Redacted_JA_SPRDL1-17-R-0072.pdf

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY J&A: SPRDL1-17-R-0072 - Previous buy awarded SAT; No J&A;

W56HZV11P0464-Hutchinson Ind., Inc.

shall have an adequate technical data package, data review discloses that required data or data rights are not in Government possession and cannot be obtained economically. If one source is available, AMCs 3, 4, or 5 are valid. If at least two sources exist, AMCs 1 or 2 are valid.

PART II - Technical Information and Certification

1. The US Army TACOM LCMC requires the acquisition of the above item. The only approved source(s) for the above item is (are):

Contractor(s) Name: Hutchinson Industries Inc.

Cage: 62161 Part Number: WA-0443

2. Reasons the item is not suitable for full and open competition:

a. Status of the Acquisition Data:

The Acquisition Data is not fully defined. The Two Piece Rim is a Source Control Drawing and does not provide sufficient enough detail and is not suitable for full and open competition. The contractor owns the proprietary rights to the data, the government does not own any rights. The limitations or restrictions of these rights are not defined. The drawing is not stamped with any Licensed Rights even though source controlled to Hutchinson Industries.

b. Efforts to Increase Competition or Qualify a New Source in Relation to this Procurement:

1. Limitations to developing a Competitive Package (R&D Effort) or Procuring Proprietary Data or Qualifying Additional Sources:

There are no plans to acquire a competitive TDP based on funds not being available to acquire the necessary data required to support a competitive acquisition. Additionally the US Government does not have the necessary information to develop a competitive TDP.

Estimated costs associated with the development of qualification procedures: $50,000 Estimated time associated with the development of qualification procedures: 6 weeks

Estimated costs associated with conducting engineering analysis: $500,000 Estimated time associated with conducting engineering analysis: 6-8 months

Estimated costs associated with reverse engineering: $650,000 Estimated time associated with reverse engineering: 6-8 months

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY J&A: SPRDL1-17-R-0072 - Previous buy awarded SAT; No J&A;

W56HZV11P0464-Hutchinson Ind., Inc.

The delay associated with making this procurement competitive would be unacceptable to the government’s needs. The delay would result in a considerable amount of time invested in an attempt and this would deny the Government the ability to immediately procure the item as needed for use in repair or fielding of the item.

The limitations to reverse engineering at this time are impractical due to the extensive retesting required to assess mobility characteristics, logistics and maintenance impacts. The need for the additional testing alone would prompt test costs in excess of the entire value of this acquisition and not recovered through subsequent competition. The delay would be impractical to the government’s needs. The two-piece wheel offers the required integrity and protection required for the M777 Howitzer. In addition, the quantity listed does not warrant the expense of developing a competitive TDP, reverse engineering or qualifying additional sources.

c. Demonstration of Approved Contractor's Unique Qualifications:

1. Hutchinson Industries passed an extensive operational test and mobility requirement with their wheels, and they have the requisite technical and engineering expertise required to produce these wheels. They have demonstrated and proven the manufacturing capabilities to establish and maintain the repetitive consistency in producing this item.

2. Hutchinson has proven that they are the only contractor who has the required technical and engineering knowledge, the production facility expertise and the quality testing capabilities necessary to produce and maintain this item repeatedly.

3. The risk of not utilizing the contractor with unique qualifications could result in failure of the wheel configuration allowing the gun to be immobilized.

d. Efforts to Qualify Additional Suppliers for future procurements:

There is no funding available to purchase or develop a competitive TDP as identified in 2B above. In addition new sources would require extensive operational and mobility testing which could be up to $1,200,000 or more.

There has not been any expressed interest by any known contractors to become a qualified source. Full and open competition is not practical at this time for the procurement. In-depth research in the field has demonstrated no other capability for the Army wheels.

e. Market Research:

Market research consisted of catalogs, product literature by published manufacturers on line. An internet search performed 30 Jan 2017 found no comparable item and no commercial or non-developmental items that meet the Government’s needs.

The item does not appear on the “TACOM Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry, Summary” of estimated future buys for FY 2017 & 2018.