DARPA-JA-25-01.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SUBJECT: Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition for the Acquisition Contract for the DARPA Liberty Lifter Wing over Wave Test

PART 1 - JUSTIFICATION

1. Agency and Contracting Activity Identification: This justification and approval for other than full and open competition is executed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and contracted through the DARPA Contracts Management Office

(CMO).

2. Description of Action: The DARPA Liberty Lifter Wing over Wave test will evaluate a large-scale aerodynamic model of a canonical wing planform in ground effect over waves. This task supports the DARPA Liberty Lifter program. The Liberty Lifter program aims to design, build, float, and fly an affordable, innovative seaplane to operate efficiently in ground effect (< 100 feet above sea surface), sustain flight altitudes up to 10,000 feet [above] mean sea level (MSL), and enable efficient theater-range transport of large payloads at speeds far exceeding existing sea lift platforms. Liberty Lifter will use low-cost marine manufacturing to build a highly innovative seaplane operating with runway and port independence while being capable of meeting DoD heavy lift requirements (100+ tons).

The Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. SUSTAIN Laboratory (SUrge-STructure-Atmosphere Interaction) will perform this work.

3. Description of Supplies or Services:

SUSTAIN shall:

Provide the facility to conduct the experiments including the model mount and any required instrumentation and data collection systems beyond those supplied as GFE.

Provide aerodynamic and hydrodynamic, design, test engineering, and wind/wave generation support to plan and conduct the experiments. Calibrate wind and wave conditions to support testing based on approved metrics.

Execute the Method of Test (MOT) Test Matrix, and associated test speeds and conditions. Provide a Data Collection and Data Analysis Plan to include examples of relevant prior analysis and tests traceable to planned testing.

The estimated value of this work is.

The anticipated Period of Performance is September 24, 2024 through October 31, 2024.

4. Statutory Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is:

A. _X Only one responsible source 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(l).

B. __ Unusual and compelling urgency 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(2).

C. __ Industrial mobilization; engineering, development, or research capability; or expert services 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(3).

D. __ International agreement 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(4).

E. __ Authorized or required by statute 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(5).

F. __ National security 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(6).

G. __ Public interest 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(7).

5. Unique Qualification and Use of the Statutory Authority Cited:

The SUSTAIN laboratory is an ocean research facility that combines aspects of a wind tunnel and wave tank to enable basic and applied research on the impact of high winds and significant sea surface motion on a variety of structures. The facility is unique in its combination of physical dimensions of the test area (23m x 6m x 2m; 1m water depth), capability to generate wind speeds up to 62m/s (~120kt), and capability to generate and control significant wave action representative of high sea states in open ocean conditions.

SUSTAIN’s instrumentation and data recording capability meets the requirements for data collection in support of the Liberty Lifter Wing over Wave test. No other U.S.

academic research facility offers this combination of capabilities at the scale required to support Liberty Lifter model tests. Use of a large-scale test basin and carriage at Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock was evaluated and rejected due to significant carriage vibration that would have inhibited collection of aerodynamic force and moment data.

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

The Liberty Lifter program team evaluated multiple available government and academic wind/wave tank facilities for suitability to conduct the Wing over Wave test. All except SUSTAIN were deemed unsuitable due to size limitations, restrictions on wind/wave generation capability, and/or data quality concerns.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs:

The Government received a quote from the University of Miami and it is a price that they give to other Government agencies for similar tests.

8. Market Survey Conducted and Results or a Statement of Reasons Why Market Research was Not Conducted:

A sources sought was posted as a special notice to SAM.Gov as DARPA-SN-24-75. The sources sought was published on June 17, 2024 with a response date of July 7, 2024. Two sources provided capability statements (Cornerstone Research Group, Inc and Raytheon Technology Research Center) neither of the two were found to be feasible by the DARPA

PM.

A market survey was conducted in consultation with knowledgeable federal and academic experts from DARPA, Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, the Office of Naval Research, Stevens Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and University of Miami. The survey compared test facility capabilities with known Wing over Wave model test objectives, model dimensions, and data collection requirements.

9. Other Factors Supporting Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition:

This procurement will satisfy the Government requirement for the DARPA Liberty Lifter Wing over Wave test line of effort. There are currently no plans for DARPA to conduct subsequent R&D work for this line of effort.

10. Sources Who Expressed a Written Interest in the Acquisition:

Two organizations showed interest and while it was determined they could not meet this specific requirement, they will be documented on the market research for future efforts.

11. Actions to Remove or Overcome Barriers to Competition:

A request for information was transmitted through the Government Point of Entry (GPE) SAM.gov to expand the pool of known business entities. Currently, no other suitable facilities to support the Liberty Lifter Wing over Wave test exist.

12. Delivery requirements:

Deliverables include:

Use of the SUSTAIN facility for purposes of Liberty Lifter Wing over Wave test Engineering support to integrate the Liberty Lifter test article into the SUSTAIN facility Test planning and execution support Data collection, reduction, and analysis support Final report

13. Planned Contract Type:

Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order.

14. Anticipated Contract Dollar Amount:

Total anticipated contract dollar amount is

PART 2 - CERTIFICATIONS

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signed _____________________ Date__9/24/2024___________________ Austin Longacre Contracting Officer DARPA/CMO