SSJUST_Redacted.pdf

CUI

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

FD2060-22-00043

I. Contracting Activity.

This Sole Source Justification (SSJ) is to request authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition supporting requirements generated for the Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC), 638th Supply Chain Management Group (SCMG), 411th Supply Chain Management Squadron (SCMS). The Contracting Activity for this requirement is AFSC/PZAAA at Robins AFB, GA. The purchase request number supporting this contracting action is FD2060-22-00043.

II. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed.

Due to the circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to acquire repair services described in this document 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 action will result in the award of a firm-fixed-price (FFP) Requirement Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC), which will consist of a basic one-year plus four (4) additional one-year Ordering Periods spanning FY23 – FY28. Orders can be issued during the validity period of the Requirement IDC.

This sole source requirement will be purchased from the following company:

Chelton Avionics, Inc.

6400 Wilkinson Dr.

Prescott, AZ 86301-6164

CAGE 1WZE2

Large business

III. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet Agency Needs.

This requirement is for the repair of the following avionics components National Stock Numbers (NSNs) in support of the TH-1H Helicopter program:

NSN Part Number Noun 5895-20-004-4014 N301A-067 *NAT Audio Controller (Sub-NSN to -8789) 5831-20-008-8789 N301A-201 *NAT Intercommunication Control (New Master NSN) 5821-01-552-8993 400-015525-0101 Cobham Receiver, Radio 5821-01-474-2550 400-015525-0501 Cobham Transceiver 5821-01-474-2548 31300-0201-1200 Cobham Control, Radio Set 5821-01-474-2547 153-040047-01 Cobham Tuner, Radio Frequency 6340-01-553-3324 611 *NAT Alarm-Monitor 5826-01-553-2003 066-1105-00 Cobham Receiver, Radio Navigation 5826-01-552-8996 400-047552-0100 Chelton Control, Direction

*National Airborne Technologies

These avionics instruments are used on the TH-1H helicopter, which is the primary aircraft for training all United States Air Force (USAF) rotary wing pilots. The following descriptions explain the basic function of each part:

#1. NSN 5895-20-004-4014: The NAT Audio Controller, N301A-067, is an Audio Controller that is compatible with military and civilian aviation headsets. It is a sub-NSN to 5831-20-008-8789 (master NSN). The N301A controls the audio from multiple receivers and allows transmission of the mic audio to a selected transmitter. Intercom operation is also provided. It is Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified to Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-50c.

#2. NSN 5821-01-552-8993: The Cobham Receiver, Radio, 400-015525-0101, is a Very High Frequency (VHF) Frequency Modulation Transceiver that operates over 29.7 to 88 MHz at 10W. This Radio is also Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) certified.

#3. NSN 5821-01-474-2550: The Cobham Transceiver, 400-015525-0501, is a VHF Amplitude Modulation (AM) Transceiver that operates over 117.975 to 137 MHz at 15 Watts (W) with a 121.5 MHz Guard Receiver. The Cobham radios are tactical and enable users to talk on law enforcement, military, medical, marine, Search and Rescue and Public Service frequencies. FAA has provided Cobham with PMA Certification for this Transceiver.

#4. NSN 5821-01-474-2548: The Cobham Control, Radio Set, C-5000 Communication Management Controller, 31300-0201-1200, is a microprocessor-based control head that controls the RT-5000 Transceiver. It is located on the center console and has a 2-line display with 20 characters per line. The C-5000 can control two radios and has a Night Vision compatible display.

#5. NSN 5821-01-474-2547: The Cobham Radio Frequency (RF) Tuner, FC-5000, 153-040047-01, is used in the Wulfsberg Flexcomm II/RT-5000 Wideband Radio. The Flexcomm II Radio supports all channel frequencies from 29.7 MHz to 960 MHz, including Associated Police Communications Officers P-25 compliant digital, analog, trunking and encryption standards for rotor and fixed wing aircraft used by law enforcement, fire control, medical evacuation, search and rescue, oil exploration, electronic news gathering and military applications. Cobham’s RF Tuner is used to match the fixed impedance of the Flexcomm Transceiver with the mismatched load impedance of the AT-5000 antenna.

#6. NSN 6340-01-553-3324: The NAT Alarm Monitor, 611, is a multi-channel digital storage/playback unit designed to provide supplemental warning tones and/or voice messages to the cockpit and cabin. It is also FAA certified to TSO C-50c, Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) DO-214 and

RTCA DO-160C.

#7. NSN 5826-01-553-2003: The Cobham Receiver, Radio Navigation, 066-1105-00, is a Chelton Automatic Direction Finder (ADF). It is designed to provide ADF navigation reception from non-directional beacons and commercial AM broadcast stations. Through microprocessor-controlled signal processing and a self-calibration routine, the ADF system ensures the accuracy of the displayed information. It is FAA certified to TSO C-41d.

#8. NSN 5826-01-552-8996: The Chelton Control, Direction, 400-047552-0100 controls the ADF Receiver. The unit on the TH-1H is night vision compatible, includes a volume control and a 28V backlight. It is FAA certified to TSO C-113.

This SSJ covers the ordering validity period of the Requirements IDC and the completion of all task orders. The delivery schedule is anticipated to be 90 calendar days after a unit is inducted. The ordering validity period will be 5-years after contract award which is expected to span FY23 – FY28.

The NSNs were screened and assigned Repair Method Code (RMC) /Repair Method Support Code (RMSC) “3/Z.” The “3” signifies repair for the second or subsequent time, directly from the actual manufacturer. The “Z” indicates the part is a commercial/non-developmental/off-the-shelf item.

Commercial item descriptions, commercial vendor catalog or price lists or commercial manuals assigned a technical manual number apply. The Government does not own or have access to the data for this item.

IV. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

10 U.S.C. 3572, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with procedures of FAR 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items.

V. Demonstration That the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited Above (Applicability of Authority).

The agency's minimum needs can only be satisfied by the unique services available from Chelton Avionics, Inc. as identified on the design requirements and source-controlled drawings. These avionics components must meet the original Form, Fit, and Function that have been certified for use on the TH-1H Helicopter. The source of repair for these items must be an FAA-certified repair station. It must also be a repair source authorized by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Legacy Source Of Repair Assignment (SORA) with Tracker Number 11-026, signed December 2009 designates all workloads on the TH-1H as non-core. Final Depot Source of Repair decision dated 06 Jun 11 from HQ AFMC/A4 approves all TH-1H workload for Contractor Repair. All depot maintenance performed on these listed items is based on existing, mature technology. This is not new technology.

In the past, the Government attempted to establish an organic repair facility based on Data Management and Intelligence (DMI) Study 11-026(L). It was determined that this workload should remain as contractor repair. This decision was primarily because of the complexity of these items, the lack of proprietary data and test procedures, and insufficient resources/equipment.

The technical data required to perform the repair of these parts is proprietary to the OEM, Cobham Aerospace Communications, a Chelton Avionics Inc. Division. The Government’s latest request to buy the needed technical data was declined by the OEM on 07 Jul 2022.

The current repair contract is FA8524-18-D-0006. This sole source contract was awarded 16 Jul 2018 and expires 31 Dec 2022.

Because the Government does not own the rights to the data required to repair these parts, the only qualified source of repair is the OEM, Chelton Avionics, Inc. Qualifying a new source would require a clean-sheet redesign or an extensive reverse-engineering project in order to develop the technical data.

The team has concluded that this would not be cost-beneficial to the Air Force because the reverse-engineering investment would not be recouped within the service life of the aircraft. The following narrative explains this in greater detail.

Research revealed no small businesses have the capability to perform these repair requirements. Organic facilities do not have the technical data, equipment, and resources to perform repairs of these items.

System for Award Management (SAM) was used to find the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the OEM. The NAICS code is 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing). This NAICS code was used to search for other potential vendors with similar capability and tooling. The research did not identify any additional vendors.

Internet searches: Google http://www.google.com, ThomasNet https://www.thomas.net.com, and Small Business Administration Small Business Dynamic Search engine were o utilized, but with no relevant potential solution results.

Joint Engineering Data Management Information and Control System (JEDMICS) (https://jedmics.af.mil/webjedmics/index.jsp), and Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) Gateway (https://tosune5.robins.af.mil/pdm_gateway/) were also searched using NSNs and Part Numbers to determine the amount and quality of the available technical data available to the government. No technical data was available.

Engineering is actively engaged in component product sustainment and is staying abreast of industry developments by reviewing industry reports, trends, and product developments. To date, no other qualified vendor(s) has been identified who can repair the items.

As stated, in Section IV, the government posted a RFI to SAM.gov on 31 May 22 with responses due by 16 Jun 2022 to identify sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to repair these avionics components. There were no responses.

These avionics instruments are considered to be commercial items as defined in FAR 2.101 and are used by both the military and the commercial aviation industry.

The market research concluded that Chelton Avionics, Inc. is the only vendor capable of fulfilling the Government’s requirement.

IX. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None.

X. List of Sources, if any, That Expressed Interest in the Acquisition.

See Section VI above.

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.

Reverse-engineering options have been assessed and the IPT concluded that such efforts would not be cost-beneficial to the Government. This helicopter platform is anticipated to fly until 2042; therefore, any efforts made to develop a technical data package with purpose to qualify new vendors would need to recoup the financial investment within the next 21 years. It was determined to not be feasible based on the projected life of the program.

The plan to break barriers to competition for future requirements is to periodically (1) review current technical literature, (2) explore alternative product support strategies with the pertinent engineering organizations, and (3) inquire with industry for potential sources of supply and/or seek to identify additional sources similar to what was done for this requirement.

The prior plan to break barriers to competition was the same as the current plan, however included inquiring with the OEM on their interest to sell the technical data. The IPT sent inquiry to the OEM and they responded on 07 Jul 2022 declining interest in selling their technical data to the government. Based on completion of the prior plan, this SSJ does not require higher-level approval under condition stated in DFARS 213.501(a)(i).

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature on the Coordination and Approval Document (CAD), 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 (our) signature(s) on the CAD, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.