Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies (MVSOT) Support
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Divisions intends to issue a modification to the previously awarded sole source contract to Utah State University (USU), 2300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, (CAGE code: 4B969 USU) extending the period of performance from 36 months (12/19/2019-12/18/2022) to 60 months (12/19/2019-12/18/2024) to develop synthetic bio-inspired materials for propeller occlusion, including but not limited to spider silk thread, spider silk sponges, hagfish slime proteins, and hagfish slime intermediate filaments for Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies (MVSOT). USU will synthetically reproduce natural spider silk and hagfish slime proteins, then process into spider silk thread, spider silk-based sponges, and hagfish slime intermediate filaments for propeller occlusion applications. USU will provide subject matter expertise on bio-inspired materials and synthetic production of bio-inspired materials. This contract action will include an additional two (2) Options of 12 months each. This procurement is sole source for the following reasons.
USU is the only responsible source capable of providing the required material in the required schedule. Under the current contract N61331-20-D-0001, USU successfully synthesized and provided support for synthetic hagfish slime proteins, synthetic hagfish intermediate filament fiber, synthetic spider silk and synthetic spider silk-based sponges for propeller occlusion under Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion technologies (MVSOT).
This acquisition is of previously developed and highly specialized materials. This effort builds upon previous contract efforts and seeks to progress the technology by scaling up production to larger quantities for in-water testing. USU has decades of experience developing synthetic spider silk proteins; this experience is unique in the bio-inspired materials industry and directly allowed USU to successfully reproduce synthetic hagfish slime proteins in lab scale quantities. Given the complexity of the materials and the level of program knowledge required for non-lethal vessel stopping, USU is the only source possessing the requisite expertise, internal technical data, equipment, and experienced personnel necessary to successfully provide the engineering, production, and quality of service to accomplish all tasking.
The Navy has previously contracted material research and development support from the Utah State University under contract FA8075-14-D-0014. This contract is for the continued research and development support of USU to further refine and produce spider silk and hagfish slime filaments and yarn using transgenic silk worms as well as bacterial production and goat’s milk expression of spider silk and hagfish slime proteins. For another contractor to develop the necessary knowledge, expertise and inherent technical data to perform this service at an acceptable material performance level would take several (4-5) years at a minimum.
This notice of intent to negotiate a sole-source action is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a response, which will be considered. All responses should be directed to maximillian.a.moore.civ@us.navy.mil and must be received within fifteen (15) days from the publication date of this synopsis or by COB 4:00 P.M. CDT 15 June 2022. NAICS 325220. Small Business Size Standard is 1,000 employees. PSC AC34.
N61331-SN-Q24 Department of the Navy Naval Sea Systems Command
5/31/22, 3:56 PM