JA12D0083_Redacted.pdf

c. These contract actions are in accordance with the Acquisition Strategy Report for the digitized M119A3 howitzer which was approved on April 9, 2009 by PEO Ground Combat Systems (GCS).

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

a. The M119A3 is a digitized 105mm howitzer that provides continuous close fire to the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs). The system weighs 4,270 pounds and is air assault drop capable. It has a range of 19.5 km with rocket assisted munitions (14 km unassisted). It fires all currently fielded US munitions and has a rate of fire of six (6) rounds per minute. Each M119A3 howitzer section has seven crewmen. The M119A3 howitzer is fielded as two eight-gun batteries for each M119A3 battalion. The three (3) proposed procurement actions under this Class J&A are in support of the M119A3 howitzer as each individual action is for fabricated metal assembly spare parts.

i. The Sled Kit contract, W15QKN-12-D-0086, is for the electronic components that comprise of the Digital Fire Control System (DFCS) on the M119A3 howitzer. The fielding of the M119A3 howitzer requires these spares to be supplied based on the demand from the units in support of mission requirements.

ii. The ETEA Kit contract W15QKN-12-D-0083, is for the components which create the assembly of the trail end attachment. The trail end attachment houses the rack for towing; operating the breaks during trailering, used for the function of positioning the M119A3 howitzer and consists of parts for transportability. The spares required for the ETEA Kit will make the M119A3 howitzer functional for towing, transporting and allow basic functions of operation for the M119A3 howitzer.

iii. The Hardware Kit contract W15QKN-12-D-0082, is for the components which create multiple assemblies, brackets and housings required for functioning of the Fire Control Computer (FCC), Gunners Display (GD), Cable Clamps, Vehicle Motion Sensor (VMS), and Authorized Stockage List (ASL) components.

The fielding of the M119A3 howitzer will require these spares to be supplied based on the demand data from the units in support of fielding requirements.

b. Description of Contract Actions:

i. The Project Manager Towed Artillery Systems (PM-TAS) has a requirement to establish a Sled Kit Spares Catalog. The spares catalog will consist of up to 200 each spare component assemblies of the M119A3 Howitzer Sled kit. Spares consist of the Assemblies, Lower Racks, Pins, Quick Releases, Hinges for Computer Left, Hinges for Computer Right, Wire Rope Assemblies, Sled Kit- Plates, Connectors, J2- J2 Connector Plates, Sled Kit- Plate Assemblies, Connector- Connector Plate Assemblies, Bumpers, FCC Right, Bumpers, FCC Left, Assemblies for Upper Rack, Plates for Upper Bullhorn, Studs, Plunger Springs, Lid Helicoil Assemblies, Hinge ERE, Wall Platforms, Platform ERE, Locking Bar ERE, Block Thumbscrews, Clip ASIP, Gasket ERE Lids, Thumbscrews, Pin Hinges, Support Springs, Lid for Rubber Pads, Assembly ERE Helicoil, Pad Padlocks and Locking Bar Pads. The Sled Kit is the main structure that houses the electronic components that enable the digitized function of the M119A3 howitzer. The major components that the Sled Kit houses are the FCC, Artillery Portable Universal Battery System (APUBS), Artillery Power Data Assembly (APDA), GPS Antenna, Improved Platform Integration Kit (IPIK) and the Electronic Radio Enclosure (ERE). These components are required for the function of the digitized M119A3 howitzer and are required to be accessible and maneuverable with the M119A3 howitzer during firing, travel and maintenance. The Sled Kit properly houses each component and creates the ease of moving the whole assembly onto the M119A3 howitzer, off the M119A3 howitzer and during travel. These spares components are required to ensure fielded howitzers are to be supported;

and that sufficient stock of Sled Kit spares are available when needed by the Warfighter. The PM-TAS need for the Sled Kit Spares Catalog was known at the time of the basic contract award however the specific items to be spared were not known until a determination was made at the IPT level as to which parts required replacement at the field maintenance level. Deliveries shall commence in September 2013 for these spares against Contract W15QKN-12-D-0086 and are required through the POP of 13 July 2017.

ii. PM-TAS has a requirement for ETEA Kit Spares Catalog. The spares catalog will consist of up to 200 each spare component assemblies of the M119A3 Howitzer ETEA kit. Spares consist of the brake actuator, multiple fluid pressure line connector, double end union, mounting brackets, rack receiver, master cylinder pipe, pipe reservoir, valve assembly, washer convex, door latch, cannon travel lock, rack receptacle, trail clamps, handspike receiver, rack receiver, trail end assembly, piping, electrical grounding straps and bumper. The ETEA Kit is the main structure that houses the electronic components that enable the digitized function of the M119A3 howitzer. The major components that the ETEA Kit houses are the FCC, APUBS and APDA, GPS Antenna, IPIK and the ERE. These components are required for the function of the digitized M119A3 howitzer and are required to be accessible and maneuverable with the M119A3 howitzer during firing, travel and maintenance. The ETEA kit properly houses the Sled Kit and each component to create the ease of moving the M119A3 howitzer and having the capability to tow and fire. These spares components are required to ensure fielded howitzers are supported; and that sufficient stock of ETEA kit spares are available when needed by the Warfighter. The PM-TAS need for the ETEA Kit Spares Catalog was known at the time of basic contract award however the specific items to be spared were not known until a determination was made at the IPT level as to which parts required replacement at the field maintenance level.

Deliveries shall commence in September 2013 for these spares against Contract W15QKN-12-D-0083 and are required through the POP of 29 June 2017.

iii. PM-TAS has a requirement for Hardware Kit Spares Catalog. The spares catalog will consist of up to 200 each spare component assemblies of the M119A3 Howitzer Hardware Kit. Spares consist of FCC adapter, handspike clamp, wheel hub, jack strut clamp, gunners display plate, gunners display weldment, isolator adaptor, isolators, d-plate, d-gasket, gun component retainer, plunger, I-bolt, plate alignments. The Hardware Kit contains various components for operations of the GD, FCC, Cable Clamps and VMS. These components are required for the function of the digitized M119A3 howitzer and are required for function of the FCC and Gunners Display as well as proper installation and mounting to the cables to the M119A3 howitzer. The Hardware Kit properly mounts each component to have the capability to fire. These spares components are required to ensure fielded howitzers are supported; and that sufficient stock of Hardware Kit spares are available when needed by the Warfighter. The PM-TAS need for the Hardware Kit Spares Catalog was known at the time of basic contract award however the specific items to be spared were not known until a determination was made at the IPT level as to which parts required replacement at the field maintenance level.

Deliveries shall commence in September 2013 for these spares against Contract W15QKN-12-D-0082 and are required through the POP of 29 June 2017.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition & (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

The following subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c), provide rationale under the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(A)&(B).

3. Performance Risk

a. Sled Kit spares W15QKN-12-D-0086: If this requirement was competed, a new vendor would experience delay in the development, testing and delivering qualified spares to support the M119A3 howitzer. Therefore, F&OC for a new Sled Kit will present an unacceptable level of performance risk.

b. ETEA Kit spares W15QKN-12-D-0083: If this requirement was development, testing and delivering qualified spares to support the M119A3 howitzer. Therefore, F&OC for a new ETEA Kit will present an unacceptable level of performance risk.

c. Hardware Kit spares W15QKN-12-D-0082: If this requirement was development, testing and delivering qualified spares to support the M119A3 howitzer. Therefore, F&OC for a new Hardware Kit will present an unacceptable level of performance risk.

4. Conclusion: Full and open competition of these requirements presents unacceptable levels of schedule, cost and performance risk. Only Applied Resources, Tri Technologies and Design West can meet the requirements without incurring substantial duplication costs and without causing a significant delay to the schedule. With component manufacturing challenges being previously met by all three incumbents, the capability to perform or deliver the required spares for each Kit is also certain.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

a. As required by FAR 5.201, the pre-solicitation notice, citing FAR 6.302- 1(a)(2)(ii)(A)&(B), will be published in FedBizOpps and will contain the appropriate rationale for other than full and open competition. Responding firms will be evaluated and considered for potential competition.

b. Effective competition is not anticipated if these procurements were to be solicited competitively since all units are currently fielded and the requirements for Sled Kit, ETEA Kit and the Hardware Kit spare parts deliveries are needed to start in September 2013 for delivery in support of the M119A3 howitzer and the Warfighter. Applied Resources W15QKN-12-D-0086, Tri Technologies W15QKN-12-D-0083 and Design West W15QKN-12-D-0082 are currently the only vendors that have the ability to effectively produce required components for the M119A3 howitzer and deliver them within the timeframe required to support Army’s mission.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

Full and open competition is not practical at this time and no other additional spares are required before contract completion in 2017. Other vendors would experience a significant delay of 11 months for all three efforts for the complexity involved with the development, testing and delivering qualified spares to support the M119A3 howitzer requirements as described in paragraph 5 (b). Another 6 months would also have to be added to that time to successfully perform a best value source selection. As the M119A3 howitzer program progresses through fielding, with full rate production having begun with the 1st delivery in late December 2012, and into sustainment, which began with the 1st equipped unit delivered in April 2013, it is envisioned that specific spare’s components may be broken out for separate acquisitions. Such decisions would be made after an analysis on a case-by-case basis. It is also contemplated that technology insertions and other upgrades will be pursued for the M119A3 howitzer following full-rate production. Such development and production efforts will be competed to the maximum extent practicable.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

During the past twelve (12) months, PM-TAS Business Manager and Contracting Officer Representative on the M119A3 program canvassed the industrial community in order to obtain the latest information concerning the availability of certified and skilled welders to perform the main operation of manufacturing the Sled Kit, ETEA Kit and Hardware Kit as all spare parts are fabricated metal assemblies. Multiple discussions with industry were held throughout the year. The discussions proved that although there are vendors capable of manufacturing these spares, it is difficult to acquire the necessary certified and skilled vendors to manufacture the M119A3 complex spare part designs without causing significant delays and duplication of costs. Due to prior competition on these three contracts, the appropriate vendors were selected based on technical acceptance and lowest price. All three contractors have gained efficiency in production of these parts, have exisiting supply chains and have passed FAT. Additional certification requirements for inspections were researched as well, and it was discovered that these certifications were not easily obtainable within the contractor’s internal business. This would require additional time for inspections and certifications. While there are multiple vendors capable of manufacturing the Sled Kit, ETEA Kit and Hardware Kit spares, there currently are no firms that are capable of qualifying and manufacturing these spares without a significant delay to the required delivery schedule and incurring substantial duplicate costs.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

a. To date, no other sources have written to express an interest.

b. As required by FAR 5.201, a pre-solicitation notice will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunity website (FedBizOpps) and will contain the appropriate