VDATS F-35 DDC DEVICE

This action is to purchase an item peculiar to one manufacture, a brand-name procurement of 10 DDC USB To Serial Adapter. Data Device Corporation is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the DDC USB To Serial Adapters. This equipment is necessary to satisfy the MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429 communication requirements for the VDATS F-35 organic depot sustainment activation. The Versatile Diagnostic Automatic Test Station (VDATS) is the Air Force's only approved DoD Family of Testers.

Per DoD ATS Management Board (AMB), all Automatic Test System (ATS) requirements must be satisfied by VDATS or go through a waiver process. VDATS is organically manufactured and sustained at Robins AFB. This requirement is to purchase equipment used to manufacture VDATS in support of F-35 organic depot sustainment Activation. Equipment must be new and carry OEM manufacturer's warranty.

Choosing another product would cause irreparable harm to Test Program Set (TPS) programs already under way in terms of compatibility issues and the delays and costs associated with a major system redesign.