I.16. Sole Source Justification - Low Cost UUV Mine Sweeping - Redacted.pdf

v1.6_FEBRUARY2021

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

Low Cost UUV Mine Sweeper PR No. 1300978911

PID: N66604-22-SIMACQ-NPT-45-0140

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

The Undersea Warfare Platforms and Payload Integration Department (Code 45) of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT), is responsible for the development of Navy Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV). This responsibility includes all life cycle phases including; conducting basic research and development in topics of interest for UUV research and development; operating UUV testbed vehicles; planning and participating in exercises, experiments and demonstrations; conducting interface and liaison with fleet stakeholders regarding issues of UUV system design, development, and employment.

Cooperative and coordinated multi-unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) operations have enormous potential to introduce novel capabilities for the Navy, including enhanced battlespace awareness and environment intelligence gathering, mine warfare, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare countermeasures.

Code 45 has a requirement for research in the area of swarming. This includes evaluation of methods for localization, navigation and communications for coordinated multi-UUV swarming operations.

The contractor shall design an experimental acoustic navigation subsystem, build, assemble and test the components to be housed in the payload section and on the exterior nose of the Mk39 EMATT UUV. The contractor shall:

Design and fabricate the acoustic navigation subsystem to integrate on NUWC Mk39 EMATT UUVs.

Calibrate algorithms for investigating various UUV swarming behaviors.

Perform initial tank testing of the acoustic navigation subsystem equipped with WHOI acoustics to evaluate and measure performance and establish utility for advanced multi- UUV swarm capabilities.

Support integration of the acoustic navigation subsystem into the MK39 EMATT.

Scope of this tasking is through the initial integration of the acoustic receiver on a single Government advanced UUV. The Government anticipates future requirements will take multiple UUVs through advanced integration and fully functioning swarming activities.

Period of Performance: Award – Five (5) months after award. All work must be complete, invoiced, and dispersed within Fiscal Year 2022 per 219 requirements.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

No one else in the Academia, Defense, Oceanographic or underwater design development and research field has invested as much time and effort or has achieved as much success as WHOI in underwater swarming. To compete or repeat WHOI’s efforts would take years of research and development and cost a significant amount of money. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (“WHOI”) has proven success with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) swarming techniques over years of research. Their research into low cost swarming, or relative navigation, is not tied to one specific make of AUV. It is relevant to all AUVs in the family of systems and can be used on any AUV.

WHOI is uniquely qualified and is the only source capable of performing the services described herein. Swarming AUVs is a complex task using algorithms, computers, electronics, precision clocks and underwater acoustics. Research engineers need a sophisticated understanding and specific experience in autonomous control of multiple underwater vehicles at the same time to be able to develop AUVs that swarm. Use of any other source would cause unacceptable delays and would be financially prohibitive given the specialized research expertise required.

WHOI has completed extensive independent research in underwater swarming through the MIT/WHOI Joint Program and other projects. With more than twenty published papers and patented concepts, WHOI is the only qualified source for Low-Cost Swarming for AUVs.

Integration of the various acoustic elements requires WHOI proprietary data and patented concepts. Stand up of an alternative source is not economically feasible given the investment that would be required to obtain the same level of engineering expertise or to attempt to recreate WHOI’s research. NAVSEA and NUWC regularly host industry days, such as ANTX, where companies are invited to share their newest technology and capabilities, and there is no evidence that any other company is qualified in this area.

Requiring Department:

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a Sole Source basis. I certify the technical data which form the basis of this justification are complete and accurate.

Date

1/20/2021

APPROVAL:

Contracting Officer:

Based on the above, I have determined that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date

01/20/2022