QF-16 JAnDA Synopsis.pdf

Was a J&A approved for the preceding acquisition where that acquisition required a J&A? Yes No

Is this a new or amended J&A Document? New Amended ( Prior to Award Only! )

Is this a Bridge Action as defined at DAFFARS 5302.101? Yes No

Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/WAMK

Purchase Request (if available) / Local ID Number: TBD

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): QF-16 Sustainment Contract

Program Type (PEO, Enterprise, of Operational): PEO

Authority:

6.302-1 – 10 USC 3204(a)(1), Only One Responsible Source - No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

J&A Type: Class Individual

APPROVAL ( DAFFARS 5306 . 304 ( a) )

COORDINATION ( DAFFARS 5306 . 304 ( a) ) Sign and Save Procedure

I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

United States Air Force AFLCMC/WAMK Contracting Officer:

Benjamin S. Price 6072 Fir Ave Hill AFB, Utah 84056 385.252.7877 Contract Number: TBD

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This Class Justification and Approval (J&A) authorizes the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition to establish a follow-on sustainment contract for the QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Targets (FSAT) program. The original production contract (FA8678-10- C-0001), awarded to The Boeing Company on a sole-source basis in March 2010, covered Drone Peculiar Equipment (DPE) installation/integration, specialized test equipment, Field Service Representative (FSR) support, engineering, spares, and warranty repairs for production lots 1-5.

Upon approval, the USAF will award a sole-source Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to The Boeing Company, Defense, Space & Security Division (Cage Code 96AJ0), for sustainment requirements detailed in Section III.

The QF-16 is classified as a non-commercial item because it is a military-specific modification of retired F-16 fighter jets, designed exclusively for aerial target training and weapons testing by the U.S. Air Force. Unlike commercial aircraft, the QF-16 is equipped with remote-control systems, flight termination capabilities, and specialized avionics that allow it to function as an unmanned aerial target.

Additionally, the QF-16 is not available for civilian or commercial use, as its primary purpose is to simulate real-world combat scenarios for pilot training and missile testing. Since it is derived from military surplus aircraft and modified under government contracts, it does not meet the criteria for a commercial item under acquisition regulations.

The proposed IDIQ contract will utilize a mix of Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), and Time and Materials (T&M) contract types, assigned based on risk and historical data associated with specific requirement areas. Anticipated contract types are detailed by CLIN below. The contract award is anticipated in the 4th quarter of FY2026.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

Title 10 United States (US) Code 2366 requires all new or improved weapon systems to demonstrate their lethality and survivability prior to production. Aerial targets with on-board payloads (i.e. Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) are the current mechanisms to support demonstration of these capabilities. The QF-16 Program's objective is to fulfill this requirement.

The QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) is an Acquisition Category (ACAT) II program assigned to the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Fighters & Advanced Aircraft (AFPEO/F&AA). The QF-16 satisfies Title 10 lethality testing/threat realism testing. The follow-on sustainment of QF-16 FSATs is required to provide adequate fourth generation threat representative targets to meet current and projected HQ AF/TE- sponsored kill authorizations as outlined in AFI 99-108.

Sustainment services for the QF-16, as outlined in the proposed contract, will include a full spectrum of support activities. This encompasses on-site Field Service Representatives (FSRs), engineering and technical support, maintenance material and replenishment spares, out-of- warranty repairs (OWR), specialized tooling and test equipment, asset management, provision of data and technical orders, performance of studies, management of Government Furnished Property (GFP), and System Engineering Management Planning (SEMP). The contract types deemed appropriate for each CLIN will include those listed in section II.

IV. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above.

The F-16 program office has determined that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of costs to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Government’s requirements.

A sole-source award to Boeing is justified under the authority of 10 USC 3204(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 (Only One Responsible Source - No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements). As stated previously, QF-16 is a non-commercial requirement.

Boeing is the only source capable of fulfilling the requirements detailed in Section III for the following key reasons:

1) Exclusive Data Rights: Boeing holds ownership of the technical data package specifically for integration efforts, which is critical to sustaining fielded QF-16s. Boeing has asserted Limited and Restrictive Rights. Based on the USG only having Limited Rights, we cannot compete the effort. Even if acquiring these rights from Boeing were feasible, the cost would be prohibitive for any other contractor. Additionally, without access to the technical data packages for sub-tier components --which are not available for purchase --these rights would have little to no practical value.

2) Specialized QF-16 Systems Integration and Tooling: Boeing is the only source with the specialized systems integration expertise and tooling, required for the QF-16 FSAT program. This includes converting F-16s to unmanned targets, integrating avionics, hardware, and software for remote operation, and ensuring compatibility with AATACS and numerous payloads on the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR).

3) Duplicative Costs: Introducing a new competitor would result in substantial, unrecoverable cost duplication. If a contractor were to reverse engineer the QF-16 without access to Boeing's proprietary technical data, costs could be significantly high due to engineering analysis, testing, and certification requirements that would need to be repeated by a new contract actor.

V. \ that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

A Sources Sought Synopsis was posted under FA8232-25-R-QF16 for QF-16 Sustainment Engineering and Logistics Services in SAM.gov on 19 February 2025 and remained active until 19 March 2025. The SSS described the agencies requirement and sought responses from interested vendors to support the program. Upon closing of the SSS on 19 March 2025, a total of 5 companies responded.

VI. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The following steps will be taken to ensure the anticipated cost of this acquisition will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer will comply with the procedures and criteria contained in FAR under Part 30 - Cost Accounting Standards, Part 31 - Contract Cost Principles and Procedures, and Subpart 15.4 - Contract Pricing; to include technical evaluations and audits, as appropriate. Pricing support will be requested to conduct a price analysis based on fair market value and historical purchases to assess proposed pricing along with a cost analysis in order to ascertain reasonableness. Additional steps to ensure price reasonableness will be under the guidance of the Contract Pricing Reference Guides, jointly developed by the Federal Acquisition Institute and the Air Force Institute of Technology. The Contracting Officer and Cost/Price Analyst will utilize the Contract Business Analysis Repository (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) 215.4) to harness lessons learned, optimize negotiation leverage and secure the best business deal. The Contracting Officer will obtain certified cost or pricing data in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.403, as required prior to negotiations, the Contracting Officer will document pre- negotiation objectives in a Pre-Price Negotiation Memorandum and after negotiations, a final Price Negotiation Memorandum will be written.

These memorandums will include details on price reasonableness and how a fair and reasonable price is established for the contractual action.

VII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

As described in Section V above, market research, was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10, by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition, and soliciting inquiries from interested parties. Market research is conducted by the F-16 SPO on an ongoing basis. A Sources Sought Synopsis was posted under FA8232-25-R-QF16 for QF- 16 Sustainment Engineering and Logistics Services in SAM.gov on 19 February 2025 and closed on 18 March 2025. Five (5) companies expressed interest in the requirement.

VIII. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

IX. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my responsibility, is both accurate and complete.