Attachment_2_-_Brand_Name_J A.pdf

Brand Name Justification for Maritime Communications Suite

Control Number: NCD-16-115

Prepared By:

Name:

Phone:

Title: Assistant Program Manager (APM) Date: 31 August 2016

Procuring Contracting Officer:

Name: Jay Hauser Phone: 508-233-6168 Title: Procuring Contracting Officer Date: 31 August 2016

Technical Representative:

Name:

Phone:

Title: Assistant Program Manager (APM) Date: 31 August 2016

Requirements Representative:

Name:

Phone:

Title: Assistant Program Manager (APM) Date: 31 August 2016

CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground, Natick Contracting Division (ACC-APG-

NCD)

ATTN: CCAP-SCN

1 General Greene Avenue Natick, MA 01760

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Approval is requested to solicit on the basis of brand name (other than full and open competition) for a new contract that supports requirements for Maritime Communications Headsets and Hearing Protection.

The communications items are required as spares and replacements to currently fielded systems. These items have been fielded and in use by since FY 2008. A resultant contract would allow continued use of these items until a new communications system is fielded in FY 2017. If this J&A is not approved, there could be a shortage of communications equipment for . Mission performance may be degraded by the resulting shortage.

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

Reason for type of contract: The proposed acquisition is non-complex in nature. These supplies are commercially available. A FFP contract places a reasonable degree of risk on the contractor to deliver the required items.

Funding information:

Fiscal Year: FY 2016

Type of money to be used:

FY16 O&M

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

The following items are required:

Push-To-Talk (PTT) Devices Headsets and Hearing Protection Boom Microphones Cables Attachments

These items are manufactured by Television Equipment Associates (TEA) and 3M. These items are specifically designed to be interoperable with all pertinent systems and gear which have already been integrated, calibrated and are currently fully interoperable.

AUTHORITY CITED

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

REASON FOR BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

A brand name J&A is necessary because market research and past procurement history suggests the required items are available from the manufacturers and multiple resellers.

The exact items are required because:

The items are specifically designed to be interoperable with all pertinent systems and ancillary gear which have been integrated, calibrated, and are already fully interoperable.

The items have been designed to survive all required environments from 66FT below sea level, , and NBC situations.

The items are capable of working in pertinent high radio frequency emission environments without comprising or affecting critical communications.

The items are backwards compatible with radio equipment that is currently being used by

Any third party, non-OEM communications items would need to be tested and qualified prior to being fielded. There is no guarantee that any non-OEM part equivalent would be completely compatible with current devices and headsets which are mission operational. Any variation from the equipment currently fielded and interoperable would require additional time, testing, integration, and training which would directly jeopardize mission sensitive operations. There would be substantial duplication in terms of time, money, and effort to qualify a different communications suite, especially given that a new communications suite is currently being tested/evaluated for fielding expected in Q2 of FY17.

EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION

This acquisition will be solicited through FedBizOpps as a 100% small business set-aside. Market research (see Paragraph 6) indicated there are enough small businesses in the marketplace that may be able to provide the required items.

ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION

There are no reasonable actions for this particular requirement that the Government can take to increase competition because the exact items are required (see Paragraph 5). In this particular market, both manufacturers and resellers can provide the communications items.

MARKET RESEARCH

On 28 August 2016, confirmed with TEA and 3M that the communications items are available through NASA SEWP, GSA Federal Supply Schedules, and the open market. Market research indicated a 100% small business set-aside would be appropriate for this acquisition, as there are enough small businesses to deliver the required items. Market research also indicated large business would be capable of satisfying the requirement.

Potential Interested Sources

PROCUREMENT HISTORY

From 2003 – 2016, thousands of Maritime Communications Suites have been purchased using now-expired IDIQs, BPAs, and multiple award prime vendor contracts.

Most recently, the same required systems and equipment have been acquired via:

Justification and Approval: NCD-16-61 Solicitation: W911QY-16-R-0056 Contract: W911QY-16-C-0139

Justification and Approval: NCD-16-97 Solicitation: W911QY-16-R-0060 Contract: W911QY-16-C-0143

Justification and Approval: NCD-16-98 Solicitation: W911QY-16-R-0061 Contract: W911QY-16-C-0144

ACQUISITION DATA AVAILABILITY

The required items are commercial, 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 likely to be replaced in Q2 of FY 2017 by communications equipment that is currently going through testing and evaluation.

UNUSUAL OR COMPELLING URGENCY

None

SUBCONTRACTING COMPETITION

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

FOLLOW-ON CONTRACTS

No additional purchases are expected at this time because it is anticipated that a new Maritime Communications Suite will be validated and fielded in FY17.

FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

I hereby determine the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. The techniques used to determine fair and reasonable prices will be through competition and price analysis. As part of the basis, certified cost and data is not required due to competition and the commerciality of the items.

Name: Paul Yatsco ACC-APG-NCD Title: Contract Specialist Date: 14 September 2016

Signature:

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

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

Name: Jay Hauser ACC-APG-NCD Title: Procuring Contracting Officer Date: 14 September 2016

Signature: