Pressure Cartridges - JA_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

INDIAN HEAD DIVISION

3767 STRAUSS AVENUE

SUITE 201

INDIAN HEAD, MD 20640-5150

J&A Number: FY23-AUG30-87 Code: 026

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD), Contracts Division 026.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

Award of a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract, on a sole source basis, for Mk 70 Booster Pressure Cartridges to:

Ensign Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBADC) 14370 White Sage Rd Moorpark, California 93021

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The Pressure Cartridge is a dual-bridgewire Electro- Explosive Device (EED) initiated by an electrical input to produce a gas pressure output. The pressure cartridge is used in the stage separation system between the first-stage MK 70 motor and second-stage ducted rocket for the GQM-163A Supersonic Sea Skimming Target (SSST) Program. When an electrical input is applied to the pressure cartridge, the gas pressure output from one pressure cartridge pushes a Piston which, in turn, pushes a Lever (Clamp Actuator) that opens the Manacle Clamp allowing stage separation. The Mk 70 Booster requires the installation of two (2) pressure cartridges per rocket motor.

NSWC IHD requires a contract for fabrication, in-process inspection, testing, and delivery of the pressure cartridges in accordance with Drawing Numbers 9600-4040, Rev. H and 1030-0102-004. The following maximum pressure cartridges are required annually for production to maintain national readiness.

version of the Mk 70 Booster Pressure Cartridges in 2013 to ascertain their current interest and capabilities. PACSCI advised that they would not submit a bid due to considering the Booster Cartridges a new product. The major changes to their manufacturing procedures, production plant and qualification process is not an option at this time for PACSCI. In addition, the cost to qualify PACSCI for production would add additional costs and delays to the Government, negatively impacting the fleet.

The inability to procure the MK 70 Booster Pressure Cartridges will effect several major Acquisition Category ID programs; to include the inability to perform Developmental, Operational and Live Fire testing of weapon systems against threat representative assets to validate effectiveness, or will be unable to provide the necessary assets to meet Fleet training requirements. Test and Evaluation Fleet customers include Multiple ship classes, standard missiles, weapons systems, as well as Army and Foreign Military Sales customers. Training customers include Fleet Forces (N7).

Shortages in either testing or training will adversely impact fleet readiness and the ability to execute mission and meet acquisition milestone requirements.

6. Description of Efforts Made To Solicit Offers from as Many

Offerors as Practicable

To further broaden market research and to satisfy the requirements of DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d), a Sources Sought notice was posted on the System for Award Management website (SAM.gov) on 20 April 2023. No responses were received.

As required by FAR 5.203, a pre-solicitation notice was publicized on the SAM website (SAM.gov) on 24 May 2023; no responses were received.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable.

Significant (or similar) quantities of this requirement have been purchased from this offeror in the past and cost/pricing information was received on those past procurements. This information should be sufficient to support the fair and reasonable cost determination of this procurement.

8. Actions To Remove Barriers to Competition

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NSWC IHD Contracts Department has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the types of supplies/services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, NSWC IHD Contracts Department will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

For future efforts, in order to change conditions that preclude the use of full and open competition, the procuring activity intends to perform market research. If through market research, it is deemed that one or more potential candidates have the potential technical capabilities to fulfill this requirement, then a qualification contract will be competed to develop a second source.

As this is a follow-on for supplies previously awarded on a non-competitive basis, in accordance with DFARS PGI 206.304(a)(S-70)(i), the prior J&A was provided to the approval authority for review. Approval of this J&A signifies the approval authority has made the determination required by DFARS PGI 206.304(a)(S-70)(ii).