RSS_-_STE_SSJ_Redacted.pdf

30 January 2018

MEMORANDUM

Subj: SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR PURCHASE OF LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP (LCS)

MULTI-VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (MVCS) RT-1944A/U TACTICAL

NETWORK RADIO ENGINEERING, INTEGRATION, AND TEST SUPPORT FROM

RELIABLE SYSTEM SERVICES CORPORATION (RSS)

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Limited Source Justification.”

This is a sole source justification. Contracting activity is the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), 110 Vernon Avenue, Panama City, FL 32407-7001 (Contracts Department Code 02).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This action will award a firm fixed price purchase order to Reliable System Services Corporation (RSS), 746 North Dr., Melbourne, FL 32934 for engineering, integration and test support during the Seminal Transition Event (STE) of the RT-1944A/U SeaLancet Tactical Network Radios®.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The purchase is to support engineering, integration and test support of the Sea Lancet Tactical Network Radios®. The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel. This memo does not authorize acquisition for other requirements. This acquisition will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures with a total dollar value above micro-purchase levels, but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000.00. All deliverables will be delivered by the 30 September 2018. The purchase action will be funded with FY 2018 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds.

4. Identification of the justification rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service. 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, FAR 6.302-1.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) is the designated development agent for the Multi-Vehicle Communication System (MVCS) for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class ships. The RT-1944/U SeaLancet Tactical Network Radio for Line-Of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-Of-Sight (BLOS), via relay, data and video links. The RT-1944/U SeaLancet Tactical Network Radio® is a programmable, wideband, secure, networked communications system, which provides data, imagery, and streaming video transmission. NSWC

PC Code A33 has requirements for engineering, integration and test support of the RT-1944A/U SeaLancet Tactical Network Radio to conduct a Seminal Transition Event 9STE).

These services are not suitable for full and open competition for the following reasons:

(a) RSS is the sole developer and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for these items. As such they are the only source with sufficient knowledge of the radio design and functionality to perform the requirement.

(b) After extensive testing and trade studies, these RSS radios were integrated into the MVCS Tactical Cabinets which created the baseline system. This system is already installed onboard LCS sea frames. Replacing these units with another product or manufacturer will not only duplicate the effort and delay the delivery of the tactical cabinets due to required testing and studies, integrating a new product could potentially invalidate the testing that MVCS has already completed on the legacy unit. The replacement may also introduce new problems and interface issues.

(c) The Government did not purchase or acquire the rights in data and design or a technical data package (TDP) for these RSS items because they are commercial items developed under SPAWARSYSCEN Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) topic N04-078, titled “Specification for the RT-1944U Communications System” dated 20 July 2004 (Contract N6553804M0128). Follow-on orders were not competed. To compete this effort, the Government would duplicate an estimated $3.08M in cost that is not expected to be recovered through competition. This estimated cost was derived from initial set-up costs.

RSS is the only source capable of meeting the requirement.

5. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 13.500.

The Contracting Officer has determined that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

This requirement will be synopsized on FEDBIZOPPS per FAR 5.2. No additional market research was conducted because it is not practicable, for the reasons discussed in paragraph 4 above to substitute any other product.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

None

8. A statement of the actions, if an, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

As stated in paragraph 4 above, RSS, as the original radio developer and OEM is the only source that can meet the requirement.

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