FA8751-14-Q-0258_J A_Redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity.

a. Requiring Activity: AFRL/RISC, 525 Brooks Rd, Rome NY 13441, Daniel S. Brown,

b. Contracting Activity: AFRL/RIKO, 26 Electronic Pkwy, Rome NY

13441

c. Purchase Request #: F4HBL141007A001

2. Nature and/or Description of Action.

a. Description of Requirement: Robotics equipment for research

b. Sole source company: RoadNarrows LLC, www.roadnarrows.com 1-

800-275-9568, POC: Lori Kuykendall, lori@roadnarrows.com

3. Description of Supplies or Service.

Kilobot Robot-10 pack (quantity 10) estimated value = . These

100 small quarter-sized robots capable of neighbor-to-neighbor communication will be used for in-house research to study and validate swarm intelligence algorithms.

Kilobot Controller (quantity 1) estimated value = . This controller allows all the robots to be programmed simultaneously.

Kilobot Charger (quantity 2) estimated value = . These two chargers will be used to recharge the batteries of up to 20 robots simultaneously.

V-REP PRO software (quantity 1) estimated value = . This software will provide a necessary Kilobot simulation environment to test and validate algorithms and research before implementation on the actual robots.

Total value + shipping and handling ( ) =

4. Statutory Authority. 10 USC 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR

6.302-1 (a)(2). Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement.

5. Justification or Authority for Action.

This specific equipment is necessary to perform in-house research on using swarm robotics for search and reconnaissance. Other robots such as the , and were considered; however, no other robot platform and equipment met the size and neighbor-to-neighbor communication requirements. The laboratory in which the robots will be used has limited space. The Kilobot is the size of a quarter and can run on the available laboratory table space. All other available swarm robots are at least 4-times the size of the Kilobot and thus require more space than is available. The research goals require a swarm of robots that have strict neighbor-to-neighbor communication, can be programmed simultaneously, and can be recharged easily. Only the Kilobot platform meets all these requirements.

RoadNarrows, LLC is the only known distributor of the Kilobot equipment which is produced by K-Team a Swiss company.

Impact statement: This robotic equipment is necessary for the successful completion of an AFRL/RI approved and funded venture research project. The research cannot be completed without robot equipment and software meeting the required specifications that only the Kilobot was found to meet.

6. Efforts Made to Ensure Offers are Solicited from as many Sources as

Practicable.

A Notice of Proposed Contract Action was synopsized as a Pre-solicitation Notice on the Federal Business Opportunities website

(www.FBO.gov) between 4 June 2014 and 18 June 2014. No responses to this notice were received to indicate that a company other than

RoadNarrows, LLC could fulfill the requirement.

7. The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

The proposed price from RoadNarrows, LLC is determined fair and reasonable in accordance with (IAW) FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(i)Market

Research. Each Kilobot costs approximately $132, while similar robots such as costs between $220 and

$1400 per robot, and do not meet the government’s requirements.

8. Market Research/Other facts.

The following products were evaluated to see if they could meet the government’s requirement:

The robot did not meet the size requirement.

The did not meet the size requirement.

The did not meet the size nor neighbor-to-neighbor communication requirement.

9. Any other facts supporting Other than Full and Open Competition.

None

10. List of Sources that have Expressed in Writing an Interest in the

Procurement.

RoadNarrows,LLC

11. Statement of Actions to Remove/Overcome Barriers to Competition.

Market surveys on swarm robotics will continue to be performed to identify opportunities to maximize competition for any future requirements.

12. Contracting Officer’s Certification. The contracting officer’s signature below evidences that he/she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

13. Technical / Requirements Personnel Certification. As evidenced by their signature below, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

DANIEL S. BROWN

PROGRAM MANAGER

APPROVED / DISAPPROVED

BRYANT R. SOULE

CONTRACTING OFFICER