Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract

The notice is for informational purposes only IAW FAR 5.203(a). 

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has the need to procure the National Security Agency (NSA)-approved Tactical Type-1, Tactical Local Area Network Encryption (TACLANE) GigE products (KG-175D, KG-175G, KG-175F, and KG-175X’s) and associated ancillaries to secure classified information as outlined the attached draft Justification and Approval (JNA).  In accordance with paragraphs 6.1 and 6.3 of Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 8523.01, Communications Security (COMSEC), “Only National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS)-approved COMSEC products and services shall be used to secure classified information” and “DoD Components shall acquire COMSEC products and services through the NSA/CSS, which serves as the centralized COMSEC acquisition authority. If the products and services are unavailable through centralized procurement, the DoD Components shall acquire them directly from commercial entities that are authorized by the NSA/CSS to sell such products and services.”  TACLANE encryptors are COMSEC products.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the NSA has approved Government agencies to procure these items during the period from April 9, 2020 through July 9, 2020, directly from General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS). A determination not to compete this proposed contract will be made pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, only one source is capable of satisfying the agency's requirements.  This determination is based on the fact that GDMS is the sole manufacturer of the TACLANE GigE tactical encryption products approved by the NSA. No other products exists that have been approved by the NSA to secure classified information in a tactical local area network environment in accordance with DoDI 8523.01.

The proposed action will be for the negotiation of a Firm Fixed Price (FFP), sole source purchase order to GDMS for these COMSEC items. This purchase order will not exceed $2.65M, and the anticipated delivery time is 90 days after receipt of the order.

As outlined in the JNA, USSOCOM currently utilizes the TACLANE-1G (KG-175G) and TACLANE-FLEX (KG-175F) encryptors to securely communicate over classified networks. It is a requirement for USSOCOM to utilize NSA-approved encryption devices that have undergone operational and security testing, and integration to ensure interoperability within USSOCOM’s tactical classified networks. The encryption devices and associated accessories must integrate with USSOCOM’s key tactical cryptography management system as well as other existing TACLANE devices and GEM ONE integrated software currently in use. GDMS is the sole manufacturer of these TACLANE encryptors, and they are the only tactical type-1 encryption devices that meet this requirement, which is why they have been determined the sole source IAW FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii).

All replies must be provided to the Government no later than Wednesday, 3 June 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  All inquiries and responses concerning this action shall be sent in writing via email to: donna.guarrera@socom.mil. Senders are responsible for ensuring the complete transmission and timely receipt.

Contracting Office Address:

7701 Tampa Point Blvd

MacDill AFB, Florida 33621-5323

Primary Point of Contact:

Donna Guarrera, Contracting Officer

donna.guarrera@socom.mil

Phone:  813-826-7069