Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) Development Engineering Change Proposal (ECP)-I-AAG-0135 Undefinitized Contract Action

The Naval Air Systems Command has awarded a cost-reimbursable delivery order valued at a not-to-exceed $53,286,025 under Basic Ordering Agreement N0001921G0014 to support the Advanced Arresting Gear Engine Room Isolation solution for Ford-class aircraft carriers. This order, identified as N0001926F0134 and tied to Engineering Change Proposal I-AAG-0135, encompasses non-recurring engineering efforts including detailed system design and development, production of prototype test articles, testing, and the creation of all associated technical and logistical documentation. Work is primarily conducted in San Diego, California at 82%, with additional efforts in Tupelo, Mississippi at 14% and Boston, Massachusetts at 2%, and is scheduled for completion by October 2028. The procurement was executed as a sole-source action under FAR 6.302-1 due to the unique technical expertise and proprietary systems exclusively held by General Atomics, with no viable alternatives available to meet the Navy’s operational needs for EMALS and AAG sustainment. Funding is drawn from multiple sources including Research, Development, Test and Evaluation; Operations and Maintenance, Navy; and Other Procurement, Navy, spanning fiscal years 2021 through 2026. The contract requires a comprehensive set of deliverables including engineering change proposals, software infrastructure support, test and evaluation data, worldwide fleet technical assistance, depot planning, obsolescence mitigation, and delivery of technical and financial records. While no specific FAR clauses, packaging standards, or invoicing methods are detailed, inspections and acceptance are managed by NAVAIR at various performance locations with the contractor responsible for execution and compliance. The award reflects a trade-off approach prioritizing technical necessity over cost, underpinned by the irreplaceable nature of the contractor’s engineering capabilities and data.