0208-06- Wind Tunnel Testing - Draft JA_emn (1)_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

DAHLGREN DIVISION

6149 WELSH ROAD SUITE 203

DAHLGREN VIRGINIA 22448-5130

IN REPLY REFER TO

J&A Number:0117 Code:026 Date: 3/24/2021

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Contracts Department

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

Award of a firm fixed priced contract on a sole source basis for the requiring activity is the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). The requiring office is the

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The wind tunnel services are required to measure data to improve and validate modeling and simulation tools to: 1) predict laser penetration times of materials in high speed airflow conditions, and 2) model force-moment changes on aerodynamic control fins undergoing laser irradiation in high speed airflow conditions.

The University of Mississippi’s (UM) National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA) will provide the appropriate representative airflow conditions in their Tri Sonic Wind Tunnel (TSWT) facility. They will also provide fixtures required to mount material samples and control fins in the wind tunnel test section, and instrumentation required to measure force-moment changes on the control fins due to laser damage. The information obtained from this testing is critical and will be used to characterize laser vulnerability of systems that operate in these airflow regimes. This vulnerability information is needed to support requirements development for future Navy Laser Weapon Systems. The requested services represent the minimum requirements of the government.

J&A Number:0117

NCH 53.6-2

The estimated total cost of the proposed contract action is This is broken down into the cost for Tasks 1-3 which is and the cost for Option 1 which is Tasks 1-3 will be a Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy (RDT&EN) appropriation.

The period of performance for the base Tasks 1-3 is six (6) months. Option 1, if exercised, will be an FY 2022 RDT&EN appropriation. The period of performance for Option 1 is fifteen

(15) months.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented in FAR Subpart 13.5.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

Full and open competition is not feasible for this effort.

The UM NCPA TSWT Facility is the only facility with the necessary equipment and expertise to provide wind tunnel test conditions that will be representative of relevant aerodynamic properties given an acceptable lead time that will also allow laser testing in their facility. NCPA has a “blow-down” TSWT facility that does not operate on a closed loop. It is essential that this testing occur in a blowdown facility so that slag and other debris from the laser-material interaction is not recirculated through the tunnel, leading to damage. Additionally, the NCPA TSWT facility has a unique capability in that air is supplied to the TWST from a high-volume centrifugal compressor system, which charges a total of 5800 ft3 of air storage to a maximum pressure of 600psi. Given typical tunnel runtimes of 15 to 30 seconds, the compressor system can support 4 to 10 test runs per hour.

This means that overall testing time is typically driven by model changes, not air supply charging. Test throughput is critical given the large number of material tests planned. Without use of this facility, this would result in additional costs estimated at to rent and possibly modify a facility to allow for the testing in certain Tri-Sonic Wind conditions, and decrease in technical fidelity and rigor. There is a Statement of Work available which is sufficient for this noncompetitive procurement recommendation.

J&A Number:0117

NCH 53.6-2

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable

Market research was conducted via internet, telephone conversations, and technical interchanges with site engineers at no fewer than five wind tunnel facilities which resulted in the determination that UM NCPA is the only entity capable of providing these services that also meets the available lead time for the testing, can handle the required sample throughput in a reasonable amount of time, and allows laser testing to occur in the facility. In addition to discussions with various existing wind tunnel facilities, the government also considered purchasing its own TSWT. However, the cost for this would be between and depending on test section size and would have a lead time of 14-24 months. Due to this testing being utilized to make future Navy buying decisions, failure to acquire this testing would result in schedule slippages, failure to meet sponsor deadlines, as well as potential future system failures.

No other entity possesses the experience, expertise, and facilities required to perform this testing within the expected timeframe and cost without additional expense to the government.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for the equipment covered by the J&A will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, Dahlgren Contract Department has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the type of materials and licensing covered by this document.

If another potential source emerges, Dahlgren Contract Department will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.