Redacted Justification and Approval (J&A)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land Warren has issued a Justification and Approval (J&A) for a proposed Firm-Fixed-Price, sole-source contract with Eaton Aerospace LLC. This contract is for the procurement of 73 units of a specific valve (NSN 4810-01-263-2541), a critical component for the Main Hydraulic Pump in the Abrams Family of Vehicles. This J&A explains the rationale for awarding the contract without full and open competition.
Purpose & Justification
This J&A justifies the award to Eaton Aerospace LLC due to the proprietary nature of the valve. Eaton Aerospace LLC is the sole source for this component, owning the technical data and having been the exclusive contractor since 1989. The government lacks the necessary technical data or specifications for competitive re-procurement. Developing a competitive Technical Data Package (TDP) would incur significant time and cost, estimated at $7,847,500 for reverse engineering, prototyping, and validation, which is deemed unrecoverable through subsequent competition. Eaton has demonstrated the capability to manufacture, analyze failures, and develop inspection criteria for this valve. The statutory authority cited is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1 (Only One Responsible Source).
Market Research & Competition Efforts
Market research included posting a Sources Sought Notice, which yielded only one response. Online searches for similar Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) valves confirmed that none are designed for the specific requirements of the M1 Abrams tank, necessitating custom design. Due to these findings, the government is not actively pursuing increased competition for future procurements of this item.
Contract Details
The proposed contract will be Firm-Fixed-Price. While the estimated maximum value is redacted, previous sole-source contracts for this item were awarded to Jamaica Bearings (an Eaton Distributor) for $143,819.80 in 2022 and $240,000.00 in 2020. The item has been determined to be a commercial product, and certified cost or pricing data will not be required.
Eligibility / Set-Aside
Although this is a sole-source justification, the solicitation and subsequent contract will include clauses for "Utilization of Small Business Concerns" and "Competition in Subcontracting" to maximize opportunities for small businesses.
Contact Information
For inquiries, contact Ralph McCarthy at ralph.mccarthy@dla.mil or 586-467-1173.