DnF for OTFOC (Redacted).doc

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: The Army Research Laboratory requires the purchase of candidate ceramic armor materials for evaluation and analysis in accordance with the attached salient characteristics.

Delivery Date: Six (6) months after contract award date.

Delivery must be made to:

U.S. Army Research Laboratory

Shipping and Receiving

6375 Johnson Road, Bldg. 321

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

Marcus Materials, Co (United States representative for Schunk Ingenierukeramik GmbH (Germany)) 9 Renee Ct.

Newark, Delaware 19711-2759 CAGE Code: 414U6

DUNS: 825003916

Small Business

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

___ Unusual and Compelling Urgency

___ Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert Services

___ International Agreement

___ Authorized or Required by Statute

___ National Security

___ Public Interest

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.

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

___ Proprietary: A patent, copyright, or proprietary data limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows:

___ Experimental Continuity: The item(s) must be consistent with prior materials in order to ensure experimental continuity. Describe the conditions that necessitate the use of experimental continuity:

___ Warranty: Purchasing item(s) from another manufacturer/provider would void existing warranty. Provide a brief explanation for the use of this reason and the impact that would occur if the item was purchased from another manufacturer/provider:

___ Direct Replacement: These are “direct replacement” parts/components for existing equipment and no substitutes exist.

_X__ Other reasoning to support a sole-source buy:

This order is funded by [REDACTED] who requested that we evaluate ceramic materials from Schunk. Marcus Materials, Co., a U.S. representative for Schunk Ingenierukeramik GmbH, is the only company that makes the ceramic armor materials using an Additive Manufacturing (AM) process where the material is being used in armor systems. The Schunk Group has extensive expertise in the fabrication of reaction bonded silicon (SiC) and boron carbide (B4C) ceramics for armor applications as well as extensive experience in AM of these ceramics. They currently manufacture and sale monolithic B4C and SiC plates as well as polygonal plates of these same ceramics for mosaic-like structure vest insert plates for protection against multiple armor-piercing projectiles. Additionally, Schunk has extensive expertise in AM and has developed 3D printed versions of their SiC and B4C ceramics as well as a SiC/B4C blended composition with properties and performance similar to their monolithic counterparts. The development of these 3D printed ceramics opens avenues for the fabrication of ceramics for conformal armor applications. We will independently determine if Schunk has a new manufacturing process that can produce ceramic materials that meet other requirements needed in both individual solider and vehicle armor systems. Hence these materials and the associated 3D fabrication processes need to be evaluated. Failure to evaluate these materials will impact the Government in the form of lost research time. The characterization and evaluation of these ceramic materials are aligned with Army’s Soldier Lethality Modernization Priority and relevant to the development of conformal armor.

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.

Template last updated 4/23/2018