J and A 21C-191A-RF_Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

March 2018 Page 2 of 5

I. Contracting Activity.

The contracting agency proposing this Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition is the Department of the Air Force, AFLCMC/WNMK, Contracting, 813 Irving-Wick Dr W, Horton Bldg., Heath, OH 43056-6116.

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

AFMETCAL seeks to award a follow-on contract to contract # FA2263-12-M-0019 for research and development efforts to upgrade and increase the capabilities of the Type-N Microcalorimeter system used by the Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory. Our strategy is to award a FFP Contract.

Estimates for services/products to be purchased are as followed utilizing 3600 RTD&E funds:

Year Est. Service Costs Est Materials Cost Total Description

FY21 Base FY22 Option 1 Total

Market Research results concluded that there is not a reasonable expectation that two or more responsible offerers competing independently would submit priced offers in response to the solicitation expressed requirement. Therefore, the government will pursue a sole source acquisition utilizing Federal Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 – 10 USC 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The primary objective of this effort is to expand the RF Power capability at the Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory (AFPSL). This will give the Air Force the capability to perform lower frequency calibrations of N- Type (Coaxial Line) Primary Standards at National Metrology Institute (NMI) uncertainty levels. In support of this effort, AFMETCAL has a requirement of a contractor that can provide research and development services to upgrade the AFPSL's N-Type Calorimeter System.

Tasks to complete this effort will include: Develop, install and test a new thermal line into the N-Type calorimeter for a Low Frequency Extension down to 9 kHz. Remap N-Type Calorimeter at +10 dBm from 9 kHz to 18 GHz using AFMETCAL standardized frequency list. Supply the high power RF generator with an output signal capable of >= +20 dBm from 9 kHz to 18 GHz with 0.01 dB leveling (or DC coupled AM). Provide system documentation and test reports. Provide an on-site demonstration and training at the AFPSL. Provide a basic procedure for comparison to DC/LO standards including recommend standards. Provide a measurement comparison of RF/MW power vs DC/LO thermal transfer standards (voltage and impedance) for both contractor and AFPSL measurements from 9 kHz to 50 MHz with report. Provide an efficiency calculation for the line in a test and media compatible with software. Update current software as needed to ensure proper operation of the upgraded system.

The target uncertainties for the new thermal line at frequencies of 9 kHz to 18 GHz should be similar with current NPL (best effort) uncertainties, except at 9kHz which should be approximately 0.3% efficiency with k=2.

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

March 2018 Page 3 of 5

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 6.302-1 – 10 USC 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

This is a follow-on contract to the highly specialized Type-N Microcalorimeter system which NPL built for AFMETCAL. NPL is a world leader in Microcalorimeter and is fully capable to build the follow-on Type-N Microcalorimeter Low Frequency Extension. Because NPL custom designed and built the Type-N Microcalorimeter system and software, they have intimate knowledge, experience, and proprietary information of the system and software. Another vendor would likely have to rebuild the existing Microcalorimeter in order to add the extension, since they are not intimate with its design. Therefore, this acquisition will be a follow-on contract for the continued development of highly specialized equipment.

Award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of costs to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition, in excess of the cost of the original Type-N Microcalorimeter system.

Accordingly, NPL is the only firm capable of providing the supplies and services described in Section III above without the U.S. Air Force experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

In an effort to save the cost of NIST Overhead, AFMETCAL sought out a contract for a Type-N Microcalorimeter system in 2012, which was awarded to NPL. After thorough testing it was discovered that the uncertainties below 50 MHz could be better. The Type-N Microcalorimeter Low Frequency Extension is a modification to the original one-of-a-kind system, with application specific software.

All efforts taken to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible are outlined in the Market Research Report performed for the Type-N Microcalorimeter Low Frequency Extension. The survey of the market place confirms that no other vendor has the capability to meet the requirements for the Type-N Microcalorimeter Low Frequency Extension. A Sources Sought Synopsis was utilized to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible.

A Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) was conducted during this effort on 01 July 2020. The Sources Sought Synopsis did not provide any interested vendors.

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

A cost analysis will be performed to determine if the proposed amount is fair and reasonable. Price analysis will be used to verify the overall price offered is fair and reasonable.