NAVAIR JA_25-0132_DAIRCM Signed_Redacted.pdf

This is a Justification and Approval (J&A) document for a sole-source follow-on contract award to DRS Systems Incorporated for the AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures (DAIRCM) system. The contracting activity is Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Headquarters, located at the RADM William A. Moffet Building in Patuxent River, Maryland.

The procurement covers highly specialized supplies and services for DAIRCM Weapons Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs) and Shop Replaceable Assemblies (SRAs) in low rate initial production (LRIP) configurations, along with multi-spectral test sets (MSTS) and Field Service Representatives (FSR). The total estimated contract value is $826 million over the FY26-28 period. Major components include 690 sensors, 138 processors, 138 lasers, 138 Fiber Optic Cable Assemblies (FOCA 1), and 112 FOCA 2 units. The sole-source justification is based on 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1), citing that no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. DRS is the sole designer, developer, manufacturer, and depot repair facility for the AN/AAQ-45 system and holds exclusive ownership of the Technical Data Package and proprietary manufacturing processes. The Government lacks adequate rights to pursue competition, as DRS declined to provide Technical Data Package or Intellectual Property rights. A duplication of costs estimate of approximately $341 million was developed by the NAVAIR Cost and Schedule Analysis Department, and competition would result in an unacceptable four-year delay to product maturity. Sources sought notices were posted on SAM.gov on October 26, 2023, and revised on January 4, 2024, with no responses received to date.