Signed JA for SCR Boards.pdf

Justification and Approval – SCR Boards

General Services Administration (GSA)

Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Southwest Supply Acquisition Center (SSAC)

Justification and Approval for a Sole Source Acquisition (J&A)

IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

The requiring agency is the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (ATCALS) Program

Office with the United States Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Tinker

Air Force Base, OK. The contracting activity is the General Services Administration, Global

Supply, Southwest Supply Acquisition Center (SSAC), 819 Taylor St., Fort Worth, TX 76102.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING TAKEN

This action is to justify the award of a sole source, Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Purchase Order for the provision to build, test, certify, and deliver fifty (50) Silicone Controlled Rectifier (SCR) boards and two (2) First Article Test (FAT) units for a total of fifty-two (52) boards, test equipment and procedures for testing of new boards, and all associated drawings and technical data packages manufactured by ARC Technology Solutions, LLC (ARC).

This J&A supports the procurement for replacement SCR boards so that the ATCALS Program

Office may maintain functional MPN-14K Precision Approach Radar (PAR) systems, dated Air

Force deployable ground control approach systems, which have been in service since the early

1980s.

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES REQUIRED

This procurement resulted in the purchase of fifty-two (52) SCR modulator/boards for Air Force ground radar systems around the country.

The awarded total value for the requirement is $1,874,280.00.

IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This procurement was conducted under the authority of FAR 13.501(a), Sole source acquisitions, as the replacement SCR boards are only available from one (1) source.

Acquisitions conducted under simplified acquisition procedures are exempt from the requirements in FAR 6, thus the requirement for full and open competition does not apply in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1). The Contracting Officer (CO) completed this J&A for a sole source acquisition by utilizing the format listed in FAR 6.303-2 as required by FAR

13.501(a)(1)(ii) and modified the format to reflect FAR 13.5 procedures that were used in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901.

Approvals at the specified levels in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(2)(ii) were obtained.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE PROPOSED VENDORS’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SUPPLY

DocuSign Envelope ID: C6BA4F71-B30A-4674-BB91-C2D2BF1BC5DD

The MPN-14K Landing Control Central (LLC) system is a tactical air traffic control system utilized in deployable ground control approach systems which have been in service since the early 1980s at Air Force bases around the country. Specifically, the Precision Approach Radar

(PAR) component of this landing control system provides for precision approach landings during inclement weather or if an aircraft requires more precise landing instructions. ATCLALS supports eleven (11) dated Precision Approach Radar (PAR) systems that are not only fielded for operational activities, but must remain in service through 2030.

The radar systems are now suffering from issues with reliability, functionality, and obsolescence of components due to the radar systems’ age. Military personnel have struggled with maintaining the radar systems’ modulator as diminishing manufacturing sources for the necessary components resulted in higher maintenance costs as parts become scarce and extended repair lead times. Additionally, repair lead time for the current modulators, specifically the silicone controlled rectifier (SCR) boards, is now estimated to take at least nine (9) to twelve

(12) months which is resulting in delays of keeping the radar systems functional and ATCALS fully mission capable. Finally, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) no longer supports these dated SCR boards, and thus, all repairs and technical guidance is based off of significantly outdated material originally provided by the OEM. Based upon these circumstances, ATCALS has requested the development of updated SCR boards with form-fit-function replacements which will eliminate function inefficiencies, incorporate updated commercial technology and allow for the replacement boards to be utilized with the existing radar systems.

ARC Technology Solutions, LLC is a company that has previously demonstrated their unique expertise with modernizing the MPN-14K radar system by successfully reverse engineering multiple radar components, identifying certain components of the radar system that could be properly updated with more modern, commercial replacements and ensuring that any modifications to the components were compatible with the PAR system’s overall design. ARC’s prior work on the MPN-14K radar system, especially with the PAR radar monitor replacement, has provided the vendor with highly specialized technical knowledge concerning the operation of the both the PAR radar and its transmitter. This specialized knowledge is a critical element for successful SCR board replacement as the radar system itself requires the utilization of extremely high voltages. The high voltages create a scenario in which any technical misstep could result in irreparable damage to a multitude of the radar components or even the entire radar system.

In addition to ARC’s technical expertise, they have demonstrated their ability to develop and fabricate units for first article testing (FAT) in anticipation of any production units. Upon development of the modified components, ARC will be able to provide FAT units for in-depth testing and review by the Government. If in fact any deficiencies are found by the Government, ARC will then be able to address the issues immediately as fabrication efforts are performed in-house thereby mitigating any substantial risks to a production schedule and/or final delivery.

Finally, ARC has demonstrated that they have the adequate quality control, configuration management, interface standardization and manufacturing processes in place which apply to electronic equipment to be modified for government use in an aerospace environment. These existing vendor qualifications shall allow for the provision of updated technical data, technical drawings and installation instructions to the Government in the required Air Force formats as a result of their previous experience. ARC also will supply a depot support package to include test equipment, plans, and repair instructions to further assist the Government with the maintenance of the replacement SCR boards and the successful sustainment of the PAR systems overall. This deport support package also will be compatible with the organic depot that currently performs the maintenance for the PAR systems.

This knowledge, along with their highly specialized expertise, and on-site equipment/tools/ facilities allows ARC to provide a total solution to the Government. Based upon the market research performed, award of this requirement to another vendor would essentially require that the effort be divided into two (2) efforts: development of the technical drawings and the physical board fabrication. The Government would then realize a duplication of procurement costs by engaging in two (2) contract actions instead of one (1). Additionally, serious delays could be incurred during the production of the units if there were deficiencies discovered with any of the developed technical drawings provided by a separate vendor. Any significant delays suffered by a vendor in the production of the SCR boards would ultimately render the

MPN-14K system as non-mission capable and substantially affect the normal day-to-day operations of the flight lines in which these PAR systems operate.

As mentioned above, the fact that the OEM no longer supports the current SCR boards greatly increase the difficulty and cost of repairing the boards as well as increases the length of time that a PAR system remains defective once a modulator malfunctions. At any Air Force base with an active airfield, a delay due to the maintenance and repair of its radar system would in turn delay air operations and is considered to be unacceptable. In order to avoid any further unacceptable delays due to maintenance and repair, award to ARC Technologies, LLC is in the best interest of the Government.

DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS TO PROMOTE COMPETITION TO THE MAXIMUM

EXTENT PRACTICABLE

The market research conducted by the Contracting Officer and submitted by the customer for review indicates that only one (1) source, ARC Technology Solutions, LLC, is available for the production of the required replacement SCR boards. A competitive procurement for the SCR boards cannot be conducted without forcing the Government to incur a duplication of procurement cost and significant loss of time by splitting the requirement to allow for other vendors to either provide a quote for the reverse engineering a Form, Fit, Function and

Integration (F3I) prototype for testing or provide a quote for the production units.

DETERMINATION ANTICIPATED COST WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE TO

THE GOVERNMENT

ARC was required to submit any recent sales history and additional pricing data in order to substantiate price reasonableness in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2). Additionally, the

Contracting Officer compared ARC’s quoted price to the Independent Government Estimate

(IGE) to further substantiate price reasonableness.

DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 to determine the availability of products capable of meeting the Government’s requirement. An Internet search was conducted to determine if any other sources of supply existed that could adequately meet ATCALS’ need.

A Request for Information (RFI) was posted to both GSA eBuy and betaSAM to find potential vendors that could meet the requirements of this procurement. Two (2) responses of “No Quote” were received from GSA eBuy and one (1) response from betaSAM with a capability statement was received. The response received is listed below.

Vendor Name Business Category Capability Statement Available Vehicles

GAR SYSTEMS Minority Owned

Business

Yes Unknown

GAR Systems provided a capability statement that was sent to the ATCALS Program Manager for technical review. Via information provided by the Program Manager, the CO noted GAR systems’ response did not reasonably indicate that they had any verifiable experience with air traffic contract control or approach radar systems and they were not able to provide technical data as well as production units. The PM confirmed that determination by conducting additional searches in the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) commercial/Government entity website and via the Internet.

ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORT THE AWARD OF A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT

Market research was conducted by the ATCALS Program Office via sustaining engineering requests and requests for information sent to five (5) organizations/contractors. In their request for information, ATCALS asked that the potential sources 1) identify a replacement part for the known point of failure; 2) identify if different repair procedures were needed with the recommended replacement part; 3) identify the source’s ability to reverse engineer/redesign the current board for the replacement part while providing technical data developed from the reverse engineering for any future requirements of SCR boards; and 4) identify the length of time and potential costs required for the endeavor. Based upon the information received, only ARC demonstrated the capability of meeting all technical needs as well as providing an acceptable estimated timeline for delivery within the Government’s need.

Additionally, ARC clearly documented their ability to provide the Government with substantial technical data to include depot level checkout tests, depot level repair instructions, drawings, schematics such as wiring schematics and a depot level tester for the depot to test SCR boards to identify failures. No other organization was able to document the capability of providing that type of maintenance information or level of technical data which is crucial to allowing the Air

Force maintain these SCR boards for the life of the MPN-14K PAR radar itself.

LIST ANY OTHER SOURCES THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN WRITING

No other sources, other than the five (5) contractors previously discussed from the PM office, expressed interest in writing in response to the two (2) RFIs posted seeking potential sources.

STATEMENT OF ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE

BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

The Government will continue to both search the Internet for possible sources of supply and continue posting RFIs searching for future sources that could meet any future requirements.

Furthermore, the Government shall continue to synopsize its intent to negotiate with a single source thereby keeping industry aware that the Government has identified no other sources of the required SCR boards if more are needed in the future. This J&A will be posted to betaSAM within fourteen (14) days of award for a minimum of thirty (30) days in accordance with FAR

13.501(a)(1)(iii).

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

By signing this Justification and Approval for a Sole Source Acquisition, the Technical

Representative is certifying that they have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Johnny R. Phillips Date

MPN-14K Program Manager

Air Traffic Control & Landing Systems

AFLCMC/HBAAA, Tinker AFB, OK

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

By signing this Justification and Approval for a Sole Source Acquisition, the Contracting Officer has determined that the actions taken under this acquisition meet the conditions described in

FAR 13.501(a). The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of the Contracting Officer’s knowledge and belief.

Kara Yosten Date

Contracting Officer

Approved by:

One-Level Above CO Date

Assistant Regional Counsel Date

Director, Acquisition Operations Division Date

PHILLIPS.JOHNNY.R.

1114266341

Digitally signed by

PHILLIPS.JOHNNY.R.1114266341

Date: 2020.08.05 09:32:26 -05'00'

KARA YOSTEN Digitally signed by KARA YOSTEN Date: 2020.08.06 10:31:51 -05'00'

DocuSign Envelope ID: C6BA4F71-B30A-4674-BB91-C2D2BF1BC5DD

05 Aug 20

8/12/2020

8/12/2020

Competition Advocate’s Certification:

I, the approving authority, determine that the circumstances identified in this document are accurate; therefore, limiting sources under FAR 13.501(a) is justified. The signature below also represents approval of this Justification and Approval for a Sole Source Acquisition.

Competition Advocate

FAS Regional Commissioner’s Office