J_and_A__W56HZV-15-C-0225_REDACTION.pdf

CMO Control Number: 2016-044

Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: The Army Contracting Command (ACC-WRN)-Warren will be the contracting activity for this action.

2. Description of Action: Approval is being requested for a modification to the current Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract W56HZV-15-C-0225 with Seemann Composites. The modification will (1) extend the period of performance from 18 months to 45 months;

and (2) add two additional options to support additional increments of development and testing of the evolving Composite Joint Assault Bridge (CJAB) design which is part of the base contract scope of work. The estimated cost to fully exercise both these proposed new options is $14.7M. RDT&E funds will be used for this effort.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The base contract, when awarded, included two options, of which one already has been exercised. The base contract requires the contractor to pursue continued refinement and optimization of the existing CJAB design which the current contractor created during performance of a previous contract. The proposed two new options to be added both involve additional work scope that furthers the continued development and evaluation of the current CJAB design. The two proposed new options are as follows.

The first new option to be added (which will represent Option 3 on the contract) involves static and fatigue validation of the CJAB, and has a maximum performance period of 15 months. The CJAB design will be updated based on the results of testing completed as part of Option 2 performance, assuming Option 2 is exercised. In the event Option 3 is then exercised, two Version B treadways will then be fabricated and sent to the Government for Government structural testing. The contractor will then fabricate one Version C treadway, implementing design changes and lessons learned based on the results of the Government structural testing of the Version B treadways. The contractor will then perform fatigue testing on the Version C treadway. An assessment of the risks associated with interfaces between CJAB and the Joint Assault Bridge launcher, a CJAB design update, and a Level III drawing and specification package for the final, version of the Treadway will be completed and delivered to the Government.

The second new option to be added (which will represent Option 4 on the contract) provides for additional testing of a revised prototype CJAB, and has a maximum performance period of 12 months. In the event Option 4 is exercised, the contractor will fabricate two Version D CJAB treadways and two CJAB lift beams and ship them to the Government for testing. Upon completion of testing, the Government will provide test results back to the contractor for evaluation, after which a final CJAB Assembly and Joint Assault Bridge Vehicle Integration Report and CJAB Manufacturing Specification will be developed and delivered to the Government.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition for this action is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) and (B), “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

(a) Contract N62583-08-D-0007 was awarded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), with Seemann Composites serving as a subcontractor, to develop an initial CJAB design as a potential replacement for the Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge for the Joint Assault Bridge program. A follow-on contract was then awarded directly to Seemann Composites by ONR (contract N62583- 11-C-0502) in 2010.

(b) Upon completion of the 2010 contract, the Navy’s direct pursuit of CJAB then ended, and responsibility for CJAB development transitioned to the Army. Seemann Composites was awarded the existing contract, contract W56HZV-15-C-0225, by the Army in September 2015 to continue development of CJAB.

(c) During the over eight years Seemann Composites has worked on the CJAB, Seemann Composites has developed the bridge’s structural design, developed a list of materials for use in fabricating an initial prototype bridge, performed calculations and finite-element analysis to assess the viability of the initial design and potential modifications to the design, and performed testing to characterize potential materials and adhesives for use on the bridge and further evaluate the design of components of the bridge, specifically the center hinge joint. Seemann Composites has also performed testing to assess manufacturability using its proposed fiber and resin configuration, as well as developed a plan for the manufacturing of a complete CJAB.

(d) All prior and current development and engineering of the CJAB have been performed exclusively by Seemann Composites. Neither the Government nor any contractor other than Seemann Composites has personnel knowledgeable of the CJAB design or of the work performed to produce the current design. Government personnel and any other contractor performing the work would require at least two years with Seemann Composites to discuss the bridge design and review and assimilate all of the design decisions made, or from two to three years to analyze the current design to increase their knowledge of it to a level comparable to that possessed by Seemann Composites before development of the bridge could continue as contemplated by the additional two options for CJAB development efforts described herein. After this, it could take an additional five to six years to fully develop the bridge, to include testing of the bridge and its components to assess such aspects as structural strength and durability, refinement and further development of the bridge structure based on test results, and development, testing, and refinement of interfaces to ensure compatibility between the bridge and the Joint Assault Bridge launcher. The related costs to increase familiarity with the current design decisions and rationale would approximate the cost of the nearly $3.9M already incurred by the Navy and Army in pursuing the original three R&D projects with Seemann Composites. This $3.9M cost consists of design and development costs to ensure familiarity with the current design and design changes required based on previous testing are implemented, costs to perform additional testing of current component designs, and costs associated with material development and manufacturability trials. This would result in additional substantial duplication of cost to the Government, as well as an unacceptable delay in the continued development of the CJAB, which in turn would adversely affect its potential for being transitioned to Product Manager (PdM) Bridging. Therefore, contracting the continued CJAB development to Seemann Composites is the only efficient method to ensure successful and timely transition of the CJAB to PdM Bridging upon completion.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

a. Effective Competition: The specialized services described in the proposed two new options required for development of CJAB, to include the services described in paragraph 3 above, are realistically and economically available only from Seemann Composites as described in paragraph 5 above.

b. Subcontracting Competition: To ensure sufficient competition in subcontracting from the prime contractor, standard subcontracting clauses are included as part of the contract and would apply to exercise of any and all of the two additional options being proposed herein. Seemann Composites will be required to submit an amended subcontracting plan prior to exercise of these options.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government does not currently own a technical data package (TDP) for the bridge as its design has not been finalized beyond the initial prototype phase. However, technical data resulting from the additional testing and design work to be performed per the proposed contract modification will belong to the Government, which, if appropriate in view of the results of testing and design work, will be utilized in the creation of future Government performance specifications to support competitive procurement of composite bridges. Upon completion of the effort, the Government will also own a TDP for a fully developed CJAB, which will enhance the ability of the Government to competitively procure the bridge.

8. Market Research: A Market investigation in the form of a Request for Information (RFI), supporting the award of the base contract W56HZV-15-C-0255, was released on 2 September 2015 and was open for response until 9 September 2015. No responses were submitted to the RFI from other interested and qualified sources. Additionally, US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) Bridging and PdM Bridging are constantly monitoring the military bridging market. Each group performs informal internet searches to gain an understanding of what is currently available, as well as participates in forums such as TARDEC Industry Days to hold informal discussions with interested vendors on their capabilities and products.

TARDEC Bridging and PdM Bridging also participate in meetings with current and potential military bridging vendors to gain a better understanding of their current product lines, as well as obtain information on up and coming products they are currently developing. While many military bridging vendors exist, none of them are actively developing a composite bridge which meets the requirements for CJAB or have the familiarity with the current CJAB design to successfully support development of the bridge without incurring an unacceptable delay and duplication of cost. Based on the results of the RFI and additional market research, no other interested vendors exist to fulfill the requirements stated in paragraph 3.

9. Interested Sources: To date, no other sources have written to express either interest in or capability for the required developmental and testing services for CJAB.

As stated in paragraph 8 above, an RFI was issued in support of the planned base contract, and also the base contract action W56HZV-15-C-0255 was synopsized. Both the RFI and the solicitation were posted to FedBizOps for interested sources to review and potentially respond. No other sources responded.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history.

CJAB:

(1) N62583‐08‐D‐0007. Contract was awarded by ONR in 2008 to SCRA, with Seemann Composites serving as the engineering/design subcontractor. SCRA itself performed none of the design work for the CJAB. The contract ended in 2010.

(2) N62583-11-C-0502. Contract was awarded in October 2010 for continued CJAB development, in response to solicitation N62583-10-R-0335. The awardee was Seemann Composites; the contract was awarded non-competitively to the subcontractor that developed the CJAB design in the previous contract. Award was made pursuant to an approved J&A citing the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) and (B). Contract was modified a total of 11 times. The latest modification, Modification P00011, was awarded in September 2013. The contract ended in September 2014.

(3) W56HZV-15-C-0225. Contract was awarded to Seemann Composites in September 2015 for continued CJAB development and test support for durability testing of the Advanced Modular Composite Bridge. This is the current contract, the one proposed to be modified as described herein. The current contract was awarded non-competitively pursuant to an approved J&A citing the authority at FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) and (B).

The current contract is scheduled to end in March 2017.

The initial contract for CJAB was competitively awarded, but the existing prototype CJAB design was created by Seemann Composites, and no other known sources have any familiarity with the design.

11. Technical Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Mr. Magid Athnasios Title: Executive Director, Systems Integration & Engineering

Signature: _//Signed// Magid Athnasios__________________________

Date: ___16 November 2015_________________________________

12. Requirements Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Mr. Magid Athnasios Title: Executive Director, Systems Integration & Engineering Signature: _//Signed// Magid Athnasios__________________________

Date: ___16 November 2015_________________________________

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable, based on an evaluation using primarily cost analysis, supplemented where possible by price analysis. The Government plans to require the offeror to submit certified cost or pricing data in support of its proposal; none of the exceptions in FAR 15.403 are expected to apply. Evaluation of the submitted data, followed by negotiations if appropriate, will form the basis for a determination of fair and reasonable cost.

Typed Name: Mr. John Hopfner Title: Contracting Officer

Signature: _//signed// JH____________________________

Date: __27 Jan 2016_______________________________

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Mr. John Hopfner Title: Contracting Officer

Signature: _//signed// JH____________________________

Date: __27 Jan 2016_______________________________

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, and as Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting pursuant to Army Materiel Command (AMC) Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) Delegation of Authority (DOA) #15-19, I hereby approve the modification to contract W56HZV-15-C-0225, to add two options for continued development of the Composite Joint Assault Bridge (CJAB) design with an estimated value of $14,670,807, on an Other Than Full and Open Competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) and (B), “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements”. This approval is subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Date: _18 Apr 2016 Signature: ___________________________

KRISTAN A. MENDOZA

Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting