DnF for OTFOC EKSPLA Laser System (Redacted).doc

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: One (1) EKSPLA brand Picosecond Optical Source Pulse Laser System (Model Number: SL235-G) is required to support an existing High Pressure Laser-Driven Shock Wave System for the FY22 Laboratory University Collaboration Initiative (LUCI) Project.

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

EKSPLA USA, Inc.

201 South Wallace Avenue, Suite B-2C Bozeman, Montana 59715-4891 Cage Code: 8GSH7

DUNS: 117374412

Business Size: Small

3. ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE: [REDACTED]

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: The statutory authority permitting sole source is 41 USC 1901(e), implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i):

X Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE:

The item(s) listed in section one above is available from only one source and competition is precluded for reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.

X Compatibility: The item(s) must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Describe the equipment you have now and how the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system:

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD) Impact Physics Branch (FCDD-RLW-TC) requires the purchase of one (1) Picosecond Optical Source Pulse Laser System to be used in conjunction with the existing High Pressure Laser-Driven Shock Wave System: Tabletop Generation and Characterization test setup at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This laser will specifically support the Laboratory University Collaboration Initiative (LUCI) project objectives. The LUCI program, sponsored by the Basic Research Office, Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD R&E), is a pilot program designed to support DoD laboratory researchers in collaborations with DoD funded university researchers on basic research projects in areas of critical interest to DoD.

The acquisition of the Picosecond Optical Source Pulse Laser System manufactured by EKSPLA-USA, Inc. is critical to support the high priority research associated with the LUCI project due to its excellent contrast and high peak power specifications and power generation and footprint compatibility with the current shock wave system in use at MIT. Additionally, other laboratories within MIT are currently using identical pulse laser systems for their fundamental research studies and this is extremely useful for system and spare parts interchangeability within various MIT laboratories.

Failure to acquire this system from EKSPLA would detrimentally impact various projects with FCDD-RLW-TC and MIT because this laser is a novel system being built from scratch with a high degree of specificity to meet the research needs of the LUCI program. Failure to procure the system will result in duplication of effort, schedule delays, and will incur costs for the Government in excess of [REDACTED] due to the thousands of man-hours that have gone into the development of the specifications of this particular laser. As aforementioned, this particular pulse laser system was chosen and developed in order to work in tandem with the existing High Pressure Laser-Driven Shock Wave system test setup at MIT and if this system is not procured the existing wave system will be rendered useless and LUCI project objectives will not be achieved and the ARL mission cannot be supported. Therefore, it is the only system available in the open market that fulfills the Government’s minimum requirements.

[REDACTED], Mechanical Engineer in FCDD-RLW-TC who has over 25 years of experience in this field, conducted market research between 08 March 2021 and 23 November 2021. Market research techniques included searching Government required sources, GSA federal supply schedule, conducting internet searches, and consulting with other subject matter experts (SMEs). In particular, the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) consulted with [REDACTED] from MIT to determine the best system suitable for the needs of the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology at MIT. Three (3) other pulse laser manufacturers were considered for a pulse laser with pulse duration of 300 picoseconds (ps) or less with 100 mill joules (mJ) laser energy, and lasers from NKT Photonics, Amplitude Lasers, and Innolas Lasers were identified. However, NKT Photonics did not meet the stated pulse duration and energy, the system proposed by Amplitude Lasers was estimated to cost ~$800K (more than three (3) times the EKSPLA SL pulse laser system) while also not meeting the Government’s minimum requirements, and lastly, the Innolas Lasers did not meet the proposed pulse duration and energy requirements. Therefore, based on two (2) stringent criteria’s: compatibility with the existing High Pressure Laser-Driven Shock Wave system and components interchangeability with other MIT laboratories, it was determined that the EKSPLA SL picosecond pulse laser system is the only system capable of meeting the Government’s minimum requirements for the proposed research. Additionally, there are no authorized resellers of the Picosecond Optical Source EKSPLA SL pulse laser system, therefore a sole source procurement of this laser system from the manufacturer is recommended in order to fulfill the Government’s requirement of the critical and high-visibility LUCI project.

6. 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.

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