Redacted Justification.pdf

J&A Number: 20-0195

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) China Lake, CA.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This justification and approval authorizes and approves on a sole source basis a Firm Fixed Price

(FFP) contract for the brand name Viai Solutions Inc. (Viavi) to procure XGIG-JDSU fiber channel analyzer components.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division intends to procure eight (8) Viavi XGIG-

B480FA Multi-Functional Blades and eight (8) Viavi XGIG-S48AFA Function Keys; and three

(3) Viavi XGIG-C042 4-Slot Rack Chassis w/ Bundled Software Suite. These system components are required for upgrading the current XGIG-JDSU fiber channel analyzer. The

Viavi brand components comprise features essential in the system’s design and there are no comparable components with the same functional capability.

The expansion of the current XGIG fiber monitoring system will benefit the Advanced Weapons

Laboratory (AWL) and its mission to deliver operational flight programs (OFP) to the fleet by allowing the simultaneous monitoring of up to [Redacted] aircraft fiber subsystems. This provides an increased capability to troubleshoot vendor interoperability issues before OFP delivery to the fleet.

The estimated price is [Redacted] as described in the table below.

Estimated Dollar Value in Thousands

FY 20 Total

[Redacted]

Total

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

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The FA-18EF/EA18G aircraft Mission Computers (MCs) communicate to several aircraft subsystems via a fiber-optic system designed in the 1990’s. The AWL currently uses a 1990’s era compatible XGIG-JDSU system for fiber channel protocol analysis. Recently, the number of fiber-optic systems has increased from [Redacted]. The Government does not see a need in replacing the XGIG-JDSU protocol analysis system. Instead, merely increasing the number of analyzing components in the current XGIG-JDSU system will sufficiently meet the governments need to analyze all [Redacted] subsystems. The fiber channel analyzer components to be procured via this contract are the only components meeting the design requirements of the

XGIG-JDSU system. Industry has evolved to much higher transfer rates, with current manufacturer’s only producing test equipment that supports 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 GBPS

(gigabyte per second). The faster speeds inherent in the currently produced components would make signals incomprehensible in interfacing with the aircraft. The aircraft is only compatible with components capable of a 1GBPS data transfer rate. Viavi is the original designer, developer and sole manufacturer of the XGIG fiber optical monitoring system, and has old stock of 1GBPS processing equipment. Viavi components are required for the upgrade because they are the only components capable of communicating with the aircraft at data processing speeds comprehendible by the aircraft analyzing system.

Market research was performed to determine if any similar units from competitors could meet the requirements as stated above. A market survey was initiated by the Technical Point of

Contact (TPOC) [Redacted] by searching the web for newer test equipment or the Multi-

Functional Blades, Function Keys and 4-Slot Racks required for this procurement. After searching the web, the TPOC was unable to find any new test equipment nor manufacturer’s selling or marketing test equipment compatible with the XGIG-JDSU system. The TPOC followed up by directly contacting vendors found on the web search, these vendors verified they do not currently produce the compatible components nor did they have any in stock. After this thorough analysis, the TPOC then contacted the supplier of the current F-18 JDSU system, Viavi

Solutions Inc., and found that industry no longer manufactures the 1Gb compatible SerDes chip that our system components require. The components to be purchased have been commercially sold, though they are presently out of production because of industry-wide technology advances.

Industry has moved on to 4, 8, and 16Gb architecture. Market research was unable to find multiple sources capable of fulfilling all the required specifications or features of these system components.

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

In accordance with DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d), a Sources Sought announcement for this requirement was posted to the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website on 06 December

2019. Zero responses were received.

In accordance with FAR 13.105(b), a combined synopsis and solicitation will be issued via the

FBO website. Accordingly, pursuant to FAR 11.105(a)(1), the particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs. The solicitation will provide for competition amongst all vendors capable of supplying the Government with the necessary XGIG-JDSU compatible components.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. (FOR CONTRACTS)

Pursuant to 41 U.S.C 1901(a)(2), Simplified Acquisition Procedures will be utilized for this procurement as offers are anticipated to contain only commercial items. As such, in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a), the Contracting Officer shall ensure that all supplies and services provided under this contract are procured at a fair and reasonable price. It is intended that price reasonableness will be based on competitive quotations in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(1).

If only one response is received, the contracting officer will determine price reasonableness in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2).

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NAWCWD has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the types of supplies/services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, NAWCWD will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.