SIngle Source justification redacted.pdf

This is a Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition) document for a one-time, firm-fixed-price procurement of custom-manufactured C-17 Air Drop System (ADS) Link calibration adapters.

The contracting activity is the Air Force Test Center (AFTC/PZZF) for the Missile Defense Agency, with Purchase Request/Local ID Number F1S0AY6084A001 and ACQ-26-H24. The requirement involves procuring mission-essential hardware adapters designed to enable the use of the government's recently acquired 70,000 lb. capacity calibration machine, which overcomes the 30,000 lb. limitation of previous equipment but cannot interface with the C-17 ADS Links without these specific adapters. The adapters will allow the government to perform recurring ADS Link calibration in-house, replacing a previously outsourced process and reducing approximately $10,000 in annual outsourcing costs to NASA while leveraging a significant capital investment.

The justification for sole-source procurement under FAR 12.102(a) is based on the adapters' requirement to meet proprietary specifications of the government's OEM Instron calibration machine (procured in FY25 under FA930225P0095). Only Instron possesses the required proprietary drawings and fit-form data necessary to guarantee correct and safe interface. The government cannot provide this technical data to competitors, making competitive procurement infeasible. Efforts to obtain competition from three additional sources were unsuccessful, as they either could not guarantee the work and materials or did not include material costs in their quotes. The Contracting Officer (Christina Day, NH-III) determined on 06-Apr-2026 that only a single source is reasonably available. Future competitiveness will be addressed by inquiring about government-purpose rights licenses for the adapter design and updating system requirements to mandate delivery of a complete Technical Data Package for future calibration system procurements.