DnF for OTFOC - TruckSim REDACTED(22Q0156).docx

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: Maintenance and Technical Support for Two (2) TruckSim network licenses, Maintenance and Technical Support for One (1) SuspensionSim network license, Maintenance and Technical Support for TruckSim Custom Math Model – five (5) independent axles (all steerable), and Maintenance and Technical Support of TruckSim Custom Math Model – five (5) solid axles (all steerable)

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

Mechanical Simulation Corporation 755 Phoenix Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2222

CAGE: 1KDD6

Unique Entity ID: CVPUZH1TM4S6 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 Proprietary: A patent, copyright, or proprietary data limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows:

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) [REDACTED] requires maintenance and technical support for two (2) TruckSim network licenses, one (1) SuspensionSim network license, one (1) TruckSim Custom Math Model (five (5) independent axle model, all steerable), and one (1) TruckSim Custom Math Model (five (5) solid axle model, all steerable). DEVCOM [REDACTED] has an established user base [REDACTED] to procure this vehicle dynamics and simulation software package. Additionally, through over a decade of use, the DEVCOM [REDACTED] has an extensive [REDACTED] that have leveraged TruckSim / SuspensionSim to support numerous ground vehicle studies. Mechanical Simulation Corporation is the sole provider of maintenance / software support for their proprietary code. No other software products deliver the necessary capabilities needed to support the current efforts on-going in the branch. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) created the custom steerable independent axle software for the Army in order to [REDACTED]. The software is the industry standard for vehicle dynamic-response modeling in the commercial automotive industry and extensive research was done over the past decade by mobility analysts to leverage this software as part of the Army’s analytical capabilities. Failure to procure maintenance and technical support for the Mechanical Simulation Corporation licenses will result in the [REDACTED] being unable to perform vehicle dynamics analyses for all of the systems within its existing library. An estimate of [REDACTED] would be lost in order to recreate the modeling capability using another software package and would cost the DEVCOM [REDACTED] in labor alone, not including the cost of competitive standard software or the customized proprietary code to allow the Army to model five independent steerable axles.

Market Research was conducted by [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] conducted research by utilizing various marketing research techniques such as contacting knowledgeable people and subject matter experts who are familiar with this product category as well as executing internet searches for parameter-based vehicle dynamics software tools. The DEVCOM [REDACTED] submitted a request to CHESS and was provided a waiver indicating that Mechanical Simulation Corporation is the sole source provider of software maintenance support. Therefore, Mechanical Simulation Corporation is the only software vendor capable of supporting the existing user base. DEVCOM [REDACTED] will continue to conduct extensive market research to explore and understand the capabilities offered by other vehicle dynamics software vendors for subsequent software acquisitions.

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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