A03_-_Redacted_DNF_Redacted.pdf

Template last updated 3/2/2015

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS $150,000 AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT:

Quantity of one (1) Qubitekk QES1 Research Grade Lab Starter Kit

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

Qubitekk, Inc.

1400 Norris Road Bakersfield, California, 93308-2232

DUNS: 078787325

CAGE Code: 6VJF2 Ph: (858) 750-9353 www.qubitekk.com Small Disadvantaged Business Concern

3. ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE:

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL

AND OPEN COMPETITION: 41 USC 1901(e), implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE:

The High-Performance Computing Networking Branch (RDRL-CIH-N) of The Army Research Laboratory’s (ARL) Computational and Information Sciences (CISD) requires one (1) Research Grade Quantum Entanglement Kit in order to conduct research for the development of network architectures and protocols required to build Quantum Sensor Networks. The kit will be used in building an entanglement system at ARL’s Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) which will produce the experimental data needed for CISD and Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate’s (SEDD) collaborative Quantum Sensor Networks project. The project aims to study quantum entanglements in order to develop a classical control channel to carry metadata between the quantum nodes, the propagation dynamics of entanglements in optical media and in free space, and also generate data necessary to define unified quantum network architectures and protocols and to validate them. In order to meet research requirements, the kit must consist of instruments that collectively work as a unit to produce entanglement phenomena engagement needed for quantum key distribution (QKD) propagation, encode developed entanglement into network attributes through a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) interface and also send quantum control bits along with the entanglement information for network transportation. Qubitekk’s QES1 Research Grade Lab Starter Kit is the only all-in-one laboratory kit for demonstrating and experimenting with quantum optics and quantum entanglement phenomena. While there are several commercial vendors that supply the individual components, only Qubitekk, Inc. manufactures a turn-key kit that meets the Government’s minimum requirements.

Although it is technically feasible to procure each individual component, constructing and troubleshooting a workable system will likely cost more than the price of the proposed procurement.

As ARL researchers lack the expertise in selecting the correct components to create a seamless system, the components comprising the final system would ultimately be selected through an arduous process of trial and error. Even then, there is no guarantee that the assembled end-product will be reliable enough to provide consistent and repeatable results required for experimentation. In addition, researchers would be vulnerable to technical difficulties due to an inability to troubleshoot such a complex system. A purpose-built, well-tested, and properly-tuned kit would mitigate the risk of such difficulties arising and also provide consistent and accurate results. Moreover, a turnkey kit instrument maximizes productivity by allowing ARL researchers to concentrate on applying the tool to address research questions as opposed to optimizing the lab for the proposed research. Assembling the tool using individually-sourced components would likely result in delays of several months, causing RDRL- CIH-N to miss project deadlines with no foreseen benefit in performance or cost-savings to the Government. Based on the market research performed (as detailed in section 6), Quibtek is the only source that can mee the Government’s minimum requirements.

6. MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED/EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

Market research and evaluation was conducted on 1 June 2015 by , Ph.D., a Government Contractor at RDRL-CIH-N with more than 18 years of research and development experience in wired, wireless, satellite communications and various network architectures. Avenues of research included internet research, discussions with Subject Matter Experts (SME) and journal peer reviews. Dr. searched the following internet sites: www.thoralabs.com, www.boselec.com, www.coherent.com, www.photonics.com, www.quibetekk.com, www.nucrypt.net, and www.idquantique.com. In addition, Dr. consulted with Dr. , a staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, regarding the planning and building of the entanglement system at ARL’s Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). Dr. has extensive experience in using entanglement systems to conduct quantum science research and is collaborator for the Quantum Sensor Networks Project. The following journals were also peer reviewed: Journal of Quantum Information Science, Vol 5 (2015), SPIE Journal, August (2014), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Communications Society (COMSOC) Magazine 51 (2013), Optical Engineering, 53 (2014). Market research identified two (2) vendors, Nucrypt and Idquantique, that can supply basic entanglement systems, but are functionally insufficient to meet the Government’s minimum research requirement. The aforementioned kits were assembled to support the single function of QKD propagation and do not have the additional required components such as the FPGA interface and telecom wave-length support to encode quantum metadata attributes used in building quantum network protocols and architectures which the Government requires. Market research also came up with many vendors who can supply individual components that can be used to build the system. However, per the reasons mentioned in section 5, this option is risky and time consuming.

After extensive market research, it was determined that Qubitekk, Inc. is the only vendor that can meet the Government’s minimum requirements.

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE DETERMINATION:

It has been determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable and that approval of this recommendation is in the best interest of the government. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

8/21/2015

X Contracting Officer (KO) Signed by: