Sole_Source_Justification_Redacted.pdf

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

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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Dyess AFB requires an expanded radio coverage area to the far west Texas, eastern New Mexico airspace.

This radio coverage is essential for mission readiness training of aircrews flying into the between .

Effective training can only be accomplished when Line-of-Sight communications is networked back to the Live Mission Operations Center (LMOC) at Dyess AFB. A remote radio system will be connected to a Digital Radio Management System (DRMS) network and relayed back to a Dyess DRMS server. This will allow the expansion of Line-of-Sight communications into the eastern New Mexico region.

With DRMS a controller can give effective training inputs to aircrew throughout the MOA. Allowing the crew to simulate more combat like conditions in daily training operations. More effective training means better combat ready forces using the most efficient cost effective means available.

Objective

Find a location with an existing tower and shelter within 500'

Preferred government owned property (Fed, State, County)

Alternate if no government available lease --Commercial property with existing tower and shelter

Any plan must be:

Obtainable within a time-frame that can support current training requirements and meet future training needs for 7BW and surrounding military communities.

Scalable enough to expand and integrate into future technology.

Maintainable and affordable within the scope of an existing program or an organization with budget, equipment, manning support.

Support agencies needed for this project: 7 OSS, 7 CONS, 7 CS, and 7 CPTS.

Proposed Course of Action

Described below are possible Course-of-Actions (CoA) for establishing extended Line-of-Site communication into the far West Texas, Eastern New Mexico Military Operations Area (MOA).

CoA 1: Government Property Lease

Assumptions were a preferred government owned property lease could be more permanent and reduce additional contracting/construction cost.

Optimal location within the would include an agreement with a government agency (Federal, State or local Municipality) that has a radio tower (estimated 100 feet in height) with established commercial communications infrastructure. Capability of leasing space in a facility and space to house a radio antenna with associated cabling.

Limiting Factors to consider:

LimFAC-1. Federal/State agencies regulations/restriction on transmission emissions and equipment proximity.

LimFAC-2. Security and access to equipment in remote locations.

LimFAC-3. Space available for equipment, network/cable runs and power.

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

March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 4 of 6March 2023 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION Page 4 of 6 not feasible or practical.

The below cost does not include property purchase/lease cost or development of roads and utilities to the property. The cost estimates are low fidelity and should be considered extremely low, due to the remote/austere locations that would affect construction cost.

1. Commercial Communications Shelter plus shipping: $50,000

2. Cement slab construction with utilities: $100,000

3. Tower with antenna: $100,000

4. Commercial communication infrastructure: $50,000 (just for install)

Dyess AFB requires an expanded radio coverage area to the far west Texas, eastern New Mexico airspace.

This radio coverage is essential for mission readiness training of aircrews flying into the military operations area (MOA) between .

Effective training can only be accomplished when Line-of-Sight communications is networked back to the Live Mission Operations Center (LMOC) at Dyess AFB. A remote radio system will be connected to a Digital Radio Management System (DRMS) network and relayed back to a Dyess DRMS server. This will allow the expansion of Line-of-Sight communications into the eastern New Mexico region.

With DRMS a controller can give effective training inputs to aircrew throughout the MOA. Allowing the crew to simulate more combat like conditions in daily training operations. More effective training means better combat ready forces using the most efficient cost effective means available.

MTD radio station in has a 200 Ft plus tower and a facility within 200 yards. Contact was made with the owner and station manager. An initial site visit was conducted resulting in favorable conditions to house a radio setup. The station also has adequate power and fiber communication to the property along with an occupied secure facility.

After countless phone calls, internet research using SkyVector aviation charts, Hawg View maps, radio-locator, FAA navigational charts, google search for communications towers in West Texas, 7 OSS believe adequate research was completed and that the sole source justification is the most cost effective solution for this requirement.

7 CONS also posted two (2) separate sources sought in an attempt to locate businesses interested in providing for this requirement unfortunately no companies responded to either sources sought.

The only viable solution is CoA 2, considering all factors detailed above. The MTD radio station is capable of housing a small LoS Radio system and has a tower to transmit communications within the desired area.

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

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Initial research of similar leases has identified a lease cost for tower space and storage of the receiver to be on average $500.00 - $1000.00 per month. This places the estimated cost to be $12,000.00 per year with an anticipated annual growth rate of .03% - .06% per the GDP growth rate.

After countless phone calls, internet research using SkyVector aviation charts, Hawg View maps, radio-locator, FAA navigational charts, google search for communications towers in West Texas, 7 OSS believe adequate research was completed and that the sole source justification is the most cost effective solution for this requirement.

The only viable solution is CoA 2, considering all factors detailed above. The MTD radio station is capable of housing a small LoS Radio system and has a tower to transmit communications within the desired area.

The MTD radio station location will result in the most overall cost savings to field this requirement. The government will have very little (if any) construction costs, facility maintenance and/or repairs. Very little communications infrastructure enhancements will be needed because the site has commercial fiber to the facility. The station has adequate floor space for the system and space on the 200' tower that is within 100' from the facility. The owner is willing to do business with Dyess AFB and is currently registering with SAM.gov. Entering into a lease agreement with the MTD radio station is the only avenue to fulfill this requirement, and the MTD radio station is the only vendor that has the capability to support and meets all requirements in the desired AOR.

Commercial property was considered due to the numerous communications towers in the West Texas area. A secondary location close to , agreement with commercial company that has radio tower (estimated 100 feet in height) with established commercial communications infrastructure was researched.

Capable of leasing space in a facility and space to house a radio antenna with associated cabling.

Limiting Factors to consider:

LimFAC-1. Commercial property regulations/restriction on transmission emissions equipment proximity.

LimFAC-2. Security and access to equipment in remote locations.

LimFAC-3. Space available for equipment, network/cable runs and power.

Market Research --Two commercial sites were contacted that met the CoA 2 parameters.

Commercial communications internet research had numerous results. Most remote tower facilities have specific purpose (cellular networks or oil field operations). Communications shelters are not readily accessible in most instances or owners not willing to lease. Estimated cost ranged from $500-$3000 for cellular tower.

Contact was made with airfield operations at the . The radio tower there is managed by the FAA who was not willing or able to entertain a lease at this time.

Commercial Radio search resulted in finding the MTD radio station in . There is a 200 Ft plus tower and a facility within 200 yards. Contact was made with the owner and station manager. An initial site visit was conducted resulting in favorable conditions to house a radio setup. The station also has adequate power and fiber communication to the property along with an occupied secure facility.

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

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Based on the unique requirement, the requirement being a commercial commodity lease agreement, and that two (2) separate sources sought were published on www.FBO.gov (1st posting was 17 Aug 23 - 28 Aug 23, 2nd posting was 30 Jan - 15 Feb 24). Based on the lack of responses on the sources sought postings it has been determined that the best course of action is to pursue a sole source award with MTD Inc. IAW the period of performance specified in the lease agreement.