UNDER SAT_I.A.02 Limited Competition Justification_SIGNATURES_Redacted.pdf

JULY 30, 2024 CUI//SP-SSEL 3 of 4JULY 30, 2024 CUI//SP-SSEL 3 of 4

CUI//SP-SSEL

8. CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS

a. Efforts to Obtain Competition

The contracting section assisted the End User with locating historical acquisitions same or similar in nature. Contracting conducted key word searches in the EDA and FPDS databases and found other Department of the Army entities fulfilled same or similar EST M17 upgrade requirements via Sole Source Procurements. Additionally, general online searches as well as searches of GSA Advantage were executed with the results validating there are no other entities who offer the required items other than the original equipment manufacturer. The Contracting section also issued an RFI/Sources Sought Notice through SAM.gov IAW DFARS 206.303-2 to ascertain if any other entities could provide same or similar items that are compatible with existing equipment. The Government received no responses to the issued Sources Sought.

b. Actions to Increase Competition

This is not a follow-on acquisition, however, before any subsequent acquisition similar in nature the Government will conduct thorough Market Research to ascertain if any other entities can provide items that are compatible with existing equipment. The Government will also attain cost estimates to upgrade ALL components of its EST system to determine if a full upgrade is more cost effective as opposed to a partial upgrade given a full upgrade may provide a competitive acquisition opportunity.

c. Market Research

Market research demonstrates that only the Bluefire Brand M17 Pistol Simulator and its accompanying components (magazine adapter, fill station, compressed air bottle, and yoke valve) are compatible with the Engagement Skills Trainer utilized by Tennessee Army National Guard Volunteer Training Site Command. The EST is a Proprietary Individual Weapons Virtual Trainer, and the following specific part #s are only manufactured and distributed by Inveris Training Solutions:

• Part # SA-M17-BF-E (Bluefire brand tetherless M17 Pistol Simulator)

• Part # BF-MAG-M17 (Bluefire brand Sig M17 Pistol Magazine)

• Part # BF-FS-MAGFS-M17 (Bluefire brand magazine adapter)

• Part # BF-FS-03 (Bluefire Brand Fill Station)

• Part # BF-FS-L-01-SYS (Bluefire brand Compressed Air Bottle & Yoke Valve)

Upon review of recently completed Contracting Actions, as well as exchanges with industry and other Government agencies, it became apparent that the best course of action would be to update our existing Engagement Skills Trainer system with compatible Inveris products, as opposed to purchasing an entirely new Marksmanship trainer, in order to be in compliance with TC 3-20.40. This conclusion came from conversations with MICC-West Point, and at MICC-Ft. Mccoy. Both training sites had purchased Bluefire Brand M17 Pistol Simulators with magazine adapters, fill stations, and compressed air bottles with yoke directly from Inveris within the last 12 months. Their purchases were identical (with the exception of quantity) to the purchase being requested by the Tennessee National Guard Volunteer Training Site Command. West Point and Ft. Mccoy reported that their own market research determined that only proprietary Bluefire simulations were compatible with existing Engagement Skills Training Systems, and that Inveris was the only manufacturer and distributer of Bluefire brand.

Market Research Techniques Used __X__ Historical acquisition information (review of recent market research results for similar or identical supplies/services).

__X__ Contact with the requester and/or other knowledgeable people in Government and industry regarding the commercial nature of this requirement and standard industry practices in this area of supply/service.

__X__Publication of a formal request for information on the Internet.

On 29 January 2024, this agency sent an RFI to Inveris to determine whether Bluefire Brand M17 Simulations and its related components were the only model and brand that were compatible with the existing Engagement Skill Trainer System, and if there were any authorized resellers of the Bluefire M17 Pistol Simulator. Mr. Velez’s email traffic documents that there are now authorized resellers and only the Bluefire Brand M17 Pistol Simulator is compatible with the EST.

__X__Review of Government and/or commercial databases for relevant information.

__X_Review of catalogs and other generally available product literature (online and/or in hard copy).

Conclusions and Recommendations Findings of Market Research indicate that purchase of fifteen (15) each untethered Bluefire brand M17 Pistol Simulators, thirty (30) Bluefire brand Sig M17 Pistol magazines, four (4) magazine adapters compatible with the Bluefire brand Fill Station, four (4) Bluefire Fill Stations, and four (4) Compressed Air Bottle & Yoke Valves, and a 5 year extended warranty for the M17 Simulators, Magazines, Fill Stations, Compressed Air Bottles, and Yoke Valve assemblies directly from Inveris Training Solutions, the original manufacturer of the Engagement Skills Trainer, is the only option to proceed with updating our existing system with proprietary components.

d. Interested Sources

The Contracting section issued an RFI/Sources Sought Notice through SAM.gov to ascertain if any other entities could provide same or similar items that are compatible with existing equipment. The Government received no responses to the issued Sources Sought.

e. Other Facts

None

9. REQUIRING ACTIVITY CERTIFICATION

Technical and Requirements