Sole Source Justification - Nikon Cameras

The Air Force Public Affairs Agency (AFPAA) has a requirement to provide several of our units with mirrorless camera equipment that is capable for use in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF). Specifically, they cannot have any type of wireless (IP/Bluetooth) capabilities and cannot be reactivated by end user with a hardware or software modification.

Previous AFPAA procurements for cameras to be used in SCIF’s could be procured from authorized manufacturers partners as they weren’t specialized in any way and procured as Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS). Previous procurements for SCIF cameras were Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) type cameras and didn’t offer a “built-in” wireless capability, a wireless adapter would need to be plugged into an external port on the camera, making it physically removeable.

With the manufacturers recent migration to all mirrorless cameras, increased camera capabilities and features are now integrated internally during the manufacturing process and don’t require external plug-in adapters to add wireless capabilities. Camera manufacturers typically have a menu driven option to “disable” these functions, but SCIF security requirements mandate that the wireless capabilities cannot be reactivated by end user with a hardware or software modification.