SPRBL1-20-Q-0026 ZL0009.1_Redacted 024.pdf

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

LAND

6565 SURVEILLANCE LOOP

BUILDING 6001, ROOM C1-301

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND 21005-1846

Source Selection Information-- See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other than Full and Open Competition, 10 U.S.C. 1901

Solicitation SPRBL1-20-Q-0026

1. Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) DLA Land at Aberdeen (DSCC-ZLAA)

6565 Surveillance Loop Room C1-301 Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-1846

2. Description of Action

This Justification and Approval supports the negotiation and award of a ten-year Firm-Fixed- Price, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract using other than full and open competition procedures. This contractual action will support U.S. Army requirements to purchase spare MX-12389 Image Intensifier (I2) Tubes, to support field level maintenance of the AN/AVS-6 Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging Systems (ANVIS).

The I2 Tube is manufactured by L3 Technologies, Inc, CAGE 55311, 1215 S 52nd Street, Tempe, AZ 85281. The estimated value of this acquisition is The contract maximum value is

Army Working Capital Funds (AWCF) will be used for this effort.

The Contracting Officer determined on December 6, 2018 that the MX-12389 I2 Tube for the AN/AVS-6 is commercial. Accordingly, this procurement action will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The AN/AVS-6 ANVIS provides a critical night vision capability to U.S. Military Aviators, enabling pilots to fly aircraft in terrain flight modes at night. The ANVIS is mounted to either the HGU-56/P, Rotary Wing Aircrew Ballistic Helmet (ABH) System, or Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System (IHADSS) worn by the pilot and/or crew. Power is provided by the aircraft or batteries via the Power Pack mounted on the rear of the helmet. The ANVIS can also be operated in a hand held mode using the clip on power source. The Binocular Assembly of the

NSN Nomenclature P/N End Item

AMC/

AMSC

10-Yr Est.

Max Qty

10-Yr Estimated

Value

10-Yr Maximum

Value 5855-01-623-

Image Intensifier

Tube MX-12389 AN/AVS-6 3C 1,054

Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition

SPRBL1-20-Q-0026

ANVIS consists of a Pivot and Adjustment Shelf and two identical monoculars, each with an I2 Tube, Objective Lens Assembly, and Eyepiece.

4. Authority Cited

The procedures in FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items were used in accordance with the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901.

5. Reason for Authority Cited

The only qualified manufacturer with the comprehensive knowledge, expertise necessary, and capability to produce and test the I2 Tube for this action is L3 Technologies, Inc, (L3) CAGE 55311, 1215 S 52nd Street, Tempe, AZ 85281.

L3 is the only source that possesses the manufacturing data and expertise to produce the I2 Tube in full accordance with the Army’s Military Performance Specifications and Quality Standards that are technically interchangeable with existing MX-12389 tubes.

The initial procurement for the I2 Tube was competitive and resulted in contracts awarded to both Exelis (now Harris) and L3. Even though the MX-12389 I2 Tube was manufactured by both Harris and L3 in the past, there are significant safety concerns if I2 Tubes from different manufacturers are mixed in the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS as described below. As a result, the I2 Tubes for the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS must use the I2 Tubes from the same manufacturer whose I2 Tubes are currently in the fielded AN/AVS-6 ANVIS.

I2 Tubes covert low levels of light photons into electrons, amplify those electrons, and then convert the electrons back into photons of light. This is done by using a photocathode plate and a higher-voltage microchannel plate. Due to the differences in proprietary manufacturing processes of different companies, the performance of the photocathode and microchannel plates together in an I2 Tube varies even while meeting the same performance specification.

A Qualitative Assessment for the AN/AVS-9 I2 Tubes, published in February 2009, requires that I2 Tubes from different OMNI versions not be mixed within the same night vision system. The change and refinement in manufacturing techniques over time by the contractor created slight changes in each generation of I2 Tubes.

t the time, there was only one manufacturer for the I2 tubes, so a comparison between different manufacturers was not possible. However, the Army

Technical Experts concluded that if these slight changes in manufacturing techniques and procedures between generations of I2 Tubes from a single manufacturer could cause the pilot symptoms described below, then using I2 Tubes from a different manufacturer with different manufacturing techniques would result even larger changes in the I2 Tubes. The Army Technical Experts mandated that I2 Tubes from different manufacturers cannot be mixed in the same ANVIS and the manufacturer CAGE code for each pair of I2 Tubes within a system should match per the Aviation Safety Action Message issued on July 15, 2015 by the Commander, AMCOM, Redstone Arsenal AL.

Supporting the Army Technical Expert mandate is the result of two assessments performed in 2009 and 1999 on the use of different versions of I2 Tubes and ANVIS types within the same NVD, Aircraft, Squadron, Unit, etc. In both assessments, experienced aviators and aircrew tested different combinations of tube generations within the ANVIS during night time flight operations.

During the 2009 assessment, Aviators and Aircrew operated their aircraft using ANVIS with mixed generation I2 Tube configurations. Due to slight differences in the I2 Tubes by different generations, the binocular disparity could not be adjusted to achieve parallax.

If another contractor were to be selected to provide the required I2 Tube, Army field maintainers would be required to replace both of the I2 Tubes in the AN/AVS-6 for each repair. It is estimated that replacing two I2 Tubes for every failure of one I2 Tube would cost the Government an additional $2,420,894, and the Government would be unnecessarily replacing approximately 1,054 operating and mission capable I2 Tubes, based upon the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS currently fielded. Any vendor who attempts to become qualified may be required to spend up to $100M in equipment, per the Army Program Manager, and specialized personnel and technology to support the effort, based on the costs of test required to qualify vendors for component pieces of the AN/AVS-6, AN/PVS-14 and AN/PVS-7 night vision systems.

However, if another vendor become qualified, they would still be required to replace two tubes for every one that needed replacement, costing the Government addition money stated above.

The Acquisition Method Code (AMC)/Acquisition Methods Suffix Code (AMSC) for this item is “3C.” An AMC of “3” means that the item should be acquired, for the second or subsequent time, directly from the actual manufacturer. An AMSC of “C” means that this item requires engineering source approval by the design control activity in order to maintain the quality of the parts. In addition, an AMSC of “C” means that the approved sources retain data rights, manufacturing knowledge or technical data that are not economically available to the Government, and the data or knowledge is essential to maintaining the quality of the part.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition

Market research was conducted, the details of which are in the market research section of this document. In accordance with FAR 5.201, this action will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website.

7. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination

The Contracting Officer hereby determines that the anticipated cost for this contract actiont will be fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 15.403-1(b) and (c), certified cost and pricing data will not be required for this commercial I2 Tube. The Government may request other than certified cost and pricing data as needed to determine pricing fair and reasonable per FAR 15.402(a)(2).

8. Market Research

Market research was conducted by Technical Experts supporting the CECOM Integrated Logistics Supply Center (ILS). A FedBizOpps sources sought announcement (SSA), for the I2 Tube NSN, was released on March 12, 2018 with responses due March 23, 2018.

Only two interested vendors responded to the Sources Sought posting, L3 Technologies, Inc., (CAGE: 55311), and Harris Corporation (CAGE: 13567).

The SSA posting contained a questionnaire, consisting of technical questions, to assist in determining a vendor’s technical capability. All prospective vendors were asked to include responses to these questions in their response. Both Harris and L3 responded that they could supply the required I2 Tube, 5, Reason for Authority Cited, only L3 I2 Tubes are acceptable.

The Contract Specialist performed additional research by querying I2Log and WebFlis for more information. L3 Tehcnologies, CAGE 55311, is the only approved souce for this part. No other manufacturer was found to be an approved source of this I2 Tube besides L3.

Based on the responses to the market research and the reasons detailed in section 5 of this document, L3 Technologies is the only acceptable source for this item. L3 Technologies is the only qualified manufacturer of this I2 Tube. The I2 Tubes to be purchased on this contract are not technically interchangeable with those produced by Harris Corporation or any other source.

As stated above, acquiring this I2 Tube from sources other than L3 Technologies would create a flight safety risk, putting soldiers lives at risk and leading to potential loss or damage of aircraft.

9. Other Facts:

The previous procurement history for this I2 Tube NSN is shown in the table below. The acquisition was issued competitively using a performance specification. However, due to the Army mandate to not mix I2 Tube manufacturers in the same AN/AVS-6 ANVIS, even if the current procurement was issued competitively, L3 is the only technically capable source due to the mandate.

Contract Number Award Date Contractor Competitive/Sole Source W91CRB-12-D-0014 15 Feb 2012 L3 Technologies Inc. Competitive

Army CECOM ILSC manages these parts.

10. Interested Sources

Harris and L3 expressed interest in this acquisition. However, although both companies can manufacture I2 Tube to the Government requirements, only L3 can supply this I2 Tube because I2 Tubes manufactured by different companies cannot be mixed within the AN/AVS-6 system.

Harris has a different NSN assigned for the I2 Tube it manufactures.

11. Actions to Increase Competition

The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if technical advancements have been made so that I2 Tubes from different manufacturers can be mixed in the AN/AVS-6 without adverse effects described in section 5, Reason for Authority Cited.

DFARS PGI 206-303-2(b)(i) requires an assessment of “whether the planned actions to remove any barriers to competition cited on the previous justification were completed.” The previous procurement did not required a Justification and Approval document because it was competed competitively.

APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

( ) Up to $700,000 Contracting Officer ( X ) $700,000 to $13,500,000 Competition Advocate ( ) $13,500,000 to $93,000,000 Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) ( ) Over $93,000,000 Senior Procurement Executive (AQ)