X-ray Simulators for Test and evaluation of Nuclear Survivability (XSTENS)

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency awarded a sole-source contract to L-3 Applied Technologies Inc. for the X-ray Simulators for Test and Evaluation of Nuclear Survivability (XSTENS) program. This action focuses on the upgrade of the Double-EAGLE, PITHON, and Gamble II simulators used for Nuclear Weapon Effects testing. Authorized under FAR 6.302-1, the contract was not competed because L-3 Applied Technologies Inc. was identified as the only responsible source with the necessary technical expertise and infrastructure to satisfy the agency requirements. The program has an estimated ceiling of 80 million dollars over a five-year period, with performance taking place in San Leandro, California. The contract is primarily structured as a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) agreement to provide the flexibility needed for the developmental and unique nature of the simulators, where costs cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy for a fixed-price arrangement. However, a specific line item for long lead time materials was negotiated as Firm Fixed Price (FFP) because those items consist of large quantities of non-developmental commercial components. This hybrid approach allows the government to manage the risks associated with developmental research while maintaining cost certainty for standard commercial purchases.