Redacted Brand Name Spec_Redacted.pdf

III. SINGLE SOURCE / BRAND NAME SPECIFICATION

JUSTIFICATION

JUSTIFICATION:

NUWCDIVNPT is designated as the Acquisition Engineering Agent (AEA) and the

NAVSUP Designated Overhaul Point (DOP) for the Low Profile Photonics Mast (LPPM) antenna assembly, per the Participating Acquisition Resource Manager (PARM), . As the AEA and DOP, NUWCDIVNPT manages the repair facility capable of returning LPPM antenna assemblies to Ready for

Issue (RFI) condition for the Fleet. In order to meet Fleet demands, the NUWCDIVNPT

AEA and DOP requires replacement long lead RF amplifiers to support repairs of LPPM antenna assemblies.

The RF amplifiers are a critical part of the LPPM antenna assembly installed onto the Imaging

Mast and must perform in various outboard at-sea environments that include underwater explosion, high/low temperature, vibration, inclination, and electro-magnetic interference. The

Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, has determined that Ciao Wireless is qualified provider capable of producing RF amplifiers which meet all the requisite functional and performance parameters of the LPPM antenna assembly. The RF amplifiers are fully integrated into the LPPM antenna assembly design, and other ancillary system components, that have been tailored to operate with the Ciao Wireless RF amplifiers, ensuring all functional and performance requirements are met.

The RF amplifiers are a highly complex electronic circuitry requiring highly specialized manufacturing processes to ensure the functional and performance requirements are achieved.

Ciao Wireless is the only source certified by NUWCDIVNPT to meet all the LPPM antenna assembly and Imaging Mast Specification requirements. Ciao Wireless currently possesses the unique knowledge, expertise, and manufacturing facilities required to produce and deliver the RF amplifiers for the LPPM antenna assembly.

In order to develop and certify a second source of supply for the RF amplifiers, the would have to certify a prospective design to ensure all the functional, performance, and environmental requirements of the LPPM antenna assembly are satisfied. Ciao Wireless owns the design to all of the amplifiers. The table below identifies the tasks, schedule, and estimated cost that would be required:

Task Development Effort

1 Development of RF amplifiers to meet space, weight, power, environmental, functional and performance requirements

2 Development of software and firmware to meet functional and performance requirements

3 Conduct Product Verifications Testing

4 Environmental/shock testing at component level

V1.3_JUNE2023

5 System level Government Floating Shock Platform

Testing (Barge)

6 LPPM antenna assembly integration onto Imaging

Mast for barge/shock test and lab/at sea validation testing (Mast not useable after shock testing)

7 Modification of technical drawing, configuration management processes, and logistics documentation to support material changes

8 Laboratory and at-sea regression testing to validate

LPPM antenna assembly performance

Alternate Source Total Cost & Schedule

Based on the above, it is in the Government’s best interest to award this requirement to Ciao

Wireless on a sole source basis to prevent unacceptable delays and substantial duplication of costs in providing amplifier components.

RESELLERS:

This is a commercial part; NUWCDIVNPT will continue to contract with Ciao Wireless on a sole source basis to support repair of LPPM antenna assemblies using new RF amplifiers for the Fleet until these units reach end-of-life, which is currently projected to be in the 2036 timeframe. As such, there are no actions to remove barriers to competition at this time.

NUWCDIVNPT is not aware of any resellers of Ciao Wireless amplifiers.