Redacted Justification and Approval.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

I. Contracting Activity.

This Justification and Approval is to request authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition supporting requirements generated for the Joint Strategic Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) Follow-on Support and Sustainment, Joint STARS Branch, AFLCMC/HBGC. The contracting activity for this requirement is AFLCMC/HBKAA. The purchase request number supporting this contracting action is FD2060-22-52001.

II. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed.

Due to the circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to acquire sustainment support and services listed in the document using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. This action will result in the award of a follow-on contract which will be a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF), Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Cost Reimbursable No Fee (CRNF), and Not Separately Priced (NSP), indefinite “D-type,” Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with a five-year base period and a five-year option ordering period. The ordering Period of Performance (PoP) is projected to be 1 November 2022 – 31 October 2032.

This sole source requirement will be awarded to:

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation 2000 W NASA Blvd Melbourne, Florida 32904-2322

CAGE: 70974

Large Business

In accordance with FAR 16.504(c)(1)(ii)(D)(1)(iii) this J&A serves as approval for a Single Award Task Order/Delivery Order Contract exceeding $112M.

III. Description of the Supplies/Services Required to Meet Agency Needs.

This requirement is for the support and sustainment of the Joint STARS weapon system;

requirements include: Program Management, System Engineering, System Sustainment, Joint STARS Unique Asset Management, Joint Integrated Maintenance Information System (JIMIS) Hardware and Software Infrastructure Sustainment, Weapon System Interoperability Certification (IC), IC System Sustainment, Flight Crew Training (FCT), Mission Crew Training (MCT), Mission Support Training, Training Sustainment, Field Service Representatives (FSRs), and Cybersecurity. The Joint STARS E-8 aircraft is flown at the 116th and 461st Air Control Wings (ACW) operating out of Robins AFB, Georgia.

Accordingly, NGC is the only firm with the technical expertise and data capable of providing the requirements described in Section III above without the U.S. Air Force experiencing substantial duplication of cost not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

VI. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure Offers are Solicited From as Many Potential Sources as Practicable.

A Sources Sought (SS) synopsis was published in Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps.gov) on 19 March 2019 with response date of 30 June 2019, solicitation number:

JSTARS_FOSS; only one source responded, NGC. To increase the possibility of competition, the Government divided the proposed action into separate stand-alone efforts. Five additional sources sought synopses were released on 11 and 12 July 2019 to FedBizOpps.gov, as listed below:

- Supply chain management, solicitation number: JSTARS_FOSS- Supply_Chain_Logistics_Mgmt;

- Conversion of the JIMIS technical data to S1000D specification, solicitation number:

JSTARS_FOSS_Tech_Data_to_S1000D;

- Training support and services, solicitation number: JSTARS_FOSS_Training_Spt;

- PDM utilizing MSG-3, solicitation number: JSTARS_FOSS_MSG_3_PDM.

Response date was 30 September 2019. The sources sought synopsis requested responses from interested vendors possessing the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements for this effort. A total of 20 respondents provided capability statements. Evaluated upon receipt, the Program determined the respondent's capability relied on having access to data rights.

In accordance with FAR 5.201, the requirement will be synopsized. Those respondents having expressed interest, provided detailed experience, found at least somewhat capable, and only after an award is issued, the Government may inform the prime contractor of interested respondents as a potential subcontracting possibility.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable.

The overall cost of this acquisition will be fair and reasonable to the Government. In accordance with FAR 15.403-4, the contractor will be required to provide certified cost or pricing data to be used to support the Government's evaluation of the proposed cost/price. The proposed skill mix of labor, labor hours, types and quantities of material, other direct costs, travel, and direct and indirect rates will be negotiated by the Government based on recommendations, agreements, and/or audit reports from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and expert technical personnel supporting the program. The contract cost/price will be negotiated in accordance with the procedures in FAR Part 15 ensuring the ultimate cost to the Government is fair and reasonable.

In accordance with FAR 16.504(c)(1)(ii)(D)(1)(iii), only one source is qualified and capable of performing the work identified herein at a reasonable price and therefore a sole source IDIQ contract was determined to be the most effective and efficient vehicle to procure the supplies and services necessary given the Government cannot predetermine the precise quantities of supplies and services within a definite period.

VIII. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research was not Conducted.

In accordance with FAR Part 10.001 and 10.002, market research was conducted from 31 July 2018 and completed on 30 September 2019. The Government conducted a Small Business Dynamics search, posted a sources sought synopsis, and evaluated the requirement for commercial /non-commercial determinations. The following paragraphs describe our findings:

A SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) query was conducted utilizing the website http://web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 336411, Aircraft Manufacturing; 811219, Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance; and 334511, Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing, were all utilized in search of vendor able to provide desired capabilities. These NAICS query results produced zero vendor profiles capable of providing specific PME and radar support and sustainment.

With intent to reach a wider range of respondents, the AF posted a sources sought synopsis to FedBizOpps, 19 Mar 2019.

The Joint STARS PME and radar is not a commercial item as defined in FAR Part 2.101, but rather is a military unique and not customarily used by the general public or by non- Governmental entities. The Government requires parts meeting an exact form, fit, and function as determined by the specific mission. There are no aircraft in the commercial market with the same or similar components. Market research did not identify any vendor other than the OEM, NGC, who can provide specific PME, radar support and sustainment, and related software support and sustainment.

Market Research and Sources Sought Synopses Responses for Joint STARS Support and Sustainment

Results from the sources sought synopsis for the Aircraft Support and Sustainment to include Contractor Field Service Representatives (CFSRs) produced five respondents, including the incumbent, all deemed capable of performance. Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) is now a separate contract action for competition and is not a part of this support and sustainment effort.

Results from the sources sought synopsis for Technical Data Services, produced 4 respondents.

Only the incumbent was deemed capable of performance. Joint STARS E-8C maintenance technical data resides in the JIMIS. While the Government owns all rights to the maintenance technical data: JIMIS was designed for the Joint STARS by NGC. NGC maintains and provides the sustainment for JIMIS.

The program office does not have the system, software, or technical specifications for JIMIS.

No other contractor could provide the same, if any, support for the JIMIS.

Results from the sources sought synopsis for Supply Chain Managements produced 2 respondents to include the incumbent. Only one respondent, the current incumbent, is considered capable of performance. NGC possesses over 30 years experience in supply chain management for the unique F74 parts.

Results from the sources sought synopsis for Flight Crew and Mission Crew Training produced 4 respondents, to include the incumbent. All respondents were found capable but only one, the incumbent, can resolve in a timely manner gaps in the training material that involve access to technical data and software related to PME.

The SPO has only received maintenance technical data and some engineering drawings from NGC allowing competition of depot maintenance. All remaining data currently resides with NGC in multiple formats and across multiple system platforms. As confirmed by response to the sources sought synopses and due to proprietary data rights, not one respondent, other than the current OEM, NGC, had the technical expertise and data capable of providing PME, radar support and sustainment, and related software support and sustainment. Therefore, this acquisition is for continued performance of a highly specialized service only provided by NGC.

IX. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None.

X. List of Sources, if any, That Expressed Interest in the Acquisition.

Summit Aerospace 1260 Northwest 57th Ave, Miami, FL Northrop Grumman, Lake Charles Maint Ctr 4400 Sen J Bennett Johnston Ave, Lake Charles, LA

Stambaugh Aviation 1000 Jetport Road, Brunswick, GA U.S. Aerospace Corp. 2270 Airport Road, Selmer, TN Aero Supply USA 21941 US Hwy North, Clearwater, FL Israeli Aerospace Industries Ben Gurion International Airport, Lod, Israel Limco Airepair 5304 S Lawton Ave, Tulsa, OK Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc. 15501 SW 29th St, Ste 101, Miramar, FL Aviation Brake Service, Inc. 7274 NW 34th St, Miami, FL Western Aero Services 6475 Franklin St, Denver, CO Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems One Space Park, Redondo Beach, CA Aeronautica LLC 24 Vardry St Ste 201, Greenville, SC Pentecom 1101 N. Cedar, Palestine, TX One Strand 1554 Paoli Pike #286, West Chester, PA Data Conversion Laboratory, Inc. 61-18 190th St Suite 205, Fresh Meadows, NY Aero Simulation, Inc. 4450 E Adamo Dr Ste 501, Tampa, FL Kratos Technology and Training Division 4820 Eastgate Mall, Suite 200, San Diego, CA L3 Link Training and Simulation 2200 Arlington Downs Road, Arlington, TX AAR Corporation 1100 N. Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale, IL Ascent Aviation Services 7001 South Park Avenue, Tucson, AZ