Redacted_LSJ.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER WEAPONS DIVISION

1 ADMINISTRATION CIRCLE

CHINA LAKE, CA 935~100

575 I AVENUE SUITE 1

POINT MUGU, CA 93042-5049

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

F-35 IPT THOR DEVELOPMENT

AND OPERATIONAL TESTING

IN REPLY REFER TO

LSJ # 17-0490

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program as authorized by Title Ill of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 , et seq.) 40 U .S.C. 50 I, Services for Executive Agencies, as implemented at FAR 8.405-6(b ).

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NA WCWD) - China Lake, CA

2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved.

This request is for approval to issue a FFP Order with open market items for incidental materials and travel for the operational testing, upgrade, and modification of the F-35/Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Project THOR RF Threat Signal Simulator System. This order will be placed against the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule GS-OOF-080GA on a limited source basis to Global Technology and Management Resources, Inc. (GTMR), 44145 Airport View Drive, Suite I 02, Hollywood, MD, 20636.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services Required to Meet the Agency' s Needs (including the estimated value).

The contractor will provide the services and products necessary for operational testing, upgrade and modification of the THOR system. Specifically, the contractor shall: I) provide on-site support of the THOR system during aircraft testing; 2) provide modifications to the THOR system which shall include proper software modifications to ensure continued functionality of the THOR system; and, 3) upgrade the THOR signal generator in order to increase the capabilities of THOR.

This order will be comprised of a final delivery schedule of I 0 months from award date

The total estimated value of the order including all is $667,438.00.

4. Identification of the Justification Rationale (see 8.405-6(b)) and, if applicable, a Demonstration of the Proposed Contractor' s Unique Oualifications to Provide the Required Supply or Service.

FAR 8.405-6(a)( I )(i)(B), Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

The principal hardware portion of the THOR system was purchased from (and is currently available through) commercial vendors. However, the COTS software provided to manipulate and run the hardware is unable to meet the specific and advanced needs of the F-35 Integrated Test Force (IFT) during aircraft

LSJ#l?-0490 testing events. GTMR was previously contracted to implement its fonnerly developed Auto Tracker/Controller and the HFMTSS Signal Generator/Modulator/Pulse Shaper (SIGINT) into the THOR system to address the specific needs of F-35 !FT. GTMR developed the Auto Tracker/Controller and the SIGINT electronic module exclusively at private expense. As such, the Government has restricted rights to the software source code and limited rights to the technical date for the SIG INT. The THOR hardware and software operating system are essential to the efforts of the F-35 !FT and its ability to meet the testing parameters of the F-35. Nor has market research conducted by the Government indicated that any system available in the marketplace has the same capabilities as the THOR system.

The anticipated contract requires GTMR to provide on-site support of the THOR system during aircraft testing. As THOR is still being modified and upgraded, on-site technical support is needed to ensure that THOR functions properly during testing events.

The anticipated contract also requires GTMR to provide antenna modifications to the THOR hardware.

The modifications pe1iain to the commercially available hardware and are needed to continue to improve the flexibility and efficiency of the COTS hardware. However, each hardware modification requires corresponding software updates as the software controls all aspects of the hardware functionality. As the government holds restricted rights to the software source code, GTMR is needed to modify the software during each of the required hardware modifications.

Finally, the anticipated contract requires GTMR to upgrade the current SIGINT with a new synthesizer generator (SYN-GEN) which has been detennined by F-35 !FT to increase the capabilities of THOR. The new SYN-GEN is able to produce multi-mode threat signals simultaneously as the new SYN-GEN is able to control six synthesizers simultaneously which was not possible under SIGINT. The new SYN-GEN has been developed by GTMR exclusively at private expense.

These efforts are necessary to fulfill the scope and mission of the F-35 ITF, and cannot be performed by any source other than GTMR. The acquisition of engineering and technical data for this requirement is beyond the scope and mission of the F-35 ITF. In order for any other vendor to accomplish the contractor system analysis support services they would require access to THOR's software source code to which the government currently holds restricted rights.

5. Determination by the Ordering Activity Contracting Officer that the Order Represents the Best Value Consistent with 8.404(d).

The contracting officer has determined that the proposed order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the Navy's needs. NA VAIR will seek additional discounts from the schedule holder if the price of the order exceeds the maximum order threshold, in accordance with FAR 8.405-l(d).

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.

Market research was conducted March through April 2017. The conclusion from the market research is that support from GTMR is necessary because the government does not hold the necessary rights to distribute THOR software source code and key hardware components to third-party contractors.

Additional on-going market research perfonned by the F-35 !FT and other technical experts from the Department of Defense indicate that similar systems are available in the marketplace but they do not have the same capabilities as the THOR system.

LSJ# 17 -0490

7. Any Other Facts Supporting the Justification.

No other applicable facts.

8. A Statement Of The Actions. If Any. The Agency May Take To Remove Or Overcome Any Barriers That Preclude The Agency From Meeting The Requirements Of 8.405-1 And 8.405-2 Before Any Subsequent Acquisition For The Supplies Or Services ls Made.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 4, the F-35 (ITF) has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the types of services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, the F- 35 (JTF) will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

TECHNICAUREQUIREMENTS CERTIFICA TlON I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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