BLU-122 expansion of scope, incorporation of CDD changes

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION I. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY 679 ARSS - Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze (HTVSF), 205 West D. Avenue, Eglin AFB, FL 32542 II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING PROCESSED This individual justification and approval (J&A) supports the sole-source acquisition of an effort which will expand the scope of the on-going BLU-122 Study via modification to contract FA8681-08-C-0174. The added scope will broaden the existing study to include contractor analysis, determination of impacts, and conclusions regarding potential changes to the HTVSF design or other changes necessary to meet new requirements identified in the draft Capabilities Development Document (CDD), Version 1.7. This effort will be performed by Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (ATK) in parallel with the contract activities being performed during the HTVSF Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD). This action is necessary to enable the contractor to prepare a realistic proposal for the follow-on risk reduction and/or system development and demonstration (SDD) contract(s). A similar effort will be conducted concurrently by another contractor performing a second JCTD contract under a rolling down-select evaluation process. The results of the study will also assist the Government assessing the cost and schedule impacts of requiring the more stringent HTVSF capabilities, especially the Key Performance Parameter for detecting thinner layers and narrower voids. This acquisition will be performed as a firm fixed price effort with a period of performance extending through 30 April 2010. Paragraph III below addresses the estimated value for this action. III. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY'S NEEDS The HTVSF JCTD is the initial phase of a prospective program to provide increased survivability and void detection capabilities in a fuze system to be integrated onto the BLU-113 and BLU-109 penetrator warheads. The draft CDD adds a requirement to integrate the HTVSF with the BLU-122 warhead. The HTVSF will be capable of surviving up to 15K PSI of reinforced concrete and may be programmed to detonate in a specific void. The JCTD is a risk reduction phase which was intended to demonstrate the required capabilities prior to seeking a Milestone B decision; however, the new CDD requirements may require further risk reduction effort to modify the current fuze design and successfully demonstrate the enhanced capabilities. This expanded study will help the contractor and Government better understand how the requirement changes will impact the fuze design, program cost and schedule, and future acquisition strategy for the HTVSF. The Government estimates the total value of this action to be approximately $649,000. IV. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION The authority for this action is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-l: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Pursuant to FAR 6.302-1(b)(2), supplies or services are available from only one source in the case of the existence of limited rights in data, patent rights, copyrights, secret processes, or similar circumstances that would preclude a competitive acquisition, such as involvement in a rolling down-select source selection process. V. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES THE USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE (APPLICABILITY OF AUTHORITY) Two contractors are concurrently developing, testing, and demonstrating HTVSF capabilities under a rolling down-select evaluation process that will culminate in selection of one contractor to proceed to the following risk reduction and/or SDD phase(s) and eventually into the production phase of the program. Since the JCTD is officially a competitive source selection, release of design specific information required by other contractors would jeopardize the procurement integrity of this acquisition. This study cannot be performed without access to source selection sensitive information which is protected in accordance with FAR 3.104. In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), a sole source award to Alliant Techsystems, Inc. is justified because selection of a contractor other than ATK would require release of source selection sensitive information, a violation of the Procurement Integrity Act and FAR 3.104. VI. DECRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS DEEMED PRACTICABLE Although this effort cannot be performed by other sources as a prime contract, it may afford opportunities for subcontracts; therefore, the action was synopsized as a FedBizOpps posting on 26 Aug 09. No responses were received by any potential industry sources. VII. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE The Contracting Officer will ensure that the final price of the contracting action awarded under this individual J&A will be fair and reasonable with cost/price analysis conducted in accordance with the guidance contained in FAR Part 15. The appropriate Government personnel will perform a technical evaluation and assessment of cost elements, as appropriate. This office will also request support from the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) for audit or rate verification. This action is not expected to exceed $650,000; however, this office will obtain certified cost or pricing data from the contractor if the action meets the threshold established by the Truth and Negotiation Act. VIII. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS, OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASONS MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED Although Market Research was not performed for this specific acquisition due to the competitive nature of the on-going JCTD contract, the contractor has committed to small business goals and is encouraged to seek out and employ small U.S. businesses to the maximum extent practicable in the performance of this contract. IX. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION At this time, the Government does not own a Technical Data Package for the HTVSF design being developed and tested during the JCTD; therefore, the Government cannot release data to non-DoD contractors without the expressed permission of ATK. Furthermore, release of the data necessary to perform this action would destroy the integrity of the competition. X. LIST OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION As discussed in paragraph VI above, this planned action was published in FedBizOpps on 26 Aug 09, and no potential sources expressed interest in the acquisition. XI. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE MAKING SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITIONS FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED During the HTVSF JCTD and rolling down-select process, the HTVSF program office will not solicit further competition; however, the follow-on SDD contract will contain a requirement for the selected contractor to agree to negotiate a price for a TDP or submit a plan to qualify another source should it be unable to complete the production requirements for HTVSF. In that eventuality, the Government will perform market research as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation to support this potential future acquisition. XII. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S CERTIFICATION The Contracting Officer's signature on the Coordination and Approval Document provides evidence that this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his knowledge and belief. XIII. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL'S CERTIFICATION As evidenced by the Program Manager's signature on the Coordination and Approval Document, the technical personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.