Sole Source Synopsis: TT&E & Repair, Circuit Card Assembly

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Air Force Sustainment Center is seeking to procure Test, Training, and Evaluation (TT&E) and repair services for Circuit Card Assemblies supporting the Minuteman III Weapon System. The procurement will be conducted as a sole source contract with Richard Manufacturing Company, justified by the company's unique capabilities in designing, manufacturing, and testing specialized circuit cards originally developed through a USAF-Northrop Grumman contract. Market research concluded that Richards Manufacturing is the only known source capable of meeting the government's requirements due to their specialized test equipment, technical knowledge, and engineering expertise. Interested sources must submit a written capability statement with clear evidence of their ability to provide the required supplies and test equipment within 15 days of the pre-solicitation notice's publication. All questions regarding the notice must be submitted in writing via email to the point of contact listed on the announcement.

The pre-solicitation notice is set aside for total small business participation and involves circuit card assemblies for the Minuteman III launch facility's Fast Rising B-Plug (FRB) system, which controls primary access shaft lights, timing circuits, and operational status monitoring. The government currently has two existing contracts with Richards Manufacturing: a 5-year repair Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and a contract to manufacture and test circuit cards. The procurement requires the circuit card assemblies to interface with a Minuteman nuclear missile facility, necessitating unique engineering and design performance characteristics with specific operational parameters including fast rise, maintenance modes, and safety features. While the specific contract value is not disclosed, the procurement is driven by the need to ensure immediate mission capability of the weapon system and maintain product integrity. The contract will be awarded without delay under Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1a(2)(iii), which allows for sole source procurement when replicating test equipment would cause unrecoverable duplication of costs.