Redacted_J-n-A.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

CRANE DIVISION

300 HIGHWAY 361

CRANE IN 47522-5001

IN REPLY REFER

TO:

J&A No. CR-26610

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC-CD).

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

Award of a contract using simplified procedures for the procurement of Optical Lenses Assemblies on a sole source basis to support the sustainment of the Tactical Airborne Sensor (TAS) to Optikos Corporation, cage code 0M430, 107 Audubon Rd., Ste. 3, Wakefield, MA 01880. Anticipated components include a quantity of five (5) 108 MM Effective Focal Length Optical Lens Assemblies, Part Number 3-71-264, a quantity of five

(5) 73 MM Effective Focal Length Optical Lens Assemblies, Part Number 3-71-265, a quantity of five (5) 182 MM Effective Focal Length Optical Lens Assemblies, Part Number 3-71-268, and a quantity of five (5) 91 MM Effective Focal Length Optical Lens Assemblies, Part Number 3-70-3685.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

This procurement for the purchase of optical lens assemblies from Optikos Corporation enables forward field repairs of the next-higher assembly sensor, significantly reducing sustainment turnaround times for the TAS and directly increasing operational availability for the critical Maritime Domain Awareness mission.

The supplies procured under this contract represent critical initial field and deployment spare components essential for the sustainment of the TAS system. Manufactured by L3Harris, the baseline TAS system utilizes a Wescam MX-series electro-optic sensor.

integrate specialized Optikos Corporation Lens Assemblies, .

Due to the accelerated timeline

J&A CR-26610

required to field this capability to the warfighter, the system was rapidly deployed with a lean logistics footprint and a severe shortage of spare parts. Currently, the first prototype systems are actively utilized in operational evaluations and are slated for imminent field deployment.

Procurement of these spare lens assemblies is urgently required to mitigate readiness risks and ensure uninterrupted system sustainment.

The certifying technical and requirements personnel have verified that the Government’s minimum needs and schedule requirements are complete, accurate, and fully justified.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

41 U.S.C. 1901

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The items procured under this justification and approval are in direct support of the TAS program as critical internal components of the fielded MX-series system variants. These specific Optikos lens assemblies have been fully integrated, tested, qualified, and certified by Areté for exclusive use within the TAS program configuration.

The Technical Data Package has been formally approved and qualified exclusively with Optikos lens assemblies. Consequently, Optikos is the sole manufacturer of the qualified configuration; introducing an alternative lens assembly is technically impracticable.

Optikos proprietary designed, developed, and manufactured these lenses to meet Areté's derived performance specifications and to seamlessly interface with the Wescam MX-series system.

An award to any other vendor would require a complete redesign, testing, and re-qualification of the TDP. This would result in a substantial duplication of costs that is not expected to be recovered through competition, as well as unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's critical operational requirements.

Based on current engineering estimates, qualifying an alternative source would introduce a delay to allow for reverse engineering, specification development, competitive solicitation, prototyping, system integration, and operational testing. This schedule slippage would severely jeopardize the program's capability to field and sustain the TAS system for critical operations in theater.

Furthermore, establishing an alternate source would result in a substantial duplication of costs that could not be recouped through competition. Non-recurring integration and testing costs alone are estimated at a minimum of . Given that these qualification costs exceed

J&A CR-26610

the total estimated value of the proposed procurement , pursuing competition is economically unfeasible and mathematically impracticable both now and for the duration of this performance period.

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

This action will utilize a combined synopsis/solicitation in accordance with FAR 12.202(b) and therefore will not have a standalone synopsis. Informal market research was and continues to be conducted on a continuous basis by the requiring technical activity. The informal market research includes contacting knowledgeable individuals in the Government and industry, reviewing previous procurements and in-house contracts, review of catalogs and other product literature, internet searches and attendance at Industry Trade shows. The requiring activity representatives maintain a close working relationship with the TAS industries throughout the world. This working relationship with industry facilitates continuous knowledge of the available technologies and manufacturing capabilities throughout the industry. Based upon the aforementioned background and working relationship with industry, it is the technical representative’s judgment that there is no known source other than Optikos Corporation capable of performing the work required by this contractor.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

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

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NSWC Crane has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the types of supplies covered by this document. However, to ensure the market remains fully surveyed, NSWC Crane will continue to conduct periodic market research, including reviewing industry trends and publishing RFIs for future requirements.

If another potential source emerges and demonstrates the required technical capability, NSWC Crane will thoroughly assess whether competition for future procurements is feasible.