VESUB Brand Name JA_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER TRAINING SYSTEMS DIVISION

12350 RESEARCH PARKWAY

ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32826-3275

IN REPLY REFER TO:

J&A_20-393

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWC-TSD) - Orlando, FL

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This Justification and Approval authorizes and approves issuance of a new Firm Fixed Price purchase order for the procurement of equipment for a Virtual Environment SUBmarine (VESUB) Engineering

Design Model (EDM) and a 6 VESUB training systems. The Government intends to compete this effort pursuant to FAR 13.5 as a 100% small business set-aside.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

NAWCTSD is responsible for the acquisition, fielding, and life cycle support of training systems. The

VESUB trainers are located at the submarine school houses in Groton, CT, Norfolk, VA, Kings Bay, BA, Bangor, WA, and San Diego, CA to support surfaced submarine officer training. The brand name items are specified to achieve configuration management goals and maintain compatibility with the Submarine

Piloting and Navigation (SPAN) trainer also designed and managed by NAWCTSD. The VESUB trainer is currently fielded and in need of an update to WIN10 to meet cybersecurity regulations. Not all of the existing VESUB trainer will be replaced. Ensuring the availability of critical component end-items required to assemble and field the trainers is paramount in fulfilling NAWCTSD’s responsibility. The trainer component end-items listed in Attachment 1, Proposed Bill of Materials, are commercially available from the brand name vendors or resellers. The timely acquisition of Attachment 1 material is essential to ensure initial training implementation and sustained trainer operability. In the absence of the timely availability of essential materials identified, the stand-up of valuable training assets would not be realized and student training would not occur.

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

FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii): The proposed action will be awarded on a sole source basis (including brand name) under the authority of FAR 6.303-2, modified to reflect that the procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with 41. U.S.C 1901 or the authority of 41 U.S.C 1903.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The brand name specific components listed in Attachment 1, Parts List, cannot be replaced without negatively impacting VESUB functionality based on the level of integration of the components within the current VESUB network. Removal or replacement of these components with similar, but not identical, components could cause network failures and risk the cost and schedule overruns. Hence, the brand name parts listed in Attachment 1 are crucial to ensuring VESUB achieves its performance characteristics according to its original specifications. When dealing with electronic components, software, and software drivers, experience has shown that if the brand name specific components that were tested during design and manufacturing processes are not used, there is an unacceptable risk that the substituted components will not function properly or function at all. The insertion of one incorrect component could necessitate troubleshooting, software coding, and configuration changes that lead to significant delays in training availability directly affecting student training.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable.

In order to enhance small business competition, this effort will be solicited/synopsized in accordance with

FAR Subpart 13.105. Although some items have been identified as brand-name specific, market research reveals that multiple vendors are capable of fulfilling the requirement as a reseller of the brand-name items. Due to the reasons stated in paragraph 5 above, substitutions to the specific brand names cannot be made.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

In accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(1), adequate price competition will be used to establish a fair and reasonable agreed upon price. Sufficient market research of current prices, as well as an Independent

Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) will be available as-needed to assist in this determination.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

Although the items identified are brand-name specific, multiple vendors are able to re-sell the required materials. As such, the Government intends to compete future similar efforts if they are required. The IPT will also work with the customer in the future to determine whether it is possible to remove and/or reduce the brand-names currently identified within the requirements.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical Cognizance:

Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

Requirements Cognizance:

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined this Justification is legally sufficient.

APPROVED

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve the solicitation of the proposed procurement(s) described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 10 USC Sec.

2304(g)(1)(B).

Date

Contracting Officer