I.A.8_J A_OTFOC.docx

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR SUBPART 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS – SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Program/Equipment: 1st Ranger Battalion requires contract intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support throughout the FY17 training cycle in order to meet specific training objectives and prepare for contingency operations overseas.

Authority: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5.

FAR Subpart 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items – Sole Source Justification and Approval

1. Contracting Activity: MICC-FSGA 976 William H. Wilson Ave, Bldg 621 Fort Stewart, GA 31314

2. Description of Action: 1-75 Ranger Battalion requests a firm-fixed-price and cost hybrid contract with BroadBay Group. The Government projects award for JAN 2017 and fiscal year 2017 O&M funds type funds will be used.

An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Contractor will provide manned, signals intelligence, and full motion video capable aircraft in order to properly simulate the use of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft used by Special Operations Forces in operations overseas. Aircraft also have the capability to communicate with ground forces as well as a tactical operations center.

Base Period: 01JAN2017 to 30SEP2017

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. 1901 (or 41 U.S.C. 1903 for Special Emergency Procurement) as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5:

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

(a) 1st Ranger Battalion will conduct Task Force Training at multiple locations throughout CONUS throughout the training cycle. The purpose of this training is to exercise tactical, command and control, and support elements under realistic conditions that replicate the scale, diversity, and complexity of the operational environments faced by special operations forces during contingency operations overseas. An important factor in conducting these operations is the support provided by ISR platforms that can identify as well as communicate threats and enemy movement to forces on the ground as well as the command and control center. Integrating, directing, and communicating with ISR is an integral part of task force training. Due to the nature of the training, as well as the tactics, techniques and procedures utilized, the contractor providing ISR support needs to be thoroughly vetted and have the appropriate levels of security clearance.

· The BroadBay Group is a veteran owned, small business that provides customized ISR training to special operations forces. They routinely support units throughout the broad spectrum of USSOCOM and are uniquely qualified to provide this service for two reasons: Their experience in providing support for special operations forces enables them to accurately simulate their role and the end state is extremely realistic training. Secondly, this contractor has been vetted by our special security officer and is approved for use.

· Utilizing another contractor to provide this service would require them to have the same level of clearances and experience with special operations forces. Lessons learned from working with BroadBay group previously have established a level of support that can’t be replicated with a new contractor.

· Thorough vetting of a new contractor would impede delivery date of the required period of performance.

(b) Alternatives: 1st Ranger Battalion is not aware of any other contractor that can provide the same support. Alternatives to contract ISR are coordination with Air Force, and Army ISR platforms. Due the operational tempo and dynamic nature of our training cycle coordinating with these units to support training is difficult, 1st Ranger Battalion utilizes Government owned ISR when available.

(c) The minimum requirements of the Government are as follows:

1. The contractor shall provide manned signals intelligence (SI), and full motion video capable aircraft similar to Diamond DA42 capable of providing 6 hours of station time per evolution. The contractor shall provide at a minimum a pilot, sensor operators, fuel and maintenance technician per aircraft and any other personnel or equipment necessary to provide ISR coverage in accordance with the statement of work.

2. Provide full motion video broadcast via VORTEX in an S-Band frequency with VNW CONUS encryption. Of note: PACWIN, Vortex C-Band, and Vortex unencrypted (analog) will NOT be utilized during this exercise.

3. Provide secure line of sight (LOS) VHF/UHF communications, and secure tactical satellite (TACSAT) communications to the ground force.

4. Ensure aircrews hold a SECRET clearance.

5. Contractor shall stage the aircraft from a civilian airfield in vicinity of training location.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(13), this action will not be synopsized.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will post a notice of intent to sole source to BroadBay Group on a GPE for seven days. In the event that another contractor claims to be able to support this requirement they may be permitted to submit a quote.

8. Market Research: No other vendor was found to provide the services described to this scale and scope. Other government contracts exist for this service on a much larger scale that are unsuitable for the purposes of this contract with contractors as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon.

9. Interested Sources: See Paragraph 6 for the synopsis information.

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