Sole_Source_Letter_Synopsis.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity.

a. Requiring Activity:

b. Contracting Activity: AFRL/RIKO, 26 Electronic Pkwy, Rome NY 13441

c. Purchase Request #: F4HBL19108A001

2. Nature and/or Description of Action.

a. Description of Requirement: Terahertz (THz) communications laboratory equipment purchase request.

This requirement estimated at

b. Sole source company: Virginia Diodes, Inc. (VID) 979 Second Street SE, Ste. 309 Charlottesville, VA 22902 POC: Jae Park, (434) 297- 3257 x 140

3. Description of Supplies or Service. This is a request for purchase of the following items from Virginia Diodes, Inc. (VDI):

WR2.8MixAMC-I-M12 - Integrated Mixer/Amplifier/Multiplier Chain (260-400GHz) (1 ea. at This product consists of a Schottky-diode-based THz signal source and mixer capable of up-converting a 21.6-33.3 GHz local oscillator signal to 260-400 GHz range.

WR2.8MixAMC-I-N-M12 - Integrated Mixer/Amplifier/Multiplier Chain (260-400GHz) This product consists of a Schottky-diode-based THz signal source and mixer capable of down-converting a terahertz signal in 260-400 GHz range to IF (intermediate frequency).

Three WM-710(WR2.8)DH - Diagonal Horn Antenna 10 GHz Custom Zero Bias Detector ) WM-710(WR2.8)SAX - Spectrum Analyzer Extension Module (260-400GHz) (1 ea. at 32,500). This product consists of a Schottky-diode-based THz signal source and mixer capable of down-converting a terahertz signal in 260-400 GHz range to appropriate intermediate frequency range of a spectrum analyzer.

WR6.5SAX - Spectrum Analyzer Extension Module (110-170GHz). This product consists of a Schottky-diode-based THz signal source and mixer capable of down-converting a terahertz signal in 110-170 GHz range to appropriate intermediate frequency range of a spectrum analyzer.

WR6.5CH - Conical Horn Antenna (

The only company that can provide these products is Virginia Diodes, Inc.. The requirement is estimate

4. Statutory Authority. 10 USC 2304(c)(1) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement.

5. Justification or Authority for Action. This equipment is integral to the research and development activities for Terahertz (THz) communications and failure to procure the required equipment would impact this ongoing research. In order to develop and validate novel THz-band channel models, ultra-broadband modulation schemes and synchronization techniques for ultra-high-speed data transfers, AFRL/RITE requires a mixer/amplifier/multiplier chain that up-converts a local oscillator signal to terahertz band and mixes it with the Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal and a mixer/amplifier/multiplier chain that down-converts terahertz signals to IF band. These VDI devices form a crucial component of the terahertz laboratory which will also run experiments with deliverables from the VAULT (Viability Assessment of Ultra-broadband Long-range THz communications) program such as Indium Phosphide (InP) High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT)-based amplifiers, graphene-based plasmonic THz signal sources, detectors and antennas and antenna arrays.

Currently, Virginia Diodes, Inc. is the only known commercial entity that designs and produces millimeter wave and Terahertz devices, components and systems and there are no other known commercial products available on the market that operate at terahertz frequencies. This company is behind the few existing testbeds in the world at millimeter wave and terahertz devices. If the VDI devices are not obtained, it would hinder the ongoing cutting-edge research and development activities in terahertz band communication systems as well as the validity of the results will be diluted without a thorough study through laboratory experiments.

6. Efforts Made to Ensure Offers are Solicited from as many Sources as Practicable. A Notice of Proposed Contract Action was posted to FedBizOpps (FBO) between the dates of 30 MAY 2019 and 14 JUN 2019, and no responses were received to give any indication that a company other than VDI can fulfill this requirement.

7. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination by the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Cost will be determined fair and reasonable by comparison of proposed prices with those prices found fair and reasonable on previous purchases of the same or similar items in the same industry IAW FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii) and Current Price Lists IAW FAR13.106-3(a)(2)(iii).

8. Market Research/Other facts. The Government researched the available articles and utilized internet searches and found that the only commercial source that can provide the required equipment is VID. Also, Aalto University’s research identified that the VDI devices are the only ones commercially available. In the past year, the PM has toured the state-of-the-art laboratories conducting terahertz communications research at University of California Santa Barbara and University at Buffalo and both laboratories utilize VDI devices for their mixer, amplifier, and multiplier chain. Both universities procured VDI devices as sole source procurements. Concluding that VID is the only manufacturer that can fulfill the necessary required equipment to meet the needs of AFRL/RI.

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. Virginia Diodes, Inc.

11. Statement of Actions to Remove/Overcome Barriers to Competition. AFRL/RITE will continue to research the performance and capabilities of similar products against each of our future requirements to avoid omitting other qualified sources. The market will be monitored for future availability of additional providers.

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 the 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.

Date:

Program Manager

Local Small Business Office: See DD Form 2579 for local Small Business Office approval.

APPROVED

Date:

Contracting Officer

01-Jul-19