Redacted J_A.docx

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst, NJ

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This Justification & Approval (J&A) authorizes and approves the issuance of a two-year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity fixed-price contract for the procurement of brand name Audio Visual Video Teleconference (AV/VTC) equipment from the following manufacturers: Alpha American, AMX,LLC (AMX), Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Doing Business As (DBA) APC), Audio Technica, Biamp, BRG Precision Products, Inc. (BRG Precision Products), Legrand AV (DBA Vaddio), Celadon Systems Inc. (Celadon), ClearOne, Clock Audio, Crestron Electronics, Inc. (Crestron), Evertz Microsystems Ltd (Evertz), RGB Systems, Inc. (DBA Extron), GPO Display, Klipsch, Lab Gruppen, Purelink, QSC, RGB Spectrum, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung), Shure, Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony), SoundTube, Stewart Audio, Surgex, Tannoy, Trippe Manufacturing Company (DBA Tripp Lite), and Xantech. This procurement will support the Integrated Command Control and Intelligence (IC2&I) Division’s integration of specialized AV/VTC systems supporting the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) missions of Joint Staff and Combatant Commanders, Department of Defense (DoD) Agencies and Services, and Department of Homeland Security operational and support components. Orders will be issued on a Firm Fixed Price basis.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The NAWCAD IC2&I Division engineers, designs, and delivers specialized AV/VTC communication systems supporting C5ISR missions to Joint Staff and Combatant Commanders, DoD Agencies and Services, and Department of Homeland Security operational and support components requiring specialized communication capabilities for global information operations. These systems are typically used in command centers, operation centers, conference rooms, and classrooms. The AV/VTC equipment required to integrate the IC2&I system includes control equipment, cameras, audio devices, power protocol data units, video matrix switches and panoramic displays. The requested brand name AV/VTC equipment is a part of the IC2&I AV/VTC communication system design.

The requested equipment will be installed globally in fixed site specialized video conferencing systems to enable information dominance for networked warfighters and to enable intelligence processing, exploitation and analysis, and dissemination of real time communication during intelligence gathering missions. The IC2&I specialized systems provide transport and display of critical mission information for various activities via network architecture and provides transport and display of information at many classification levels. The specialized systems comply with mandatory Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) cybersecurity policies, particularly those policies involving use of common devices, such as monitors, across networks operating at different classification levels.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified acquisition procedures (Certain Commercial Items).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The requested AV/VTC equipment provides a unique combination of capabilities, features, and prior DoD approvals for use at different classification levels. This combination includes inclusion on the DoD Information Network Approved Products List, compliance with DIA cybersecurity policies, and NIAP Common Criteria.

The requested AV/VTC equipment is also the only known combination of equipment compatible with the proprietary Government owned custom AV/VTC control software utilized by IC2&I to deliver these specialized systems. Each AV/VTC system is managed/operated by an existing control subsystem that is tailored for the specific combination of AV/VTC equipment, the quantity and classification level of the video inputs, and the operational needs of the user. The user operates the AV/VTC control subsystem using a touch panel; this panel is provided with the proprietary Government custom software installed and tailored to the user’s system. The requested AV/VTC solution includes only manufactured equipment compatible with the existing proprietary Government custom control software.

The use of a common set of equipment reduces costs for engineering and technical support staff, the cost of spare parts inventories, the volume and cost of providing software updates, and the complexity of the technical documentation for these systems. Any changes to the selected AV/VTC solution components would cause changes to the numerous equipment interfaces in this complex system, and thus would require engineering re-design of the overall system. Component changes would also require major updates to the proprietary Government owned control software and retesting of the systems. Alternating any vendor, technology, make and/or model, or programming would cause unwarranted duplicative cost to the Government. Modifying the mature architecture would require engineering re-design, additional software programming, additional Cybersecurity equipment testing, additional network security documentation, and additional training. Each change to an equipment manufacturer is estimated to result in duplicative costs, which includes the following: additional compatibility testing and cyber security testing, update the custom control software code, training on the different equipment, and engineering re-design and documentation updates. A change to the manufacturer for all of the requested equipment is estimated to result in duplicative costs.

Furthermore, the requested AV/VTC equipment has been procured and fielded utilizing the IC2&I custom control software under contracts. Any changes to the selected AV/VTC equipment would require maintenance of multiple custom control software code for a single component utilized by dissimilar systems. Costs to maintain and upgrade AV/VTC systems would significantly increase.

The efforts required to change the selected AV/VTC solution components would also delay IC2&I’s ability to deliver critical communication capabilities to users globally. Untimely receipt of this intelligence would impact mission safety, as the intelligence information is required to accurately identify targets, areas of suspicious activity, and enemy threats. Incomplete or incorrect intelligence could lead to mission failure and loss of life.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable.

Market research was conducted to identify commercially available solutions for AV/VTC system equipment. Multiple solutions were identified and reviewed to determine each solution’s ability to meet the requirements. Of the manufacturers identified in the market research, Alpha American, AMX, APC, Audio Technica, Biamp, BRG Precision Products, Legrand AV, Celadon, ClearOne, Clock Audio, Crestron, Evertz, Extron GPO Display, Klipsch, Lab Gruppen, Purelink, QSC, RGB Spectrum, Samsung, Shure, Sony, SoundTube, Stewart Audio, Surgex, Tannoy, Tripp Lite, and Xantech provide solutions which meet the requirements.

Further market research was conducted to identify vendors capable of providing each of the manufacturers required for the IC2&I AV/VTC system. Each of the required manufacturers were searched via the NASA SEWP V website to identify any potential resellers of the required equipment. General Services Administration (GSA) Advantage was searched by all part numbers; however, not all parts were available through the GSA Advantage. Required sources such as National Stock Number (NSN) Inventory were also checked and there was not enough inventory to satisfy the request of this procurement.

Therefore, this requirement will be a full and open competition for the required brand name AV/VTC via the System for Award Management website. In accordance with FAR 12, Streamlined Acquisitions for Commercial Items, a combined synopsis/solicitation will be posted.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

In accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(1), competition establishes price reasonableness. Therefore, when contracting on a firm-fixed basis, comparison of the proposed prices will usually satisfy the requirements to perform a price analysis, and a cost analysis need not be performed. In addition, Certified Cost or Pricing Data is not required in accordance with FAR 15.403(c) (1)(i).

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION

At this time, Alpha American, AMX, APC, Audio Technica, Biamp, BRG Precision Products, Legrand AV, Celadon, ClearOne, Clock Audio, Crestron, Evertz, Extron, GPO Display, Klipsch, Lab Gruppen, Purelink, QSC, RGB Spectrum, Samsung, Shure, Sony, SoundTube, Stewart Audio, Surgex, Tannoy, Tripp Lite, and Xantech are the only known manufacturers that offer a product which meets the IC2&I requirements. IC2&I will continue to monitor the market for technological advances that may drive changes to the system design and potentially increase competition. If a candidate emerges during the solicitation phase, other manufacturers can be considered and evaluated. However, they must comply with all compatibility requirements of the custom control software and DoD cybersecurity standards.

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