Sole Source - Aechelon Cyber - SIGNED 20FEB25_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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The contracting organization that is responsible for the proposed contract action is the Air Force Test Center (AFTC), Directorate of Contracting, Installation Contracting Division, AFTC/PZZG, 5 South Wolfe Avenue, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1185. This is serving as a Sole Source Justification. Purchase Request number for this requirement is F1S0AX4348A001. The Contracting Officer for this action is Adam R. Confer.

This contract is expected to result in a Firm Fixed Price Purchase after the Request for Quote is sent to the Sole Source vendor.

Mission Partner is requesting to purchase the following:

CLIN 0001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2025

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $290,000.00

CLIN 0002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2025

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $212,00.00

CLIN 0003 Nellis Systems Engineering Support 2025 (Nellis)

Five (5) days or one (1) trip for SE + PM Support for Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trip is to teach and install first round of IA updates in coordination with JSE Staff.

Estimated CLIN Total: $17,475.38

CLIN 0004 Systems Engineering Support 2025 (Edwards)

Five (5) days or one (1) trip for SE + PM Support for Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trip is to teach and install first round of IA updates in coordination with JSE Staff.

Estimated CLIN Total: $17,475.38

Option Year 1

CLIN 1001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2026

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Estimated CLIN Total: $297,250.00

CLIN 1002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2026

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $217,300.00

Option Year 2:

CLIN 2001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2027

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $304,500.00

CLIN 2002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2027

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $222,600.00

Option Year 3:

CLIN 3001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2028

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $311,750.00

CLIN 3002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2028

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

Estimated CLIN Total: $227,900.00

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Option Year 4:

CLIN 4001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2029

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $319,000.00

CLIN 4002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2029

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $233,200.00

CLIN 6001 Optional Systems Engineering Support (Nellis) 2025

Ten (10) days or two (2) trips for SE + PM Support for Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trips allocated for help with IA installation or Site Emergency.

Estimated CLIN Total: $34,950.76

CLIN 7001 Optional Systems Engineering Support (Edwards) 2025

Ten (10) days or two (2) trips for SE + PM Support for Edwards AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday

- Thursday. Trips allocated for help with IA installation or Site Emergency.

Estimated CLIN Total: $34,950.76

CLIN 8001 Optional Cyber Services Agreement (NU0245)

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus hardware versions, as noted below.

The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 1 Devices x 4 = 4 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

Estimated CLIN Total: $13,325.00

CLIN 9001 Optional Systems Engineering Support 2025 (Training San Francisco Aechelon Office)

Five (5) days or one (1) trip for SE + PM Support for Edwards AFB/Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trip is to teach how to install a round of IA updates in coordination with JSE Staff.

Trip to be conducted at Aechelon Office in San Francisco.

Estimated CLIN Total: $17,252.90

Estimated Base Year Total: $536,950.76

Estimated Option Year 1 Total: $514,550.00

Estimated Option Year 2 Total: $527,100.00

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Estimated Option Year 3 Total: $539,650.00

Estimated Option Year 4 Total: $552,200.00

Miscellaneous Option Total: $100,479.42

Estimated Contract total: $2,770,930.18

CLIN 0001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2025

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $290,000.00

CLIN 0002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2025

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $212,00.00

CLIN 0003 Nellis Systems Engineering Support 2025 (Nellis)

Five (5) days or one (1) trip for SE + PM Support for Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trip is to teach and install first round of IA updates in coordination with JSE Staff.

Estimated CLIN Total: $17,475.38

CLIN 0004 Systems Engineering Support 2025 (Edwards)

Five (5) days or one (1) trip for SE + PM Support for Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trip is to teach and install first round of IA updates in coordination with JSE Staff.

Estimated CLIN Total: $17,475.38

Option Year 1

CLIN 1001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2026

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Estimated CLIN Total: $297,250.00

CLIN 1002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2026

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $217,300.00

Option Year 2:

CLIN 2001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2027

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $304,500.00

CLIN 2002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2027

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $222,600.00

Option Year 3:

CLIN 3001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2028

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $311,750.00

CLIN 3002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2028

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

Estimated CLIN Total: $227,900.00

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Option Year 4:

CLIN 4001 Cyber Services Agreement (Nellis) 2029

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 20 Devices x 4 = 80 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $319,000.00

CLIN 4002 Cyber Services Agreement (Edwards) 2029

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus or Workstation and Nexus hardware versions, as noted below. The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 14 Devices x 4 = 56 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

- 2 Devices x 4 = 8 Quarterly IA updates for Nexus hardware versions: 4.0

Estimated CLIN Total: $233,200.00

CLIN 6001 Optional Systems Engineering Support (Nellis) 2025

Ten (10) days or two (2) trips for SE + PM Support for Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trips allocated for help with IA installation or Site Emergency.

Estimated CLIN Total: $34,950.76

CLIN 7001 Optional Systems Engineering Support (Edwards) 2025

Ten (10) days or two (2) trips for SE + PM Support for Edwards AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday

- Thursday. Trips allocated for help with IA installation or Site Emergency.

Estimated CLIN Total: $34,950.76

CLIN 8001 Optional Cyber Services Agreement (NU0245)

Access to one (1) year of consecutive cyber updates for Aechelon Nucleus hardware versions, as noted below.

The year will be broken up in four (4) quarterly updates to be installed by JSE Staff.

- 1 Devices x 4 = 4 Quarterly IA updates for Nucleus hardware versions: Nucleus 9.0N

Estimated CLIN Total: $13,325.00

CLIN 9001 Optional Systems Engineering Support 2025 (Training San Francisco Aechelon Office)

Five (5) days or one (1) trip for SE + PM Support for Edwards AFB/Nellis AFB. Travel Monday and Friday, on-site Tuesday - Thursday. Trip is to teach how to install a round of IA updates in coordination with JSE Staff.

Trip to be conducted at Aechelon Office in San Francisco.

Estimated CLIN Total: $17,252.90

Estimated Base Year Total: $536,950.76

Estimated Option Year 1 Total: $514,550.00

Estimated Option Year 2 Total: $527,100.00

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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Estimated Option Year 3 Total: $539,650.00

Estimated Option Year 4 Total: $552,200.00

Miscellaneous Option Total: $100,479.42

Estimated Contract total: $2,770,930.18

FAR 13.501 and DAFFARS 5313.501 requires an ordering activity to justify its actions when restricting competition to a sole source or brand name in accordance with 41 U.S.C 1901. This acquisition will be made through other than full and open competition.

The requested Cyber IA Support is critical to the JSE program. This requirement is specific to the Image Generation equipment utilized for F-35 and F-22 aircraft simulation to support developmental and operational testing of these war fighting platforms. The Image Generation systems are an "Out the Window" (OTW) solution for flight simulation currently used on F-35 and F-22 pilot training programs.

Due to the vendor's specialized capability to perform quarterly cybersecurity updates in compliance with DoD and NIST cybersecurity directives and publications. This vendor has the specific expertise and knowledge to identify and manage the Nucleus, Workstation, and Nexus software and hardware versions necessary to ensure that the required cybersecurity updates are applied and evaluated for performance. Additionally, they utilize the latest IA scanning toolset, such as ACAS and Evaluate STIG, along with the most recent Microsoft updates, to conduct comprehensive OS baseline updates and verifications. The vendor also provides detailed documentation for each quarterly update, which includes justifications for any unincorporated IAVMP messages by explaining the potential negative impacts on trainer operations. This level of specialized service and detailed reporting underscores the necessity for a sole source award to this vendor, ensuring continuity and compliance with stringent cybersecurity requirements.

Aechelon is the sole provider of the support systems/integration listed above that is required to support the F-22 and F-35 Simulation Lab. The image generators that are currently in use need receive the requested Cyber IA support to ensure no lapse in capability or security measures. These generators that are in use with the Simulation Lab are the only system that can meet current requirements because the same generators are used across the EWG and the F-22 Enterprise for Edwards AFB. Congruency must be kept between all groups across Edwards AFB to ensure test conditions and use remains the same.

These Image Generators have already gone through lengthy and significant testing to ensure that they intrinsically meet all technical aspects set forth by the test mission. If switching to a different brand/system of image generators would require all these lengthy and costly tests to be repeated on any possible substitute at the cost of the government across the F-22 Enterprise. This would result in a substantial cost to the government that is not anticipated to be recovered by the switch to a different system.

No other potential sources have been identified that can provide the need Cyber IA Support for the Aechelon projectors. Aechelon has confirmed in the past that they do not have authorized resellers or distributors for this type of need. A formal Notice of Contract Action will be posted on SAM.gov to confirm no other potential sources.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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While reviewing vendor capabilities and previously accomplished efforts it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the Government to directly award to Aechelon Technology. Aechelon does not have any authorized resellers and is the only vendor capable of providing these products. A Notice of Contract Action (NOCA) was posted on SAM.gov on January 30th, 2025 at 5:25pm PST to run through February 6th 2025 at 11:00am PST. No potential vendors or resellers contact the Contracting Team to express capability or interest.

This NOCA helped to establish our planned Sole Source Strategy.

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for this acquisition will be fair and reasonable, and the proposal will be evaluated using price analysis for commercial items in accordance with FAR Part 13.106-3. These items have been determined to be commercial items; therefore, certified cost and pricing data is not required. However, other than certified cost and pricing data will be requested to aide in the price analysis.

During the Market Research phase it was determined that this would be a sole source acquisition. A formal Notice of Contract Action (NOCA) was posted on SAM.gov on January 30th, 2025 at 5:25pm PST to run through February 6th 2025 at 11:00am PST. This was to allow any potential vendor to express interest or capability. No responses were received during the NOCA period.

This brand of hardware has been found technically acceptable on previous similar requirements in terms of offering solutions with the proper form, fit, and function to meet the requiring activity's needs.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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