A.01.JA-21-08-00393 Wave Radio_Redacted.pdf

Control No: JA-21-08-00393

Version – February 2017

Memorandum for Record – Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

1. Contracting Activity:

The Contracting Activity responsible for this action is the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, MD, acting on behalf of the U.S. Army Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC).

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement

Contract Vehicle: Purchase Order Number __0011601766 __

Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Number _______________ Order/BPA# _______ against FSS Contract #_____ _________ Order #___________ against Multiple Award IDIQ Contract Name or

Order #_______ against a single award IDC Contract Modification # _______ to existing PO/TO/DO/Call Order

Pricing/Contract Type: Fixed Price Time & Materials/Labor Hours Cost Reimbursable Hybrid

Funds: Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA) Other Funds: DHP RT&E

FY: 21

Name of Proposed Contractor(s) and Address:

Persistent Systems, LLC 601 West 26th Street, Suite 905 New York NY 10001

Brand Name Buy: Yes No

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

This is a Brand Name only requirement, in support of the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), Medical Modeling Simulation, Informatics and Visualization (MMSIV) Lab. This procurement is for a Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Wave Relay MPU5 for an advanced, scalable, efficient Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) radio that will provide an evaluation and integration location for medical equipment and systems used to improve health care provided to deployed medical units. The MMSIV Lab allows clinical and technical specialists to resolve integration problems prior to deployment in an environment similar to that in which they will actually be used. This facility will provide a simulated tactical network located at Fort Detrick, a convenient, local site to display, demonstrate and trial new and emerging medical devices, especially those items intended to be used in the deployed environment

It is critical that the system purchased will operate fully compliant with TATRC’s 4 existing Persistent System MPU5 radios. Accessories are also being purchased with this order that are intended for use with TATRC’s current Persistent System MPU5 radios.

It is critical that the system purchased will operate fully compliant on the TATRC OP-TMed Lab Network and that is fully compatible with all TATRC’s existing Network Equipment. In addition to the following features the system must be accredited to operate on DOD Army IT networks such as the WIN-T backbone.

Minimum Essential Characteristics (MECs):

- The radio shall create a secure network.

- The radio shall Bridge multiple data sources in real time.

- The Radio shall support data, video, voice, and include an integrated Android computer system.

- The radio shall include an internal Android computer system that supports the installation of 3rd party applications.

- The Radio shall support plug in sensors directly into the radio to process and distribute data without additional hardware.

- The Radio shall be capable of connecting to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

- The Radio shall be capable of running ATAK situational awareness suite with the ability to watch video, and monitor sensors from the radio.

- The Radio shall have a minimum of 1GHz Quad Core ARM Processor with 2GB of RAM, and 128GB of flash storage.

-The radio shall provide Wave Relay – Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET). The Wave Relay MANET provides mobile user and is the core of the radio. The radio, Wave Relay MANET, provides a distributed and decentralized group of fully mobile users to communicate continuously and efficiently without the need for fixed infrastructure or MAC-level timing.

-The radio shall provide Wave Relay network communications with each other, forming a true peer-to-peer mobile network with no master node or base station.

- The radio shall be capable of freely adding and subtracting radios from the network without losing connectivity or reconfiguring your devices. The Wave Relay MANET routes data from radio to radio enabling the network to grow, adapt, and extend as more radios are added.

- The radio shall have up to 6W of power.

- The Radio shall be built on 3x3 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology.

- The radio shall implement MIMO diversity technology including Spatial Multiplexing and Maximal Ratio Combining allowing the radios to operate in cities, tunnels, and buildings.

- The radio shall support Intelligent Radio over IP (RoIP) Tether feature that allows the radio to communicate across separate radio networks / systems seamlessly.

- The radio shall have interchangeable frequency modules to the multi-functional side connectors.

-The radio shall withstand pressure at depths of 20m, dust and dirt, and sub-zero cold or desert heat.

-The radio shall meet or exceed MIL standards for shock, vibration, and electromagnetic interference.

- The radio shall have three low-profile, multi-functional I/O ports to connect other devices. Each connection must feature integrated short protection that allows for a safe transition between submerged and dry environments.

- The radio shall have a status indicator LED and 2-handed key-zero.

-The radio shall come with a 6.8 Amp Hour battery that will last for 12 hours.

-The battery shall be replaceable, and the radio must hold all configuration and crypto settings for up to 30 days without power.

- The radio shall also support non-mobile use cases, use a battery eliminator to plug your MPU5 directly into a standard wall outlet for continuous, uninterrupted power.

- The radio shall have mounting holes on the back of the case so you can easily mount the Smart Radio to vehicles, poles, aircrafts, people, cameras, tripods, towers, robots, walls, and racks.

- The radio shall use standard mil-spec batteries such the ones used for AN/PRC 148 and 152 radios.

- The radios shall operate in 100% compliance on the TATRC OP-TMed Lab Network and that is fully compatible with all TATRC’s existing Network Equipment. In addition to the following features the system must be accredited to operate on DOD Army IT networks such as the WIN-T backbone.

- Shall include a 1 year warranty

The complete parts list is provided below:

MPU5 & Twist Lock Battery – Part # WR-5100 – Qty. 8 High Power S Band RF Module – Part # RF-2150 – Qty. 8 GPS Antenna SMA-Male Stub – Part# ANT-4001 – Qty. 8 S-Band 2.1-2.5 Ghz Sleeve Dipole Spring Base Antenna – RP Male Connector –Part# ANT- 2003 – Qty. 24 Speaker Mic-U329 NATO Connector – Part#WR-ACC-088 – Qty. 12 Data Cable MPU5 22-Pin to Ethernet Receptacle 11.5 – Part# CBL-DATA-2001-Qty.8

Required Delivery Date: 30 September 2021 Total Value: $ _91,577.08

4. Authority:

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization.

Or

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) and 8.405-6(b)(1)Brand Name FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A) Urgency FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) Only One Source is Capable FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C) Logical Follow-on

Or

FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) Only One Awardee is Capable FAR 16.505(a)(4) Brand Name FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A) Urgency FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C) Logical Follow-on

FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(D) Minimum Guarantee

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

The Wave Relay MPU5 manufactured by Persistent Systems is the sole product in the marketplace, that was located by market research that meets the minimum essential characteristics (MECs) outlined in Section 3 of the subject document. The entirety of the design of the MPU5 aligns with the specifications deemed essential for the research aims of Virtual Hospital technology development and COVID-19 research in the NETCCN testing environment.

Required MEC: The radio shall provide Wave Relay® – Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) waveform. The Wave Relay® MANET provides mobile user and is the core of the radio. The radio, Wave Relay® MANET, provides a distributed and decentralized group of fully mobile users to communicate continuously and efficiently without the need for fixed infrastructure or MAC-level timing. Persistent Systems is the only radio manufacturer that produces radios with the Wave Relay waveform. These radios are currently being used across the Army. TATRC currently has four (4) MPU5 Radios.

It is critical that the system purchased will operate 100% compliant on the 4 existing Persistent System MPU5 radios. Accessories are also being purchased that are for use with TATRC’s current Persistent System MPU5 radios.

6. Publicizing Contract Actions: For FAR Part 13 actions, the public display and synopsis requirements of FAR 5.101 and FAR 5.203 do not apply due to the $ threshold, apply and will be followed, or do not apply due to an exception at 5.202

Requirement to post justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3), FAR 13.105(c), or FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)

Action is NOT a brand name restriction and is under $150K, no posting required Action is a brand name restriction, under $25K, no posting required Action is a brand name restriction, over $25K. It will be redacted and posted with the solicitation.

Action is a brand name restriction over $25K but will not be posted due to exception:

FAR 6.305(f) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(iii)(A)

FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(iii)(B) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(iii)(C)

FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii(C)

7. Market Research:

TATRC conducted extensive market research into the available options for the waveform relay radio. Only Persistent systems was found to be capable of meeting all of the Government’s needs. Research conducted online found only Persistent Systems Brand MPU5 radios with Persistent Systems, proprietary; Wave Relay waveform radio is capable of meeting all of the governments MEC.

From September 2020 to April 2021 TATRC participated in Cyber Quest 20 and 21 at Fort Gordon, GA with the Air Force Research Lab and the Cyber Center for Excellence (Gordon).

Through participation in these exercises it was determined TATRC needs to test and evaluate telemedicine applications such as BATDOK on the same radio systems fielded such as the MPU- 5 therefore the only brand available that can meet all of the requirements identified in the MEC for this requirement is Persistent Systems brand wave relay radios.

Moreover, market research determined that Persistent Systems has authorized small business resellers (Advance Diving Supply (ADS), and Federal Resources). As two small business resellers were located, proposals will be requested solely from authorized small business resellers.

8. Other Facts: TATRC previously purchased 4 Persistent System MPU5 radio systems and is purchasing additional accessories on the request that only Persistent Systems can provide.

9. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

10. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon the level of competition available. In the event that only one vendor responds to this requirement, it is expected that there will reasonable price comparisons with prior purchases of the same or similar items.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that completing this purchase as a sole source is in the best interest of the Government.

Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.