Attachment_2_-_Brand_Name_J A.pdf

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Brand Name Justification for TEA/Invisio Martime Communications Purchase

Control No. NCD-16-98

Prepared By:

Typed Name:

DSN:

Title:

Date: 23 June 2016

Procuring Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: Jay Hauser Phone: 508-233-6168 Title: Contacting Officer Date: 20 July 2016

Technical Representative:

Typed Name:

DSN:

Title:

Date Reviewed: 23 June 2016

Requirements Representative:

Typed Name:

DSN:

Title:

Date Reviewed: 23 June 2016

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1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Natick Contracting Division (ACC-APG-NCD) ATTN: CCAP-SCN, 1 General Greene Avenue, Natick, MA 01760

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Approval is requested to solicit on the basis of other than full and open competition for a new contract.

The contract is in support of the requirement for communications headsets and hearing protection. The items are part of an extended evaluation of communications headsets and hearing protection.

As part of the evaluation these products have undergone initial testing to validate performance. It is required to purchase additional items for further field evaluations and acoustic and environmental performance.

Type of contract contemplated: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP)

Reason for type of contract: The proposed acquisition is of a non-complex nature for commercially available supplies.

A firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract places a reasonable degree of risk on the contractor to deliver the required commercial items.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

The supplies consist of a suite of communications headsets and hearing protection. These items provide the operator hearing protection in high noise environments while allowing them to communicate over the radio (RT) or through mobility platform intercom systems (ICS). These items are specifically designed to be interoperable with all pertinent RT, ICS systems and ancillary gear which has already been integrated, calibrated and is currently operable with .

These items are also designed to survive all pertinent environments from 66FT below sea level to high altitude military free fall to nuclear, biological and chemical environments. The required items are tested and designed to work in all pertinent high radio frequency emission environments without affecting critical communications.

4. AUTHORITY CITED

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 – Only one responsible source and FAR 6.302-1(c) – Application for brand name descriptions.

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5. REASON FOR BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION:

In 2015, an RFI looking for a next generation headset suite for was posted to FBO. Five vendors responded with eight suites of headsets. Market research (SEE paragraph 8) indicates that the current TEA/Invisio V60 Suite is the only suite that meets the performance characteristics and interoperability required by and Additional articles are needed for acoustics testing, electromagnetic compatibility testing, environmental performance testing and a limited run of production units for fielding to units.

The majority of the items in the TEA/Invisio V60 are made by Invisio of Sweden. TEA modifies the Swedish products to allow for fluid interoperability with US RT, ICS platforms and to meet the environmental performance requirements.

Items within the order not made by Inviso are items that are manufactured by TEA and work the Invisio suite of products.

Additionally, these items have been purchased by at the unit level. This action is part of an effort to bring the items to a program of record. Funding from is being applied to capture data and show operational safety, suitability and effectiveness for program level purchases. This suite of products is the only suite that allows for efficient interoperability with the existing kits that the unit has purchased and integrated. Any variation from the current suites that are currently fielded and interoperable would require additional time, testing, integration, and training which would directly jeopardize mission sensitive operations.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

Currently, the TEA/Invisio V60 Suite is the only suite that meets the performance characteristics and interoperability required by and [Technical specifications and requirements threshold(s) have been separately reviewed by the approving authority]. Further evaluation of the TEA/Invisio brand of items is needed to determine operational suitability.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

This effort will be solicited as a 100% small business set-aside, although market research shows large businesses are also capable of providing the required items.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

PM-SOF SSES confirmed with TEA and Invisio of Sweden that the required suites are available via NASA SEWP.

Further market research suggests these items may be purchased through GSA Schedules or the open market via FedBizOpps.

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a. Procurement History

In FY15 roughly 15 systems were purchased for initial testing.

b. Acquisition Data Availability

The required items are commercial items, and the Government does not own any data rights, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition. Additionally, these items are required for user evaluations, and may or may not be required by the Government again in the future in accordance with a similar/repeat requirement.

c. Unusual and Compelling Urgency

None

d. Subcontracting Competition

None – 100% small business set-aside is contemplated and therefore this satisfies subcontracting competition.

d. Follow-on Contracts

An initial purchase of TEA/Invisio brand communications headsets and hearing protection was valued at approximately $10,000.00. Additional time and money was appropriated for testing, integrating and evaluating this particular suite of products for the initial user evaluation and operability. It is unclear whether it would be possible for the Government to recoup this dollar amount in the future if market research was able to identify potential vendors who could procure items which meet the exact requirements. Testing, integration, and training would be required for any variation of a similar capability.

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TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name:

Title:

Date:

Signature:

REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name:

Title:

Date:

Signature:

FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

The techniques to be used to determine fair and reasonable prices are: Competition and Price Analysis

As Part of the basis, certified cost or pricing data is not required due to competition and the fact the items are commercial.

Typed Name: Paul Yatsco Title: Contract Specialist ACC-APG-NCD Date:

Signature:

8 August 2016

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CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name:

Title:

Date:

Signature:

APPROVAL:

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of communications headsets and hearing protection on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Signature:

Jay Hauser Procuring Contracting Officer

ACC-APG-NCD

Date:

Jay hauser Contracting Officer