COSMIC SBIR III Justification and Approval_Redacted.pdf

FEDSIM is a Client Support Center housed within GSA, FAS, AAS Page 1 Version 03/23/2020

General Services Administration (GSA) Assisted Acquisition Service (AAS)

Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM)

Justification and Approval Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

Solicitation 47QFCA20R0001 Interagency Agreement Number 47QFCA20S0003

The General Services Administration (GSA) makes this Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition orders pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302.

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity:

Agency:

General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) Acting in support of: Department of Defense (DoD)

Contracting Activity:

GSA FEDSIM Contracting Office (QF0B) 1800 F Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20405

2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved:

GSA FEDSIM intends to award a sole source Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III contract to Cosmic Advanced Engineering Solutions (AES) (DUNS: 088420091) on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD). The estimated period of performance is a one 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. The total estimated contract value is for $340,000,000.

This SBIR Phase III effort is a follow on to Cosmic AES SBIR Phase I (DUNS:

088420091) and Cosmic AES Phase II (DUNS: 088420091) contracts issued under the SBIR research and development (R&D) topic numbers AF171-069 and AF192-001 both from Air Force Space Command/Space and Missile Systems Center (AFSPC/SMC).

Under this SBIR Phase III effort the contractor will be tasked with advancing work that was completed under SBIR Phase I and Phase II efforts:

Task Order Number

Issuing / Contracting Office

Period of Performance

Contract Vehicle Used / SBIR

Topic Number

Dollar Value

FA9453-17-P-0444 AFRL/RVKVB July 25, 2017 - SBIR Phase I $149,808.00

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April 24, 2018 AF171-069

FA9453-18-C-0268 AFRL/RVKVB

August 27 2018

- August 26, SBIR Phase II

AF171-069

$749,897.00

FA8649-19-P-A261 AFRL/RVKVB

August 2, 2019 - November 8, SBIR Phase I

AF192-001

$48,961.00

The proposed SBIR III contract will permit clients to procure Phase III solutions stemming from two different SBIR Phase I Cosmic AES technologies:

1) From DoD SBIR Solicitation 2019.2 topic number AF192-001, Cosmic AES will continue to advance efforts on their SBIR Phase I for the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) that facilitates Software (SW) reuse across differing Hardware (HW) systems regardless of platform or configuration. The technology in this space is relatively mature and utilizes Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and Radio Frequency (RF) as enabling technologies there is an ability to move from SBIR Phase I to Phase III. At the SBIR Phase III level, RF will be used to transmit and receive applications for data processing, display, data analysis and communications/transport in support of DoD RF applications.

2) From DoD SBIR Solicitation 2017.1 topic number AF171-069, Cosmic AES will build on efforts developed under SBIR Phases I and Phase II to further develop the Open and Extensible Voxel Fusion Engine (OpenVFE) in support of missions. This involves data fusion and three dimensional visualization that fuses information from ground and space based sensors to provide Space Domain Awareness (SDA) enhance and rapid decision-making in support of military actions and the protection/defense of U.S. and allied forces.

3. A Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet Agency’s Need:

The Department of Defense has a requirement to further develop Open and Extensible Voxel Fusion Engine (OpenVFE) for satellite tracking and a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for deploying quick response systems to support their missions through a SBIR Phase III award to Cosmic Advanced Engineering Solutions (AES). Cosmic AES was awarded three SBIR Phase I and II contracts (as seen in the table above), for which they began the development of the OpenVFE and HAL. Under this new SBIR III contract, the contractor will provide engineering services that allow for the further development and testing of the Open VFE and the HAL. Additional work will include the prototype, fabrication, testing, and fielding of the HAL. The DoD’s requirement will be fulfilled by the following services:

● Program Management: The contract will require supporting management and oversight of all activities performed by contractor personnel, including subcontractors to satisfy Government requirements. As new projects are identified, the contractor will identify resources, provide estimates for the level of effort, maintain project plans, schedule kick-off meetings, and maintain resource loaded schedules. The contractor will identify a Project Manager to provide management, direction, administration, quality assurance, and leadership in the execution of the program.

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● Engineering: This contract will require engineering services to design, develop, and fabricate the prototype, determine the appropriate technology and utilize Agile SW development for the multi-platform HW abstraction.

● Integration, Installation, Test, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation of engineering efforts.

● Maintenance and Sustainment: The contractor will perform limited maintenance of developed sprints for SW code and developed platforms through the Agile process.

● System Training: The contract will require training Government personnel (operators) on the various aspects of the developed, tested, and approved versions of the developed items.

● Cyber Security and Risk Management Framework (RMF): The contract will require the necessary resources to integrate cybersecurity/RMF and processes throughout the systems engineering, fabrication, test, and operational phases. This task will also require the creation and maintenance of security artifacts to support Authority to Operation and RMF. This may include Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), System Security Plans, and HW/SW lists.

● Fielding and Logistics: The contract will require limited material procurement to support fabrication of the prototypes and logistics support for fielding prototypes and shipping of supplies to test locations.

The total estimated CPFF contract value is for $340,000,000 and is based on the clients’ projected need over the next five years, historical labor hour estimates, and current rates of required labor categories. Cosmic AES has an approved accounting system. Each year, the contracting team will reevaluate the contract to determine if it can be converted to firm fixed price. The SBIR Phase I and II were awarded as firm fixed price because the scope of work was much smaller and less complex than the SBIR Phase III scope.

4. An Identification of the Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition:

The authority under which this J&A is made is pursuant to FAR 6.302-5 (41 U.S.C.

3303(b)), that the project is a SBIR Phase III award that is derived from, extends, or completes efforts made under prior SBIR funding agreements and is authorized under 15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4).

In accordance with the SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive dated May 2, 2019, the competition for SBIR Phase I and SBIR Phase II awards satisfies any competition requirement of the Armed Services Procurement Act, the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, and the Competition in Contracting Act. Furthermore, 15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4) states:

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“To the greatest extent practicable, Federal agencies and Federal prime contractors shall issue SBIR Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology.”

5. A Demonstration that the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited:

The nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited. The SBIR Program is structured in three phases.

PHASE I: The objective of Phase I is to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the proposed Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) efforts and to determine the quality of performance of the small business awardee organization prior to providing further Federal support in Phase II.

PHASE II: The objective of Phase II is to continue the R/R&D efforts initiated in Phase I.

Funding is based on the results achieved in Phase I and the scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the project proposed in Phase II. Only Phase I awardees are eligible for a Phase II award.

PHASE III: The objective of Phase III, where appropriate, is for the SBIR awardee to pursue commercialization objectives resulting from the Phase I/II R/R&D activities. The SBIR program does not fund Phase III. For some federal agencies, Phase III may involve follow-on non-SBIR funded R&D or production contracts for products, processes, or services intended for use by the U.S. Government. The Phase III work derives from, extends, or completes efforts performed under Phase I and/or Phase II, therefore the use of the authority cited is required.

Under the SBIR Program, Cosmic AES was awarded competitive SBIR Phase I and Phase II contracts for technologies related to routing of autonomous vehicles, service oriented architectures, sensors, warning capabilities, data distribution and synchronization, and cloud-based capabilities. The SBIR Phase I and II contracts received positive results and demonstrated that Cosmic AES is uniquely qualified as the Phase III awardee; thus this intended SBIR Phase III action is a follow-on to the initial research to continue testing the various technologies in operational settings for multiple DOD entities.

6. A Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited From as Many Potential Sources as Practicable:

No other efforts were made to solicit other potential sources in accordance with the SBIR Policy Directive. Furthermore, in accordance with FAR. 5.202(a)7, proposed contract actions resulting from the acceptance of a proposal under the Small Business Development Act of 1982 are exempt from being publicized.

7. A Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

The Contracting Officer will conduct price and cost analysis in accordance with FAR Subparts 15.404-1 (Proposal Analysis Techniques) and 15.405 (Price Negotiation) to

FEDSIM is a Client Support Center housed within GSA, FAS, AAS Page 5 ensure that the final price is fair and reasonable and the award is in the best interest of the Government. A cost realism analysis will also be performed to ensure that cost elements are realistic for the work to be performed; reflect a clear understanding of the requirements; and are consistent with the unique methods of performance and materials described in the offeror’s technical proposal. This analysis will consist of ensuring that the proposed labor rates are fair and reasonable, and that the labor mix and level of effort has been determined appropriate by the TEB. This determination will be documented in the Award Decision Document, which will be included in the contract file. This aforementioned analysis will also be applied on a post award basis to ensure that any proposed work is fair and reasonable, and realistic. Price analysis for COTS products purchased over the course of the contract will be conducted in accordance with Task Order requirements and regulations contained in FAR 52.244-2 approved purchasing procedures.

8. A Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results or a Statement of the Reason Market Research was not Conducted:

FAR 10.001(a)(2) states that market research appropriate to the circumstances must be conducted. SBIR Phase III procurements are such that the traditional market research to determine alternative sources is generally not applicable. The Government conducted market research to verify and determine that the proposed Phase III work derives from research, effort, and/or prototypes performed under Phase I and II efforts by obtaining copies of the Phase I and II contracts FA9453-17-P-0444, FA9453-18-C-0268 and FA8649-19-P-A261. Additionally, the Government queried the SBIR website and contractor registry to validate Cosmic’s previous SBIR awards. In discussion with the contractor, Cosmic AES is willing and available to perform the work on this Phase III contract. The Contracting Officer has determined from review of the aforementioned solicitation, contracts, and research report that the requirement requested in SBIR Phase III derives from Phase I and II research. The contracting officer has reviewed CPARS and has determined Cosmic AES capable and satisfactory to perform the work on this Phase III contract.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition:

All other supporting factors have been described above.

10. A Listing of the Sources, if any, That Expressed, In Writing, An Interest in the Acquisition:

To date, the Contracting Officer has not received any statements of interest regarding the proposed Sole Source effort, with the exception of the proposed awardee. This is a continuation of an existing SBIR announcement for which Cosmic AES was originally selected.

11. A Statement of the Actions, if Any , The Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers to Competition Before Any Subsequent Acquisition for the Supplies or Services Required:

The Government is not taking any additional action to remove or overcome barriers to competition. Any subsequent acquisitions for similar products will be required to follow

FEDSIM is a Client Support Center housed within GSA, FAS, AAS Page 6 the guidelines outlined in the SBA SBIR Program Directive as it relates to procuring items for commercialization of technologies and capabilities that are derived from, extend, or logically conclude efforts from prior SBIR awards. The goal of the SBIR program is commercialization for the small business through advancement and wide adoption/acceptance of the developed technology and a growth of the industrial base.

Additionally, the SBIR program hopes to increase competition in the future through motivating mainstream suppliers to compete or match the SBIR performance.

12. Technical Personnel Certification:

I certify that the supporting technical data within my responsibility, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Corinna Mendoza Date Project Manager, FEDSIM Innovation Group

13. Contracting Officer Certification that the Justification is Accurate and Complete to the Best of the Contracting Officer’s Knowledge and Belief:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I determine on the basis of the findings above that an other than full and open competition approach is in accordance with the requirements and is in the best interest of the Government.

John Terrell Date Contracting Officer FEDSIM Acquisition, Innovation Group

14. Final Approval:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I determine on the basis of the findings above that an other than full and open competition approach is in accordance with the requirements and is in the best interest of the Government.

___________ _______ 3/30/2020

Digitally signed by JOHN

TERRELL

Date: 2020.03.30 13:32:13 -04'00'

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Christopher Hamm, SES Date HCA designee

3/31/20203/31/2020

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Christopher Bennethum Date Head Contracting Activity

4/1/2020

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I have reviewed this contract action and I have determined to the best of my knowledge and belief, based on the information contained herein, that it complies with all applicable policies and regulations.

Mark Lee Date QV Assistant Commissioner (Concurrence)

4/8/2020

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Jeff Koses Date Senior Procurement Executive

JEFFREY

KOSES

Digitally signed by

JEFFREY KOSES

Date: 2020.04.17 08:44:06 -04'00'