SRI Technical Support Services

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION 1. Nature and/or Description of Action The Defense Threat Reduction Agency contracting activity proposes to procure without using full and open competition electronic communications and personnel tracking system support for FlexTrain and Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) for the GATOR THUNDER XV (GT) exercise under the Mighty Guardian (MG) exercise program. 2. Description of the Supplies/Services Required The purpose of this action is to provide DTRA the technical support and electronic frequency allocation required to operate the FlexTrain exercise communications and personnel tracking system, and also provide Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) operational and technical support required for GT XV. SRI International will be providing the FlexTrain hardware and DTRA will be providing the MILES equipment through the National Guard Bureau. SRI International, the producers of the FlexTrain system, will set up, operate, maintain, and tear down the system in support of GT XV. The use of this electronic equipment and software will minimize the labor intensive process of data collection and provide FlexTrain and Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) support throughout the defined exercise scenario area of operations. The contractor shall provide full FlexTrain and MILES instrumented training system support to include set up of the instrumented training system and testing, provide set up and operational testing of MILES equipment utilized during GT XV, and provide full system support throughout the execution of GT XV. The contractor shall also provide preventative and corrective maintenance of all instrumentation and MILES equipment, tear-down of the instrumented training system upon completion of the exercise, and delivery of a data collection and after action review (AAR) package. This is a follow-on effort that was previously procured as a direct sole source award to SRI International via DTRA contract HDTRA1-11-C-0029. The period of performance shall be the duration of the exercise and delivery of the AAR. The estimated total dollar value for this procurement is $600K. 3. Statutory Authority The statutory authority for this non-competitive action is: 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source. 4. Applicability of Authority The requirement is to provide the technical support required to operate the FlexTrain exercise communications and personnel tracking system, and also provide Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) operational and technical support required for Gator Thunder exercise under the MG exercise program. DTRA will require on-site system support, setup, teardown, and maintenance for the FlexTrain exercise communications equipment and the MILES exercise equipment. SRI International developed the FlexTrain system and is the only corporation with personnel knowledgeable in the intricacies of the system. SRI International has the knowledgeable personnel that can transmit FlexTrain system data and communications enabling the interface of MILES with the FlexTrain system, allowing a clear operational picture and seamless support. In conducting exercises in the DTRA/DoD CWMD arena, it has been determined that the current contractor, SRI International, is the only company that meets all of the requirements to provide the required support to GT XV in the required time frame to avoid disrupting continuity of operations. DTRA/OP-ON conducts multi-service exercises in nuclear readiness; specifically, GT XV involves the USN at Kings Bay, Georgia. The National Guard Bureau (NGB) uses the FlexTrain and MILES systems at five Army National Guard locations, and the systems are also used by the U.S. Army Reserve Command. DTRA/OP-ON has coordinated with the NGB to obtain the use of the MILES equipment for GT XV, therefore, the combination of the MILES and SRI provided FlexTrain System are proven systems that enhance exercises across the entire force-on-force community and needs to be incorporated into the GT XV. The capability required for the successful completion of this effort cannot be obtained economically or efficiently through any other source. Because of the highly specialized and unique requirements for this effort including expertise in MILES operation, and its interoperability and synchronization with the FlexTrain system, DTRA has determined that SRI International is the only responsible source. SRI has the requisite experience and unique understanding of the Mighty Guardian Force-On-Force exercise series requirements as well as the unique knowledge and expertise in conducting this training. Due to the unique skill set found only at SRI international DTRA cannot currently locate another performer with the requisite expertise and understanding of the exercise. 5. Effort to Solicit Potential Sources A notice of the Government's intent to award a sole source contract to SRI International will be posted to Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) in accordance with FAR 5.201. 6. Fair and Reasonable Costs The anticipated price of this contract action to the Government will be determined to be fair and reasonable based on historical prices paid for the same service, and the Independent Government Estimate. 7. Market Research Market research was conducted to determine if any other sources would be able to provide the required technical support for the equipment being used during the exercise. It was determined that the capability required for the successful completion of this effort cannot be obtained economically or efficiently through any other source. Due to the highly specialized and unique requirements for this effort, including expertise in MILES operation and its interoperability and synchronization with the FlexTrain system, DTRA has determined that SRI International is the only source with the requisite experience and unique knowledge and expertise in performing this support. 8. Other Facts DTRA will borrow the MILES equipment from the National Guard, saving a significant amount of money which precludes from procuring any additional MILES like equipment. No other training simulation product provides the full system capability and compatibility with MILES which is what is on hand at Kings Bay GA that SRI provides, therefore SRI is the only company that can provide the FlexTrain instrumented Tracking system that integrates with MILES and provide the associated technical support of both systems together. This is more cost effective than attempting to develop and deploy a separate system for exercise communications and personnel tracking for a force-on-force exercise when an adequate system is already in existence. 9. Interested Sources None. 10. Subsequent Actions DTRA/OP-ON will attempt to locate alternative equipment and software that will provide equivalent services.