Contract Depot Logistics Support (CDLS) for General National Airspace System (GNAS) Static Transfer Switch (STS) Support

Title of Procurement

This is a proposed sole-source contract with L3 Harris Maritime Power and Energy Solutions (“L3 Harris”) for Contract Depot Logistics Support (CDLS) to provide depot level repair, sparing, full maintenance and engineering support for Static Transfer Switches (STS) in support of Air Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Critical and Essential Power Systems (ACEPS) and Critical Power Distribution System (CPDS).

Program Office and Point of Contact

The FAA Logistics Center Automation/ Communications Product Division, AJW-L800 has been designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be the office of prime responsibility for the logistics support of Static Transfer Switches related to Critical and Essential Power Systems for the National Airspace System (NAS). 

Nature of Procurement Action

This is an extension to 6973GH-25-D-00035 which expires November 27, 2026. The contract type is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with Firm Fixed Priced (FFP), Labor Hour (LH), and Cost Reimbursable (CR). This Single Source Justification (SSJ) covers a 6-month extension and will be used for this acquisition. The procurement action provides a vehicle for ACEPS and CPDS to purchase lay-in materials as well.

Description of Supplies/Services

The FAA Logistics Center Automation/Communications Product Division, AJW-L800 has a requirement for continued CDLS and field maintenance/repair/overhaul support for ACEPS and CPDS systems and products via an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract. The current STS CDLS contract provides in-house repair and parts support for the Static Transfer Switches. These STS support the ARTCC Critical and Essential Power Systems (ACEPS), the Dual Redundant Power Distribution System (DRPDS), Critical Redundant Power Distribution Systems (CRPDS), and Critical Power Distribution Type Systems (CPDS). Under the scope of this follow-on contract, the vendor will provide FAA with CDLS support to include the following:

• Parts storage, distribution, and order fulfillment for field requisitions to include all necessary labor, equipment, and facilities to meet field priority requirements
• Full CDLS and field support required to maintain, repair, overhaul, and inspect Static Transfer Switches (STS) to ensure continuity of operations throughout the systems remaining lifecycle
• In-house support for complete restoration and integration of fielded assets and to ensure current configurations
• Support for limited/restricted access to hardware, firmware, and service software tools developed and owned by L3 Harris that are of a proprietary nature and necessary for troubleshooting and repair. These tools facilitate the capability to continue integration of fielded assets with STS developed by L3 Harris with other Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) STS products within the NAS
• Specialized knowledge and skills required for identification and acquisition of replacement products and/or re-engineering, re-qualification, sub-contracting, and cannibalization services when necessitated due to unavailable replacements
• Maintenance and updates to the FAA’s web based commercial database designed for FAA personnel to access technical documentation for 2nd level engineering support and to check inventories
• Data entry into FAA Logistics Center’s web based CDLS interface tool to support FAA CDLS reporting requirements

Authority

Authority for single source procurement is provided by AMS policy section 3.2.2.4.

Rationale Supporting Use of a Single Source

A Single Source Award to L3 Harris is deemed to be in the best interest of the government due to the following reasons:

• Impact. L3 Harris has the knowledge and experience of site-specific requirements; working relationships with approved vendors to ensure site specific baseline equipment configuration, specifications, and standardization of components, allows for quick parts availability/resolutions and reduced lead times. They have demonstrated their ability to communicate effectively with the field customers as well as program officials when approved by the Contracting Officer (CO) / Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Their established relationships with suppliers who manufacture STS related equipment have been leveraged to allow L3 Harris to utilize buying power and negotiate reduced equipment lead times, ultimately shortening delivery schedules for the Government. Obsolescence and re-engineering issues continue to create major logistical support issues, i.e., constant parts changes, upgrades, and replacements. The Logistics Center has not organically supported the Static Transfer Switches since late 2013 and has made no provisions to resume this support. Bringing the STS and/or a part of its other vendor support products in-house would create logistical hurdles and result in unacceptable delays. Unless provision is made to provide for the continued support of these assets, the FAA will be presented with both monetary and safety risks. The risk not only applies to increase burden to the government (additional costs), but life safety risks will be realized, with impact to the flying public.

• Specialized Expertise. L3 Harris is the only vendor with the capacity and knowledge to perform the planning, management, and execution of the integrated logistics required for this program. Repair, overhaul, and maintenance (off-site/on-site) require specialized knowledge to plan and mobilize support for preventive and emergency repairs and/or oversight for the integration of aging equipment. Few original equipment manufacturers (OEM) exist; therefore, obsolescence is a major issue in the continuity of operations. L3 Harris will purchase new items and repair services on behalf of the FAA where they are not the OEM, this is in the best interest of the FAA because it provides the best means of meeting configuration management requirements. Other vendors, who have been tasked with specific segments of upgrades to the ACEPS, cannot be trained in the hardware, firmware, and software support tools to support upgrades that integrate this system, nor do they have access to the limited/restricted rights. L3 Harris will only train government personnel to perform software upgrades on their products.

• Follow-on Contract.  Open competition of this requirement would require other vendors to contract with L3 Harris for the integration of the hardware, firmware, and software service tools. The sale of required data and tools is not currently offered by L3 Harris on the open market. Competitors would also need to acquire specialized skills and necessary expertise to support various pieces of this equipment and to establish partnerships and sub-contracts with suppliers to ensure availability of parts. Failure to do so would create an extremely high risk of unacceptable delays in repair and maintenance resulting in longer and more frequent power outages, with significant risk of lost air traffic service and flights. Warehouse/storage/order fulfillment support provided under this contract currently includes space in a bonded/fenced multi-level storage facility that houses FAA owned spares, repaired assets, cannibalized equipment, and other critical/essential materials required to manufacture, refurbish, and requalify parts. Space and layout for Static Transfer Switch inventory and sparing locations are already established at L3 Harris. Continued use of L3 Harris warehousing services would not result in any additional outlays of funding for startup. Moving assets from the L3 Harris facility to the FAALC in Oklahoma City would result in additional cost, as well as considerable time delays and/or interruptions to mission-critical logistics and engineering response time would be jeopardized during the transition. These delays would be considered unacceptable.  

• Standardization.  Replacement parts acquisition for legacy assets purchased decades ago requires specialized knowledge and skills for parts identification, and manufacturing, to ensure continued integration for the Static Transfer Switches and associated products. The form, fit, and function determination, acquisition or manufacturing of these products is challenging to ensure that parts meet configuration management specifications. L3 Harris tests new and/or re-utilized parts/products daily for compatibility, functionality, and inter-operability. Without the resident legacy knowledge of L3 Harris staff to perform timely research and re-engineering analysis, the FAA will not be able to ensure the same level of emergency backup power availability/reliability support at NAS facilities, or uninterrupted service to the flying public. Duplicate costs that could not be recovered include the following: transitioning test beds from the field, employee training and learning curves, and transportation for the transition of depot spares. The only test beds available are in the field and could not be pulled until/unless sites were decommissioned. Relocating a test bed facility is estimated to cost more than $10M.

• Patents, Proprietary Data, and Unique Items. The hardware, firmware, and service software tools provided by L3 Harris for integration of Static Transfer Switches are limited and/or restricted from publication, and are only available from one source. These rights are required for repair and on-site maintenance. The FAA does not own the software source code required to maintain, modify, and/or update this software. L3 Harris STS, components, and software were developed by L3 Harris at their sole expense. Use, duplication, or disclosure for or by the FAA, including without limitation any of its agencies or instrumentalities, is subject to restrictions set for in the Data Rights clauses in FAA regulations. In order to properly accomplish preventive, emergency breakdown maintenance and performance calibrations, in-house maintenance personnel must utilize L3 Harris’ service software tools. The sale of such data and tools is not currently offered on the open market. It is L3 Harris’ policy to only train government personnel to program software code to support the integration of this equipment. Considering impacts and risk, it is in the best interest of the government to maintain current power availability/reliability, which is attributed to L3 Harris’ ability to supply parts, repair parts and to retain specialized expert personnel necessary to ensure continued operations. FAA does not currently have the staff available or the financial resources to acquire this same level of knowledge and technical expertise to develop the repair specifications/drawings necessary to permit organic support or open competition for Static Transfer Switch repair operations.

Market Analysis

No other vendor can satisfy the requirement within the timeframe needed. A formal market survey has not been issued.

Other Facts Supporting Use of Single Source

The government believes all reasonable attempts to identify alternate sources of services have been made. There will be no additional measures taken to identify alternate sources because there are none.