Slices JA REDACTED 5.19.21.pdf

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Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

Air Force Material Command (AFMC), Air Force Test Center (AFTC), Specialized Contracting Branch (PZIE), Eglin AFB, FL is responsible for this proposed justification for other than full and open competition action.

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This is a new procurement for fourteen (14) up-converter direction finder (UCDF) radio frequesncy (RF) 'slices', procurement will be firm-fixed-price. The RF Simulations and Signatures Flight of the 782d Test Squadron, through its joint pre-flight integration of munitions and electronics systems (J-PRIMES) facility, provides comprehensive installed systems electronics warfare (EW) testing for a broad range of DoD customers- ensuring thorough, cost effective results which have a positive impact on platform/warfighter effectiveness/survivability. A key component of this testing capability is the ability to provide a repeatable simulated RF environment which stresses the system under test (SUT) in a realistic manner while maintaining the ability to control environment variables, and thus highlight aspects of system performance which are of interest to the customer.

The simulator currently in use at the J-PRIMES, the Advanced Microwave Environment Simulator (AMES), is nearing the end of its useful life cycle after nearly thirty years of service, and is no longer supported by its manufacturer.

Additionally, as the technology of systems requiring EW testing at the J-PRIMES advances, the performance of the AMES simulator will continue to become less effective. Eventually its usefulness as a testing methodology will be obviated, but the need for EW testing will become even greater due to the advances in adversary EW systems particularly those seen in 'near-peer' threats. To address this gap in testing performance the DoD has selected the next-generation electronics warfare environment generator (NEWEG) as the perferred EW simulator architecture which is specifically designed to address the needs of current and next generation radar systems while maintaining simulation cross-compatibility to be utilized by DoD EW testing facilities.

As part of the J-PRIMES transition to the NEWEG architecture this action will acquire 14 UCDF 'slices', using approximately-n 3600 dollars through a firm fixed price contract vehicle with Amherst Systems, Inc.

(Amherst), a subsidary of Northrop Grumman Corporation at 1740 Wehrle Drive, Buffalo, NY 14221, CAGE code ll4J7.

Ill. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

NEWEG is functionally divided into four main sub-systems, this procurement will specifically address the RF generator (RFGEN). The RFGEN sub-system takes the PDW input from the OGEN and converts it into RF emissions which are output (through either direct injection or open-air transmission) to the SUT. It is the RF energy output from this sub-system which the SUT interprets as the simulated environment.

This action is to procure 14 UCDF 'slices', at an estimated value of , which are sub-components of the RFGEN portion of the overall NEWEG architecture. The RF generator bay was procured through Eglin Operations and Maintenance Services (E OMS) contract FA2486-16-C-0002, Technical Directive E0321-19, from Amherst. Because the physical and digital interfaces between these components (the UCDF slices and the RF generator bay) are designed by and are proprietary to Amherst, it is necessary that the UCDF 'slices' themselves also be manufactured by Amherst. At this time, no other manufacturer makes a product that is compatible and this contract action is not to fund development or integration efforts required to implement third-party solutions.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

Statutory Authority 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(l) as implemented by FAR 6.302-l(a)(2)(ii)(A), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

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V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

This action is to procure 14 UCDF 'slices', at an estimated total value of$- which are sub-components of the RFGEN portion of the overall NEWEG architecture. The RF generator bay was procured through E-OMS contract FA2486-16-C-0002, Technical Directive E0321-19, from Amherst at the cost of around- Because the physical and digital interfaces between these components (the UCDF slices and the RF generator bay) are designed by and are proprietary to Amherst, it is necessary that the UCDF 'slices' themselves also be manufactured by Amherst. As the UCDF 'slices' are a sub-component of the NEWEG system, the compatibility of the sub-components with other major components will allow the government to meet funding and cost thresholds. At this time, no other manufacturer makes a product that is compatible and this contract action is not to fund development or integration efforts required to implement third-party solutions. Substantial duplication of cost to the Government would be expected if development and third-party solutions were required. Duplication of cost is estimated to be and associated with the development and purchase of the RF generator bay and integration aspects of the RF generator bay and UCDF slices with NEWEG architecture . This estimate is based on the

-initial cost of the RF generator bay plus a ten percent (10%) increase over two years for re engineering and re-development work that a third-party solution would require for manufacture and interface of the RF generator bay and UCDF slices.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR S.202 applies.

On January 9, 2020, Sources Sought synopsis FA2487-20-R-NEWEG-RFGEN-SLICES was issued on SAM. This synopsis ran until January 27, 2020.

In accordance with FAR 5.201. a Notice of Contract Action (NOCA) was publicized on SAM 23 December 2020 stating that the Government intends to conduct a sole-source solicitation to Amherst. it was posted with the title of "Next Generation Electronic Warfare Generator (NEWEG) RF Generator (RFGEN) Slices" under solicitation FA2487-20-R-NEWEG-RFGEN-SLICES.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Government anticipates being able to negotiate fair and reasonable prices for efforts under this contract.

Thorough technical, price and/or cost analyses will be performed as necessary by the AFTC/PZIE contracting office in conjunction with Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)and the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) as required. NGC will be required to furnish certified cost and pricing data for proposals meeting the threshold for submission of such data (FAR 15 .403-4). Assist audits, rate reviews, and other

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DCMA organizations. DCAA and DCMA analyses will be combined with the AFTC/PZIE and 46TS/TGBC analyses and used in the substantiation of fair and reasonable prices. Fee will be determined fair and reasonable through use of weighted guidelines method.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

As described in Section VI above, market research, in accordance with FAR part 10, was conducted by sources-sought notice of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

Amherst is the only company that can currently provide RF generation capability which is designed for and compatible with the RF generation bay. No other solution is currently available.

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

See paragraph VI.

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

At this time, there is no opportunity to remove and/or overcome barriers to competition. This is due to the fact that

Amherst is the only company that can currently provide RF generation capability which is designed for and compatible with the RF generation bay in support of the NEWEG System. No other solution is currently available that would not cause substantial duplication of cost to the Government that would be expected to be recovered through competition. JPRIMES is a member of a DoD NEWEG users group and has regular communication with the

Navy's NEWEG PM office, which is the lead for DoD NEWEG, and will use these contacts to keep current on future development activities that may provide additional acquisition options. Also, the market will be monitored and market research accomplished if additional requirements are needed. This is not a follow-on to a previous noncompetitive procurement.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

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