A.3.09_J&A_18-10_JBE041_DetTronics_Redacted.pdf

Control No. POA 18-10

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, Contracting Division, Post Office Box 6898, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska 99506-0898.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: The U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska (POA) intends to include restrictive brand name specifications for Det-Tronics Corporation's Model X3301 Multispectrum IR Flame Detectors and controller based system in W911KB-18-R-0011 for the JBE041 Add/Alter AWACS Alter Hangar at JBER, Alaska. The solicitation will be a competitive Request for Proposal with the restrictive specifications resulting in a new firm-fixed price construction contract to be awarded with MILCON funds.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: The U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska (POA) intends to include restrictive brand name specifications for the Det-Tronics Corporation's Model X3301 Multispectrum IR Flame Detectors and controller based system in W911KB-18-R-0011 for the Add/Alter AWACS Alter Hangar project at JBER, Alaska.

These construction materials are required in order to interface with existing systems used at JBER. The estimated construction contract amount is and the estimated cost of the restricted construction material is . Approval authority is the Procuring Contracting Officer.

4. AUTHORITY CITED: Other than Full and Open Competition is authorized pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(c)when there is only one brand name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer that will satisfy agency requirements.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

a. Background: Until recently, the Government was able to identify two different manufacturers who produced optical detectors that met Government performance requirements for optical flame detection using triple spectrum infrared technology to reduce false alarms and accidental discharge of the foam fire suppression system in aircraft hangars.

NAVFAC Criteria related to the design and installation of hangar AFFF fire suppression systems (UFC 4-211-01 N Aircraft Maintenance Hangars: Type I, Type II AND Type III) requires the use of this infrared optical flame detection process. Within the past few years, one of the two acceptable products was associated with an unacceptable number of false activations and inadvertent discharges of foam which have disrupted flight operations and damaged government property. These failures have been attributed to electromagnetic interference from aircraft surveillance and weapons platforms similar to which will operating and serviced by the proposed aircraft maintenance hangar. The DoD Unified Facilities Criteria specifically require that these optical detectors be immune to such interference. After further operational use of this product and a continued number of unacceptable incidents of false activation, the Government reinvestigated both acceptable products with full scale testing using an operational aircraft. The Government found the product that had been experiencing false activations to not be immune to electromagnetic interference from aircraft and has definitively proven that this detector is susceptible to aircraft radar emissions. The Government testing and continued operational experience with both products has confirmed that only one product (by Det-Tronics) can actually work as intended and meets the Government's performance requirements. Although the Government has gone to great effort to develop a simple system using off-the-shelf components to the greatest extent possible, the optical detector and associated control panel are the only remaining component of this system for which there is now only one qualified manufacturer. The product from this manufacturer is essential to the Governments requirements and no other product can meet this requirement.

b. Justification: NAVFAC Criteria related to the design and installation of hangar AFFF fire suppression systems (UFC 4-211-01 N Aircraft Maintenance Hangars: Type I, Type II AND Type III) requires the use of optical flame detection using triple spectrum infrared technology to reduce false alarms and accidental discharge of the foam fire suppression system in aircraft hangars. The DoD Unified Facilities Criteria specifically require that these optical detectors be immune to electromagnetic interference from aircraft surveillance and weapons platforms similar to the F-35A aircraft system to prevent false activations and inadvertent discharges of foam.

c. Impact: Failure to incorporate the Det-Tronics Corporation's Model X3301 Multispectrum IR Flame Detectors and controller based system into the projects will result in use of a system that will cause false alarms and accidental discharge of the foam fire suppression system in aircraft hangars.

d. Alternatives: None. Specification of Det-Tronics Corporation's Model X3301 Multispectrum IR Flame Detectors and controller based system is essential to the Government’s requirements, precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: Based on information in paragraph 5, above, competition for the sole source brand name items to be included in the solicitations identified has historically not been feasible because each material or system must be from the specified manufacturer.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION: To ascertain whether existing manufacturers or new manufacturers entering the market have developed products or programming which will be compatible, interchangeable and competitive with the items identified in this document and currently in use, sources sought notices were published in FedBizOpps on 11 December 2017. The notice contains the Government’s intent to acquire the materials/systems included in this J&A on a sole source basis for facilities on JBER, Alaska. No responses were received. No similar/compatible products were found.

8. MARKET SURVEY: Market research was conducted to determine if there are other manufacturers who can fully meet the Government’s requirements. No firms responded to the sources sought notice. No compatible products were found.

9. INTERESTED SOURCE: In accordance with FAR 5.102(a)(6), this J&A will be included with the solicitation when the solicitation is made available through the Government Point of Entry (www.fedbizopps.gov). Any sources that indicate interest as a result of the publication will be evaluated.

10. OTHER FACTORS:

a. Procurement History: The installation master plans have selected master/supervisory systems to comply with Army standardization programs and minimize risks to life safety in emergency situations. These construction materials are required in the W911KB-17-R-0011 for the JBE041 Add/Alter AWACS Hangar project at JBER, Alaska.

b. Acquisition Data Availability: Not applicable.

c. Unusual and Compelling Urgency: Not applicable.

d. Subcontracting Competition: Subcontracting opportunities exist for suppliers, distributors, and/or installers. This is a restrictive specification that only precludes consideration of a product manufactured by another company. Subcontracting competition will be the responsibility of the Prime contractor awarded the contract.