and services. There have been no responses from any potential vendors other than Radant Technologies, the anticipated sole source.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for the supplies/services covered by the J&A will be fair and reasonable.

Radant Technologies will submit a cost estimate for the contract actions; the Contracting Officer will evaluate this cost estimate to determine if it is fair and reasonable with help from technical personnel. The RTA will also complete an IGE to help determine the fairness and reasonableness of the contractor’s proposal.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

The Government currently owns the complete level III Technical Data Package (TDP) for the GELBR which would allow for competition after this contracting action is complete; however, the issue of all the duplicative costs associated with first article production and qualification will nonetheless still be present and would need to be addressed. In the unlikely event that another potential source emerges, NSWC Crane will assess at that time whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(c))

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and its supporting acquisition planning data, including Acquisition Plan No. , are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

TECHNICAL COGNIZANCE:

Signature Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No. Date

REQUIREMENTS COGNIZANCE:

Signature Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No. Date

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW (NMCARS 5206.303(90))

I have determined this justification is legally sufficient.

Signature Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No. Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12))

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

Signature Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No. Date

APPROVAL BLOCK (FAR 6.304 for Approving Official)

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve, as Competition Advocate for the Procuring Activity the solicitation of the proposed procurement(s) described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1).

(TITLE OF APPROVING OFFICIAL)

Signature Name (Print) Date

NCH 53.6-2 (MAR 2013)

NCH 53.6-2 (MAR 2013)

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