Redacted JA 23_0238 LOD_FINAL.pdf

J&A 22-0162

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

10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), the Government has deemed the requirements listed above to be available only from one responsible source and no other type of supplies will satisfy the Navy’s requirements. This is not a follow-on procurement as previous procurements and

NRE for this effort were performed by the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G F414 prime, General Electric

(GE); however, MDSI is the OEM for the LOD.

MDSI is the only current supplier granted full design authority by GE for the F414-GE-400 engine LOD and has been solely responsible for the F/A-18 & EA-18G LOD requirements since development of the GE F414 engine. Only MDSI possesses a complete technical data package, unique and specialized engineering capability and expertise, tooling, facilities, and engineering processes critical to satisfying the Government’s requirements listed in Paragraph 3 above.

MDSI already has a design in place that meets the F414 Engine Performance Specifications;

therefore, proven technology is in place and verified as meeting USN requirements, and it is anticipated that MDSI will deliver a more producible design by FY27. In contrast, a new firm starting from scratch would not have an LOD available until at least FY30, impacting F414 readiness. That date estimate is based on 12 months to perform the required research to identify and down select a suitable technology that meets already existing environmental and functional requirements; 24 months to design a full LOD that will interface with the F414 FADEC and perform preliminary testing demonstrating viability; 12 months to qualify the new LOD design;

and 24 months to stand up a production line for the newly designed LOD. Therefore, based on

NAVAIR analysis, award of this effort to a source other than MDSI would result in, at a minimum, a 36 month delay. The additional months required by any firm other than MDSI to complete this effort represents an unacceptable delay because it would impact the delivery of

F414 engines required to maintain the 80% mission-capable rate of F/A-18 aircraft mandated by the Secretary of Defense. Failure to maintain the 80% mission capable rate will reduce the operational effectiveness and readiness of the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Based on the unacceptable delay that would result from an award to another source to design a new LOD, the

Government has determined that MDSI is the only responsible source capable of improving the manufacturing and producibility capability of the existing design.

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

NAVAIR posted a sources sought/request for information notice for the “LOD Research and

Design” on beta.SAM.gov on 31 May 2023 and received no responses. On 15 June 2023, this requirement was synopsized on beta.SAM.gov, in accordance with FAR 5.201. To date, no

J&A 22-0162 responses have been received to this synopsis; however, the Contracting Officer will evaluate all responses received prior to award.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

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

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in paragraph five, NAVAIR has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the types of requirements covered in this document. If another potential source emerges, NAVAIR will assess whether competition for future LOD requirements is feasible.