SSJ1_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE TEST CENTER (AFTC)

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA

27 April 2026

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: Brand Name Justification for Airborne Ethernet Units

1. Agency and Contracting Activity

AFTC/PZIOAB

2. Description of Supplies/Services

The requirement is for twelve Airborne Ethernet Units,

a. 4x FAS-T connectors for 4x 10/100/1000Base-T ports

b. 28VDC (22-32VDC)

c. Approved for aircraft environmental and EMC requirements

d. Non-intrusive inline Gigabit Ethernet network tap with electromechanical relays used to control data flow and ensures stable communication between connected devices even when the unit is powered off or a malfunction is detected

e. Network management: Web and CLI

f. Event notification: through Syslog

g. Wide operating temperature range

h. Data Zeroization Support

i. ITAR free

Brand Name: On-Time Networks

Delivery Requirement: 26 Weeks ARO

3. Justification for Brand Name Requirement:

This procurement requires the use of the brand name On-Time Networks, as their Cloudberry CM-4004F0- ITAP-AERO is the only product with the unique features essential for the project's requirements. While this item is available from multiple resellers, only the On-Time Networks brand product meets the government's minimum needs. Our determination is based on the following:

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE TEST CENTER (AFTC)

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA

1. Unique Fail-Safe Technology: The CM-4004 is designed for use in critical Onboard Network Systems (ONS). The CM-4004 network tap incorporates an "advanced relay subsystem" that guarantees network connectivity is maintained even if the device loses power or malfunctions. The tap automatically enters a "BYPASS mode" to ensure the network link is not lost. This feature is not a standard offering and is a critical requirement for our system to prevent data loss and ensure operational continuity.

2. Designed for Airborne and Rugged Environments: The "AERO" designation and the product's description as an "airborne rugged non-intrusive...network tap" indicate it is specifically designed for the stringent environmental and operational conditions of aerospace applications. Commercial-grade alternatives are not suitable for this environment.

3. Advanced Filtering Capabilities: The CM-4004 provides sophisticated filtering capabilities, allowing data to be selectively mirrored to a monitoring port based on specific parameters like VLAN ID. This allows for targeted network analysis and is a specific requirement for our data processing and recording tasks.

These combined features—a critical fail-safe mechanism, a ruggedized airborne-ready design, and advanced filtering—are unique to the On-Time Networks CM-4004F0-ITAP-AERO and are not available in any other single solution.

4. Efforts to Obtain Competition

Market research was conducted to identify potential alternative products or manufacturers that could meet our technical requirements. The search included reviewing online catalogs for network hardware, consulting with industry experts, and identifying vendors specializing in aerospace-grade electronics. After a thorough review, it was determined that no other manufacturer provides a network tap with the essential combination of an automatic fail-safe bypass, a ruggedized design for airborne use, and the advanced data filtering capabilities that the On-Time Networks CM-4004F0-ITAP-AERO provides.

5. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition

The 896 TSS will continue to monitor the technology marketplace by means of white-papers, symposiums, and online research and will consider other manufactures if such technology meets the requirements.

6. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented IAW RFO Subpart 6.103-1: Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.