Justification & Approval- Baxter Aerospace Sole Source Award

The U.S. Department of Defense, through the FA8612 Aflcmc C3BM C3 office in Dayton, Ohio, is pursuing a sole source contract award to Baxter Aerospace for the immediate procurement of Tactical Airborne Communication Kits, associated Field Service Representatives, and related subscriptions. This action is justified as urgent and compelling due to the critical operational need for these specialized communication systems, which are uniquely designed and produced by Baxter Aerospace with no commercially available alternatives that meet the required performance, interoperability, and security standards. The contract, identified by solicitation number ABMS-FA861226CB002, falls under NAICS code 334290 for other communications equipment manufacturing and is intended to support mission-critical operations at the place of performance in Saint George, Utah. The procurement is being handled as a sole source procurement because Baxter Aerospace is the exclusive provider of the Tactical Airborne Communication Kits, and transitioning to another vendor would result in unacceptable delays and risk to operational readiness. The point of contact for this action is Laura Rittenhouse, whose official email is listed for inquiries and coordination. The justification was posted on May 1, 2026, and the urgency of the requirement precludes competitive bidding. The contract includes not only the hardware and subscriptions but also dedicated technical support through Field Service Representatives to ensure continuous system functionality in field environments under demanding conditions.