Sole Source.docx

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

1. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIRED SUPPLIES/SERVICES, ESTIMATED VALUE, AND DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

The Maritime Systems Hydromechanics Branch intends to purchase pressure tested custom cable assemblies to meet the requirements of the LDUUV program. The LDUUV program requires custom cable assemblies to interface with the various sensors and actuators in the Flooded Nose Section (FNS) of the LDUUV platform, and has tasked Code *** with hardware procurement of such cable assemblies.

The hardware requested herein is the selection of SEACON connectors from TE with GFE provided unterminated cables and connectors for the development of custom cable assemblies. The LDUUV program requires these particular SEACON connectors to accommodate the sensors and other systems that have already been selected and procured for the platform. These custom cable assemblies cannot be competitively acquired since only TE makes the connectors necessary, and their distributors do not carry all of the connectors needed. The custom cable assemblies must be consistent with the ones listed below to ensure proper integration into the LDUUC platform.

The required hardware from TE satisfying the requirements are as follows:

The above listed hardware (11 line items) have SEACON connectors that are standard and specialty product offerings from TE, but are assembled together with GFE to create the custom cable assemblies the LDUUV program requires.

2. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SOLE SOURCE BASED ON CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION

These particular cable assemblies are critical in satisfying the stringent performance, mechanical constraints, and system compatibility requirements with current LDUUV design. The sensors and subsystems for the LDUUV platform were selected over 2 years ago, and platform architecture has centered on the use of these particular cable assemblies, specifically the connectors from TE. Extensive market research has identified that no other commercially available connectors satisfies the necessary electrical, physical, and mechanical requirements established through the Critical Design Review of the LDUUV program. This LDUUV Critical Design Review established the system baseline for the platform, which calls for the cable assemblies listed in the required hardware table above.

Therefore, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(2)(i)(A), only one responsible source demonstrates the unique and innovative concept and abilities. No other provider will satisfy the requirement.

3. MARKET SURVEY

Market research was conducted to determine if the SEACON hardware was available through other vendors. It was discovered that TE has a single distributor for their connectors, and this distributor was only able to provide three (3) out of the twenty-three (23) connectors needed for the cable assemblies. As a result, the connectors can only be purchased from TE directly. Any open solicitation for bids will result in vendors going to TE for retail pricing, since they are the only ones capable of providing the necessary connectors.

In addition to determine if TE had any distributors, research was also conducted on what vendors can assemble the custom cable assemblies from the TE connectors. It was discovered that several of the connectors required from TE could only be made when terminated to the customer’s cable. This means that other vendors would not be able to provide all of the cable assemblies since only TE can terminate the cable in such a way to make the desired connector. Reaching out to other vendors for quote on this anyway resulted in vendors requesting that we go directly to TE to have our assemblies made. Last, since TE connectors are very specialized, vendors informed us that their estimates to give us a partial solution was going to be much more than the government estimate, which further solidifies that TE is the only vendor that can meet all of the requirements of the LDUUV program.