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FBO DAILY ISSUE OF APRIL 09, 2009 FBO #2691
SPECIAL NOTICE

59 -- PacStar 4100

Notice Date

4/7/2009
 

Notice Type

Special Notice
 

NAICS

334220 — Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing
 

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Direct Reporting Units, USAF Academy - 10 MSG/LGC, 8110 Industrial Drive, Suite 200, USAF Academy, Colorado, 80840-2315
 

ZIP Code

80840-2315
 

Solicitation Number

FA7000-09-T-0042
 

Archive Date

4/28/2009
 

Point of Contact

Jon Wilczynski, Phone: 7193332933, Diana South,, Phone: 719-333-8650
 

E-Mail Address

jon.wilczynski@usafa.af.mil, Diana.Myles-South@usafa.af.mil
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

The 10 th Mission Support Group, Directorate of Contracting, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, is hereby issuing a Notice of Intent to award a Sole Source Commercial Purchase Order to Pacific Star Communications Inc. (Small Business) in providing the PacStar 4100 Communication System: •a. The PacStar 4100 to include: •b. 4100 Initial Entry Communications Package (Includes 8 VOIP Phones), Part # PS-4100 •c. One Year Support for 4100, Part #SSP-4100-1 •d. Voice and data termination bundle. Includes one year service, installation and onsite 4100 training or six people, Part #PS-BUNDL-200 •e. 1000VA/700W Briefcase Style UPS SYSTEM. (4) 5-15R UPS receptacles: (2) 5-15R AUX receptacles; 6 MIN (FULL LOAD) Battery Run Time. Input power cord included. DRC model includes rolling case with retractable handle, Part # DRC-1000BRX •f. 1600 Black Pelican Case with 2.2# Black PE (Holds three VOIP phones with accessories per case). Part # VOIP Phone Mobile Case •g. PS-FLY-1.2M Ku band Flyaway antenna. Part# PS-FLY-1.2M •h. 1Mbps/512 Kbps, CIR 64 Kbps, includes activation fee. Part # PS-1MB-512 The Government has determined the use of Pacific Star Communications Inc. for this SATCOM requirement to meet the government's need. The PacStar 4100 unit is required to ensure communication connectivity is available for use during inclement weather and mountainous terrain in the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Additionally, the software shall allow the user an interface to the hardware for voice and data transmission. The determination to use Pacific Star Communications Inc. was made by the United States Air Force Academy, 22 TRS/OL-A. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement by 2:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, 13 April 2009. This procurement is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.5 and FAR Parts 12 and 13. The authority cited and justification made is based on the determination that the Government's minimum needs can best be satisfied by services available from one source. No solicitation will be made available and all information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the government. The following local clause is hereby incorporated 5352.201-8101 Ombudsman (Aug 2005) and Addendum if resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer. Concerned parties may contact the USAF Academy Ombudsmen, Kelly S. Snyder, 8110 Industrial Drive, Ste 103, USAFA CO 80840. Telephone (719) 333-2074; Fax ((719) 333-9018, and e-mail kelly.Snyder@usafa.af.mil A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice to solely within the discretion of the Government. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. Only written/fax or e-mail inquires will be accepted, Written inquiries shall be addressed to Government point of contact, Jon Wilczynski, Contract Specialist at Jon.Wilczynski@usafa.af.mil or Diana South, Contract Officer, at Diana.Myles-South@usafa.af.mil. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION I. Contracting Organization DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 10 MSG/LGCB Purchase Request: FA7000-09-T-0042 PacStar 4100 System II. Description of Action This acquisition will be awarded as a new, firm-fixed price purchase order using operation and maintenance (O & M) funds IAW FAR 13.5 Test Program for Certain commercial Items. This will be a single source acquisition. III. Description of Supplies/Services The requiring activity, USAFA/22 TRS/OL-A, requested a single source purchase order to Pacific Star Communication, Inc. The requirement is for a mobile/portable satellite communication system (SATCOM) providing unsecure (non-cryptic communication) able to operate in austere weather conditions and rugged terrain. I V. Statutory Authority 41 U.S.C. 428a as implemented by FAR 13.501(a) V. Applicability of Authority FAR Part 13 allows soliciting from a single source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonable available. Pacific Star Communications Inc. is the only known company hat can satisfy the government's needs. The PacStar 4100 system is the only system available to work in the field with a high rate of success. Other systems have failed to enable user's interruption free communication during routine and emergency situations. At best, many of the systems work properly 50 percent of the time. The PacStar 4100 has a 95 percent effective rate in communications connectivity. VI. Efforts to Obtain Competition A source sought synopsis was posted on FedBizOpps on 23 March 2009 with responses due on 30 March 2009. There were four responses to the announcement. We received a response from 308 Systems, Telecomm1stop LLC, Pacific Star Communications Inc., and CVG, Inc. A search was conducted on GSA Advantage for a comparable SATCOM system for a mobile, unsecure SATCOM system. Several companies provided similar satellite communications systems, but they do not meet the customer's requirement for an exact match. The items ordered must be able to be portable (human power/energy), operate in severe weather and rugged terrain, and non-cryptic. Many of the systems offered are for a system designed for of Line-of-Sight technology. The Rocky Mountains do not provided the environment favorable to systems operating on a Line-of-Site. VII. Fair and Reasonable Cost We anticipate we will be able to determine the price to be fair and reasonable by comparing GSA schedule prices, market research, and if necessary requesting other than cost and pricing data. VIII. Market Research Pacific Star Communications, Inc is the only company that can fulfill the requirement for the SATCOM system since they are a manufacturer who designs portable systems that meets the communication requirements of the government. A market research was completed through GSA Advantage and the internet. There were no companies the government could find to provide the exact match of PacStar 4100 system. Additionally the software from Pacific Star Communications Inc, called: IQ-Core, allows the user an interface to the hardware for voice and data transmission where in other systems this is not available. March research has determined this is a commercial as sold to the general public. IX. Other Facts Pacific Star Communications. Inc. is located in the United States and can manufacture and support the PacStar 4100 to meet the requirement. It is in the best interest of the Government to purchase from this company since they manufacture a reliable SATCOM system. Another type of communication system available in the open market and GSA: INMARSAT (INternational MARitime SATellite) works very well in flat, clear, and unobstructed terrain, not in mountainous/obstructed terrain with extreme weather in which we conduct our CST training. INMARSAT provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via special terminals which communicate to ground stations through twelve geosynchronous telecommunications satellites. Inmarsat's network provides reliable communications services to a range of governments, aid agencies, media outlets and businesses with a need to communicate in remote regions or where there is no reliable terrestrial network. If there are obstructions (to include sun travel see next paragraph) with the ground stations and satellites, communication can/will be lost. INMARSAT SUN - CYCLE : There are short, predictable periods when earth-based INMARSAT receiving antennas will be required to look directly at the sun as it moves across the sky. During these periods the background noise increase dramatically, and all communication with the satellite is blocked. These solar cycles typically last for approximately 10 minutes and will occur for 3-4 days in a row. This phenomenon is due to the slow wobble or precession of the earth's rotation axis. This is the same wobble which accounts for the summer / winter seasonal changes. X. Interested Sources There were four sources who expressed interest in this acquisition. We received a response from 308 Systems, Telecomm1stop LLC, Pacific Star Communications Inc., and CVG, Inc. 308 Systems and CVG, Inc. 308 Systems: Provides the TRA-KIT. This system will not meet the government needs since the company is providing a computer, not the system. The system (as an upgrade) is using INMARSAT to achieve connectivity. Again, INMARSAT does not work well in mountainous regions. Telecomm1stop: Was initially interested and then withdrew their interest. Pacific Star Communications Inc.: manufactures the PacStar 4100. CVG, Inc.: Offers the INMARSAT system and crypto option (extra option included that is very expensive and not required). XI. Steps to Foster Competition Contracting will continue to work with the customer to coordinate a competitive acquisition on all future requirements for these items. The circumstance is considered to be non-recurring. XII. Contracting Officer's Certification The contracting officer's signature on the Coordination and Approval Document evidences that she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of her knowledge and belief. XIII. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL'S CERTIFICATION See attached requiring activity justification.
 

Web Link

FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=f910d310bf8475689817d9a192621b1b&tab=core&_cview=1)
 

Place of Performance

Address: 8110 Industrial Drive, Suite 200, USAF Academy, Colorado, 80840, United States

Zip Code: 80840
 

Record

SN01787477-W 20090409/090407215937-f910d310bf8475689817d9a192621b1b (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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