FOIL Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source_FE redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLICITING FROM A SINGLE SOURCE FAR 13.106(1)(b)

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity:

Program Office:

Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety Research & Development (HRDS)

Contracting Activity:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

IT ACE

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved

Justification and approval to use other than full and open competition to award a contract to Diversified Technical Systems, Inc. (DTS) for a data acquisition system used for recording crash test data of tests undertaken at the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory

(FOIL).

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value)

Crash testing requires thorough documentations of the impact event using sensor data and visual images to provide a complete understanding of the physics of two bodies colliding.

Documentation has evolved to include a host of digital sensor devices and digital imaging equipment that allows test data to be readily captured, stored and analyzed on computers.

The FOIL equipment has been upgraded over the years to include a host of digital sensors and cameras. In 2018 the FOIL procured the last 4 of its 8 cameras, to allow high-speed digital recording. Now it has become necessary for the FOIL to upgrade its data acquisition system that records the rest of the data in order to successfully complete tests according to the procedures spelled out in the Manual for Accessing Roadside Hardware

(MASH).

Complete upgrade for the data acquisition system purchase will include:

- 3x SLICE PRO LAB SIM (18ch); automotive bandwidth, 350 ohm bridge

- 2x SLICE PRO Baseplate Kit for Ethernet Controller + 2 SIMs

- 1x SLICE PRO Ethernet Controller

The total estimated amount of this anticipated contract is , to be expended over a 90 day period of performance.

4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition

The authority to enter into a contract for this effort without full and open competition is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Soliciting from a single source.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited

In order for the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL) to accurately capture the impact events during a crash test, the data acquisition system has to be synchronized to all of the instrumentation collecting data. This synchronization is performed through proprietary hardware and software created by Diversified Technical Systems, Inc. This enables the FOIL to utilize existing specialized equipment which includes countless number of accelerometers, angular rate sensors, linear potentiometers, and load cells.

This equipment cannot be used with any other hardware or software. If the equipment is not purchased through DTS, then the system would have to be replaced which would require a substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized

The notice and justification will be posted on SAM.gov.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable

The FHWA will ensure that all costs associated with the proposed contract are fair and reasonable. The FHWA will perform a thorough analysis of the Offeror’s proposal to substantiate this determination.

8. Description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted

Market research was not performed due to the uniqueness of the proprietary system and equipment that the FOIL utilizes. No other source can provide equipment that can be used within this system.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition

There are no other facts provided to support this justification.