J A-_-FedBizOpps.docx

AIR 2.5.2.4.1

J&A Number: 16-0202

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Lakehurst, NJ

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This justification and approval authorizes and approves, on an urgent need basis, a Firm-Fixed price type contract award for the procurement of fourteen (14) Visual Image Generators in support of the F-35 Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) program at Patuxent River Naval Air Station from the following entity:

Aechelon Technology, Inc 888 Brannan Street Suite 210 San Francisco, CA 94103

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

This acquisition is to procure fourteen (14) Visual Image Generators to include one (1) Database Generation System, and one (1) Nexus Unified Storage System for the F-35 JSE program. These Visual Image Generators provide the simulated Out-The-Window (OTW) and sensor imagery required by the F-35 aircraft simulators.

To meet F-35 Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) requirements, JSE is developing F-35 Aircraft flight simulators that include high-fidelity physical representations of the F-35 Crew-Station area. There is an urgent requirement and need for this permanent solution to be procured, delivered and installed into designated JSE laboratory spaces.

The items to be procured are listed in Table 1 below:

Table 1

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

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(2), Unusual and compelling urgency.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

A high fidelity multi-ship battlespace simulation of the F-35 is required to complete F-35 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E). The simulation is critical because it is not physically or financially possible to provide an open air range with the correct threats or adequate threat density. Lockheed Martin (LM) was on contract to provide this simulation. In August 2015 Lockheed Martin disclosed that they would be one year late for delivery of the simulation, that there was going to be a greater than 100% over run, and that they would not be able to provide the complete set of requirements. In October 2015 it was decided that the government would develop its own simulation which is called the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE). An extremely quick requirements analysis and preliminary design was performed to identify the material necessary to complete, what is now, an extremely compressed schedule.

This procurement was assigned a Priority 2 Urgency Designation by the Deputy Assistant Commander for Test and Evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command. The urgent requirement is for this permanent solution to be procured, delivered and installed into designated JSE laboratory spaces in time to support F-35 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) activities in February 2017. System integration, testing and software model Verification, Validation and Accreditation (VV&A) activities require initial delivery of this system in July 2016 or earlier. This will ensure no interruptions to the F-35 Program IOT&E.

Completion of JSE is now on critical path for IOT&E. Any slide in the delivery of JSE will result in a slide in the completion date of the IOT&E which is necessary for approval of Full Rate Production (FRP). It will also require the extension of the development phase for the 3A configuration of the aircraft. Without an FRP decision, a multi-year procurement may slide a year and the development effort will have to be extended along with its associated burn rate. These impacts are many orders of magnitude larger than the cost of the JSE material procurements in question. Aechelon Technology is the only known source able to provide the required Visual Image Generators in the required timeframe.

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

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR part 10 which included discussions with NAWC-AD engineers working on current F-35 simulation efforts, their discussions with other RDT&E laboratories over the years, a review of current products at the leading simulation industry conference, and through internet searches.

NAWC-AD’s Simulation Division (5.4.3), the Navy's Center of Excellence for RDT&E Simulation systems, maintains in-depth knowledge of aircraft simulator Visual Display System developments. This includes insight into technologies that individual companies are focused on and their technical and production capabilities. Simulation Division representatives maintain this knowledge through routine review of industry journals and attendance at industry symposia and conferences.

The Simulation Division has operated an F-35 simulator in support of flight test operations at Patuxent River NAS for over a decade, and worked closely with other Navy, Air Force, and contractor RDT&E simulation laboratories and the NAWC-TSD F35 trainer community.

Based on its knowledge and expertise, the Simulation Division has determined that Aechelon Technology, Inc. has the knowledge and technical capability required to provide the F-35 Visual Image Generator Systems for the JSE requirement. Aechelon Technology has a unique capability to provide correlated databases between Out-the-Window visuals, sensor imagery, and radar imagery. Aechelon Technology also uses an architecture that enables the storage of databases on a central server to supply many image generators with the same database to reduce the redundancy and cost that would be incurred by storing the database on each individual image generator. Accurate presentation of the simulated visual images is critical to the JSE program to provide representative pilot work-loading during Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) activities.

The NAWC-AD Manned Flight Simulator has over ten years of experience using Aechelon Technology’s image generators for a variety of simulations. Aechelon Technology has the experience and expertise to deliver these image generators in the timeframe that is required. These Visual Image Generators provide the high-fidelity simulated Out-The-Window and sensor imagery required for pilot cueing.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

In accordance with FAR Part 15.402, the Contracting officers shall purchase supplies and services from responsible sources at fair and reasonable prices. In establishing the reasonableness of the offered prices, the contracting officer shall obtain certified cost or pricing data when required by 15.403-4, along with data other than certified cost or pricing data as necessary to establish a fair and reasonable price; or when certified cost or pricing data are not required by 15.403-4, shall obtain data other than certified cost or pricing data as necessary to establish a fair and reasonable price.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, execution of this urgent requirement will fulfill the JSE immediate need for Visual Image Generator Systems. For quantities greater than the emergent need, NAWC-AD will pursue full and open competition, as is practicable.

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