SSJ_Redacted.pdf

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

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NOTE: If a Justification was approved for the preceding acquisition, a copy of the approved Justification for the predecessor action must be included in the staff package for approval of the instant Justification. This applies to Justification staff packages that are submitted for review and approval at a level above the contracting officer. The predecessor Justification will be used as a reference document by the approving official.

Is this a new or amended J&A Document? New Amended ( Prior to Award Only! )

Is this a Bridge Action as defined in the AF Bridge Action Reduction Plan? Yes No

Funding level for this acquisition: >SAT and < $750K > $750K and < $15M

Contracting Activity: AFSC/PZIMA

Purchase Request / Local ID Number: PR# F3QCCM5076A002/FDB # 77695

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): URGENT-R391 PROP BALANCE STATIONS

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): Operational

Authority: AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 3572, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901)

AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 3403, Special Emergency Procurement Authority (41 U.S.C. 1903)

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): $ Justification Type: Class Individual

COORDINATION ( AFFARS 5306.304(a))

Date

17 Apr 2025

Acquisition Program Manager Brandi T. Morris

WR-ALC/OBCA, 478-926-8172

Signature

Date

25 Apr 2025

Contracting Officer Anthony C. Jacobs

AFSC/PZIMA

Signature

APPROVAL (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date Chief of the Contracting Office (COCO) [ Official Signature Block ]

Signature

MORRIS.BRANDI.T.

JACOBS.ANTHONY.C.JR.

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

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I. Contracting Activity.

This Sole Source Justification (SSJ) is to request authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition supporting requirements generated for the 402d Commodities Maintenance Group (CMXG), Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The contracting activity for this requirement is Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC)/PZIMA. The purchase request number supporting this contracting action is: PR#:

F3QCCM5076A002 / FDB#: 77695.

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

Due to the circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to acquire the R391 Prop Balance Stations using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by 10 U.S.C. 3572, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901). This acquisition will result in the award of a new contract which will be firm fixed price with an estimated period of performance of 30 September 2025 - 6 April 2026.

This (sole source) requirement will be purchased from the following vendor:

Balance Technology, Inc 735 Jo Mar Drive, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 POC: Brian Plunkett Email: . .

Ph: ( - CAGE Code: 34472

Type Business: Small for NAICS 334513 - Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables

Delivery: 25 weeks ARO, FOB Destination

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

This is a commercial, sole source requirement. The Contractor shall provide all materials, parts, travel, tools, training, and labor necessary to provide one (1) VNR-500 and one (1) VNR-2500 static measurement machines to be utilized for measuring static unbalance on C130J propeller and blade assemblies in support of the 402d Commodities Maintenance Group (CMXG), Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. This requirement will include incidental services to include installation and training.

The nominal Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) structure is as follows:

Basic:

CLIN NOUN COST QTY U/I Unit Price Total Est Cost

0001 VNR-2500-HEAVY-C130J FFP 1 EA

0002 VNR-500-HEAVY-C130J FFP 1 EA

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

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0003 Installation & Training FFP 1 EA 0004 VNR Moment Weight FFP 1 EA Assembly (see PD para 1.2.8) 0005 Additional items (see FFP 1 LO NSP NSP PD para 1.2-1.2.7) 0006 Data -CDRLs A001-A006 FFP 1 LO NSP NSP

This requirement will be funded with Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group (CSAG-M) funds Defense Working Capital Fund (4930).

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

DAFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 3572, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901)

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

This is a sole source, commercial requirement. The Dowty Propeller Shop in B350 currently has one BTI prop balancer and one BTI blade balancer. These two balancers were provided in the initial standup of the shop by Dowty GE. These two stands are specifically called for use during overhaul within the Dowty commercial maintenance manuals. These balancers are extremely sensitive and occasionally require OEM maintenance. This acquisition is to add one each prop balancer and blade balancer to reduce/eliminate downtime during OEM maintenance. The existing stations are single point failures and have resulted in work stoppages requiring OEM remedy. During the repairs, the shop is not able to support the PPP and C130J fleet.

Balance Technology Inc (BTI) is the OEM for the existing two balance stations in the R391 Propeller shop. This acquisition is for two identical balance stations to augment the existing two. The OEM has no authorized resellers, distributors, or third party vendors. BTI does have a General Services Administration (GSA) contract and a NASA SEWP contract for some equipment, but they do not provide training or installation with those contracts. Also, because BTI's Vertical Non-Rotators (VNR) line of balancers are specifically called out in the Dowty Commercial Maintenance Manuals, the maintenance shop is required to use the VNR line of balance stands (Dowty manual 60-00-00 SPM, PS5083, and email from Dowty Operations Manager for Robins, Johnathan Kauzlarich). Futhermore, The existing two balancers will not integrate with any other brand or otherwise manufactured balancer without causing extensive additional, or duplicative, costs to Government. Costs incurred from the integration of other brand, or manufactured, equipment include, but are not limited to; the procurement of new balancer stations, the procurement of new balancers and time lost in testing a retro-fitment incurred by the on-boarding of new equipment.

If the required use of BTI equipment wasn't an issue and the Government were to remove all BTI equipment and begin with new balancers, it would require Robins to purchase four (4) new prop balance stations, an estimated total of The Government would also have to obtain

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

March 2023 Page 4 of 5March 2023 Page 4 of 5 training for the new equipment estimated at In addition, the Government would have to dispose of current spare parts that have an estimated value of While in transition to implement the new equipment, the prop overhauls would have to be performed at Dowty's site. Each prop overhaul that is offset to Dowty's non USAF site is in lost revenue for Robins. The Government estimates a transition of this magnitude would require two offset overhauls at a total of in lost revenue.

Due to the aforementioned facts, it has been determined by the undersigned that only Balance Technology Inc. can provide what the Government requires in a timely and cost-efficient fashion without suffering substantial costs to the government.

Previous Contracts:

None: The original stands were provided under the Public Private Partnership with Dowty.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

A Small Business Administration (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) query was conducted using NAICS Code 334513 (Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables) and the word "balancing". This query resulted in six (6) small businesses, including Balance Technology Inc (see DSBS Search).

Only Balance Technology Inc was determined capable. None of the other five contractors were found capable because they are not the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the required BTI prop balancer and BTI blade balancer. In addition, the commercial maintenance manuals specifically call out Balance Technology, Inc as the manufacturer which requires the Air Force to utilize this specific equipment. The GSA Advantage website was search using the terms "VNR-2500" and "VNR-500" with no results (see GSA Search).

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The overall cost of this acquisition will be negotiated in accordance with procedures in FAR Part 12 and FAR 13.106-3(a)(2) and include a statement of price reasonableness confirming the ultimate price to the Government is fair and reasonable. Additional pricing methodologies to negotiate fair and reasonable price may include reviewing publicly offered catalogs, comparison to historical contractor sales, and/or analysis of limited cost or pricing information provided by the contractor. In the event that limited cost or pricing information is made available, the Government's negotiation objective will be developed using local technical analysis and direct and indirect rate factors recommended by the Defense Contract Management Agency.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market Research was conducted 10 March 2025 to 17 March 2025 in accordance with FAR Part

10.001 and 10.002. The Market Research Report was completed on 17 March 2025. The market research techniques used are as follows:

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A Small Business Administration (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) query was conducted using NAICS Code 334513 (Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables) and the word "balancing". This query resulted in six (6) small businesses, including Balance Technology Inc (see DSBS Search).

Only Balance Technology Inc was determined capable. None of the other five contractors were found capable because they are not the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the required BTI prop balancer and BTI blade balancer. In addition, the commercial maintenance manuals specifically call out Balance Technology, Inc as the manufacturer which requires the Air Force to utilize this specific equipment. The GSA Advantage website was search using the terms "VNR-2500" and "VNR-500" with no results (see GSA Search).

The market research concluded Balance Technology, Inc. is the only vendor capable of fulfilling the Government's requirement.

Primary NAICS: 334513 Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None.

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

None.

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

The Government is unable to compete this effort due to the fact that the commercial maintenance manuals require the use of the equipment manufactured by Balance Technology Inc. In an effort to remove or overcome such a barrier to competition in the future, the market will be scanned frequently for new companies that could satisfy the Government's requirements.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my responsibility, is both accurate and complete.