Brand_Name_Justification_-_Wenzel_Fequency_Source_Plates_20150813.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION BETWEEN $3,000 AND $150,000

1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a requirement for frequency source plates to be used in the new design of a Tail Doppler Radar system for the NOAA WP-3D Hurricane Hunter aircraft (P- 3). The frequency source plates that meet the required specifications for the system are only available from one source. There are no substitutes available for these items.

2. Restricted to the following source:

Wenzel Associates, Inc.

3. Description of the item required:

NOAA intends to purchase seven (7) each of a precision frequency source plate with the frequency outputs of 50, 100, and 300 MHz.

4. Specific characteristics of the item that limits the availability to a sole source:

Wenzel fabricates extremely precise custom frequency sources that meet the required specifications of the TDR system. Wenzel units are currently in use on the NOAA G-IV high altitude research aircraft TDR. That system recently passed flight testing and has been accepted by the Government under an earlier competitive award. During the design, review and selection process it was found that the unit manufactured by Wenzel was the optimum source that could best meet the design criteria for the TDR on the G-IV. The frequency source is a critical component of the TDR design. Using a different frequency source in the P-3 TDR system would cause NOAA to have to spend additional funds to design and test the system. Failure to properly establish the accuracy of the frequency would be detrimental to the entire P-3 radar upgrade program. Using the unit manufactured by Wenzel will limit NOAA’s risk of failure as the design has already been tested and is in use in the G-IV.

Additionally, using the same frequency source for the P-3 TDR as was used in the G-IV will allow spare frequency sources to be used on both the P-3 and G-IV aircraft.

5. Check and fill in all that are applicable:

☒ The material must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed.

The P-3 TDR system’s frequency source must be compatible in all aspects with the TDR system in use on the G-IV in order to avoid costly design changes, additional system testing, and to allow standardization for spare parts.

☐ A patent, copyright, or proprietary data limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows: