REDACTED__Justification_and_Approval.pdf

Control #:

P.R. Number:

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

UNDER FAR 13.5, SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR

CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

JUSTIFICATION

The following facts support contracting for commercial items without full and open competition, using the procedures in FAR 13.5-Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901.

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, RI, Contracts Department, Code 02.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

Request approval to solicit from among seven small business authorized distributers and award a competitive, 100% small business set-aside, Firm Fixed Price (FFP), purchase order for National Instruments (NI) brand PXI-based cards, including Microsoft Windows 10 Operating System controllers, interfaces, and radio frequency (RF) and data collection and measuring components with ancillary equipment, with no substitutions allowed. In accordance with FAR 13.106-1, the Government has determined the required NI brand PXI-based cards are commercially available through authorized distributers: (List or Addendum). The items are required in support of the Shipboard Electronics Systems Evaluation Facilities (SESEF) sites.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

Estimated Dollar Value Fund Type

Base

FY17

Option 1

FY18

Option 2

FY19

Option 3

FY20

Option 4

FY21

Total

OPN

Code 7033 requires various quantities of NI PXI-based cards, including Microsoft Windows 10 Operating System controllers, interfaces, and radio frequency and data collection and measuring components with ancillary equipment. As shown below, the requirement is for one (1) base year and four (4) option

Control #: 172670 P.R. Number: 1300585671 years for the purchase of PXI-based components in varying quantities:

Part Number

Base Year Qty

Option Qty

Option

Qty

Option

Qty

Option

Qty Total PXIe-8880 Controller 12 12 8 8 8 48

PXIe-1082, 8- Slot Chassis 4 4 4 4 4 20

NI 5792 200

MHz BW Adapter

4 4 4 4 4 20

NI PXIe-7966R FPGA Module 8 8 6 6 6 34

NI 6581

Digital I/O 8 8 6 6 6 34

PXIe-1078, 9- Slot Chassis 8 8 8 8 8 40

PXI-2594

Multiplexer 8 8 8 8 8 40

PXI-5661

Downconverter 2 2 4 4 4 16

Developer Suite Standard Service Program

1 1 1 1 1 5

The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

10. U.S.C. 2304(c)(1): Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT), Code 70 is tasked with supporting Shipboard Electronics Systems Evaluation Facilities (SESEF) sites.

The SESEFs are land based test sites, established to facilitate testing and certification of ships electromagnetic transmitting and receiving equipment. SESEFs are used to detect and isolate shipboard system deficiencies leading to increased ship material readiness at the completion of construction, delivery availabilities, during routine ship operations, and prior to deployment. The SESEF sites perform in excess of and provide the surface

Fleet with troubleshooting assistance. The testing and certification performed at the SESEF sites are critical to daily Fleet operations.

In support of verifying shipboard readiness of Fleet assets, Code 70 has designed and developed a radio frequency measurement system that analyzes and determines

. This customized was developed for compatibility with NI

PXI-based equipment and has been tested and approved for current use. The System is operational at all SESEF sites.

The custom software code, written by SESEF engineers for the system, is specific to the NI equipment. Due to the customized software coding, NI equipment remains the only hardware that meets frequency spectrum measuring and Information Assurance (IA) requirements. .

Furthermore, NI is the only manufacturer that supplies NI software compatible equipment incorporating user definable that allow government engineers to develop the unique data processing functions required by the system.

All SESEF sites are required to operate using identical system configurations in order to ensure interoperability, commonality and consistency throughout all SESEF sites.

Incorporation of a new system component as a substitute for an existing system component into one site would require replacement of all remaining systems with the new system component to meet the requirement of identical system configurations across SESEF sites. Therefore, replacing the NI PXI with a substitute component at even one site would require replacement of the NI PXI at all existing sites.

Finally, since the existing system configuration of all SESEF sites are certified by the Military Communications Electronics Board (MCEB) (JF12-9837/2, dated 4 April 2013), with the NI PXI equipment and software, the estimated effort to recode, retest, debug the software, and update the associated documentation to accommodate another manufacturer’s hardware is estimated at 12 man months and an additional cost of , if a substitute to the NI PXI was procured. The additional costs of would not be recouped by going to an alternative manufacturer’s hardware because the price variance between manufacturers is minimal, therefore competition does not serve the purpose of providing the government with the best value.

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

For the reasons set forth in paragraph 5, NUWCDIVNPT can only procure the required hardware through an authorized NI reseller.

A combined synopsis and solicitation will be posted to the Government Point of Entry (FedBizOpps) notifying industry of the intent to solicit as a brand name acquisition. Any challenges to this brand name action will be brought to the attention of the Competition Advocate prior to contract award.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The contracting officer will determine the purchase order placed pursuant to this Justification is fair and reasonable based on a price analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(a)(2) and/or a cost analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(a)(4), if required.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

The Governments requirement for NI brand PXI equipment does not allow for substitution of another manufacturer’s products for the items listed in Section 3, above. Therefore, in the event that any future acquisition for NI PXI equipment is required, the information contained in section 5 will be revisited and validated to confirm the brand name requirement still exists.

Consideration will be given to moving this requirement to full and open competition if feasible in the future.