RWIS SSJ Signed for redaction.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

Page 1 of 2Updated: 9 Jun 16

Section A: General Contract Information

Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/PZIBB

Project/Program Name: Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Maintenance

Purchase Request/Identification Number: TBD

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options):

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

The Road Weather Information System (RWIS) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) consists of proprietary equipment and software. Through a series of atmospheric sensors and sensors buried in the runway pavement, data is collected by Remote Processing Units (RPUs) which transmit the data over radio to a Central Processing Unit (CPU). Using this data, new pavement freezing temperatures can be calculated through algorithms contained in the software. The hardware/software for this system is licensed by Vaisala Inc. There are seven sensors located on RWY 05L/23R at WPAFB which collect the runway surface condition information that relay real time information back to one of the two RPU sites located on the airfield. Each site house contains one motherboard which collects all seven sensor readings and transmits real time data back to the main server located in England and provided to the Government through a web-based program called Navigator 2.0.

The agency requires a Base Year and four (4), 1-year Option Years. While a runway shutdown for maintenance is intended to be completed in 2023, this maintenance has been delayed in the past and caused additional administrative burden and costs to quickly exercise Options to Extend Services and establish new contracts. A base year with four (4) options on the current acquisition provides the Government the flexibility to exercise additional option years in case a further delay occurs and eliminates potential administrative costs associated with establishing future 'bridge-type' contracts.

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source or Brand Name

The current contract, FA8601-19-P-A059, was awarded to Vaisala Inc with a single source justification due to only one company holding the proprietary rights to the hardware/software currently used by the Government. Due to the use of proprietary equipment and software, Vaisala Inc is the only company authorized to calibrate, maintain, and execute necessary adjustments to the system for proper operation.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

Market research via Internet searches was conducted to identify other companies able to offer service or warranty coverage with the existing RWIS at WPAFB. Because of the proprietary hardware and software currently used at WPAFB, no other companies are able to meet the Government's requirement for service and warranty coverage except for Vaisala, Inc.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards

In order to move away from a single source award for the proprietary hardware and software linked to the atmospheric sensors and sensors buried in the runway pavement at WPAFB, the Air Force and WPAFB would need to consider purchasing a new AWIS that includes open market hardware/software elements.

This would eliminate proprietary rights and the need for a single source.