MODEMS_JA_Redacted.pdf

Department of the NAVY Naval Oceanographic Office

Contracting department 1002 Balch Blvd.

Stennis Space Center, MS 39522-5001

J&A # 19-046

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) Implemented by: FAR 6.302-1

Pursuant to the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) and in accordance with FAR 6.303-1 Requirements and FAR 6.303-2 Content, the justification incorporates sufficient facts and rationale to support the use of the statutory authority cited.

1. Contracting Activity.

This is a Justification executed by Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) Contracting Department.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

Award of a sole source contract to Comtech EF Data Corporation (Comtech), 2114 W 7th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281, for the procurement of Comtech SLM-5650B-13 modems. The contract will be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP), single award purchase order with an estimated value of $288,000.00.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

This contract will provide for the procurement of Comtech SLM-5650B-13 modems. These modems support communications over both commercial and military satellites and are critical for interoperability across Navy platforms and shore sites. Due to T-AGS Ship requirements for increased bandwidth , procurement of new modems and upgrade of existing modems is required.

The SLM-5650B modem offers a significant increase in operational performance by providing processing capacity that is a factor of five (5) times greater than the current SLM-5650A and increased processing capacity reducing latency by approximately 30 percent, which equates to higher data throughput. Higher processing capacity also supports lower signal acquisition time thereby improving performance for the end user. Optional firmware available upgrades that may be procured under this contract include: Vipersat, Carrier in Carrier (CnC), Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modem (EBEM), Enhanced Offset-Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (EO-QPSK), Dynamic Adaptive Wideband System with local Interference Suppression (DA WSIS), MultiChannel Receiver (MCR), Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), and Low Data Rate (LDR). To ensure successful Modem integration and future software update support, NAVOCEANO will procure technical support through Comtech' s Engineering Support Services (ESS) Prime (ESS Prime). Standard commercial practice for Comtech is to certify each unit with a two (2) year manufacturer's warranty.

Estimated Dollar Value:

FY OMN OPN

Base 19 $288,000.00 Option 1 claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight

Contracting department 1002 Balch Blvd.

Stennis Space Center, MS 39522-5001

Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Option 5 Option 6 Option 7 Option 8 Option 9 Subtotals $288,000.00 Totals $288,000.00

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

FAR 6.302-1 (10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements FAR 6.302-2 (10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(2)), Unusual and compelling urgency

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

Comtech is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the SLM-5650A and SLM-5650B modems which it markets as Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS). As COTS products, the Government does not have data rights (for hardware and firmware (source code)) sufficient to enable alternate vendor(s) to either provide a new modem( s) or an upgrade to the existing modems that meets the Government's performance requirements while simultaneously being backwards compatible to existing SLM-5650A modems in the time-frame that the Navy requires. Key components of the Comtech 5650 series modems include the TRANSEC and Network Processor (NP) Modules, Turbo Product Code (TPC), Low Density Parity Check (LDPC), Vipersat and CnC capabilities. Without the source code or hardware module design specifications, no other vendor's modem could be compatible with the currently-installed SLM- 5650A modems. As new and upgraded modems are installed, it is imperative that they inter-operate with the existing SLM-5650A modems to ensure seamless connectivity throughout the T-AGS. Backwards compatibility will ensure that there is no loss or degradation of communication capabilities. Backwards compatibility/connectivity is a key requirement. Without the necessary data rights, Govermnent Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) estimate it would take a vendor approximately four (4) years to reverse engineer and provide a form, fit, and function product that is ready to field and is backwards compatible with installed Comtech SLM- 5650A modems.

Based on the rationale above, Comtech is the only source capable of meeting the Navy's requirement while simultaneously ensuring seamless connectivity to the T-AGS by providing a backwards compatible modem to the SLM-5650A.

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

Market Research revealed that a number of companies a number of companies do exist that offer advanced, secure communication capabilities on satellite modems. These companies include iDirect, Advantech claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight claudette.surrento Highlight

Contracting department 1002 Balch Blvd.

Stennis Space Center, MS 39522-5001

Wireless, L3 Communications and ViaSat. Though these companies offer enhanced capabilities, their modems are not backwards compatible with the SLM-5650A modem, which is a critical feature.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

Before making an award, the Contracting Officer will determine that the proposed price is fair and reasonable based on one of the techniques identified in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-2 – Evaluation of quotations or offers.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NAVOCEANO has no plans at this time to compete future contacts for the types of supplies/services covered by this document. Prior to the award of future contracts, market research will be completed to determine if potential sources have emerged that will allow for competition.