JA 13.501-21-EN03_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

4555 OVERLOOK AVE SW

WASHINGTON, DC 20375-5320

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition Under Simplified Procedures For Certain Commercial Items In Accordance

With Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.5

PURCHASE REQUEST NO. 56960321 &

ERP NO. 1300891193

J&A NO: J&A13.501-21-EN03

Estimated Cost:

On the basis of the following, I, as the Competition Advocate, hereby approve the use of a sole source proposed contractual action pursuant to the authority of :

41 U.S.C. 1901 41 U.S.C. 1903

1. The U.S. Department of Navy; Naval Research Laboratory Contracting Division proposes to enter into a sole source contract with Teledyne Digital Imaging Inc also known as Teledyne Optech, under simplified procedures for certain commercial items included in FAR subpart 13.5.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved, i.e., sole source under procedures for certain commercial items in accordance with FAR 13.5.

This Sole Source Justification and Approval (J&A) authorizes and approves the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to execute a sole-source contract under procedures for certain commercial items in accordance with FAR Subpart

13.5 to Teledyne Digital Imaging Inc also known as Teledyne Optech is located at 300 Interchange Way, Vaughan, Ontario L4K 5Z8 Canada.

NRL Code 5600, Optical Sciences Division, has a requirement to procure a 3-band short-wave and visible airborne full waveform light, detection and ranging (LIDAR) System for day or night mapping of complex environments. The delivery is required as soon as possible (six months or less).

NRL has a long-term history of procuring commercial specialized equipment to support Code 5600, Optical Science Division. The Optical Sciences Division carries out a variety of research, development, and application-oriented activities in the generation, propagation, detection, and use of radiation in the wavelength region between near-ultraviolet and far-infrared wavelengths. In addition, Code 5600 studies quantum optics, laser physics, optical waveguide, and last but not least fiber-optic sensor systems. The procurement for a LiDAR System will equip Code 5600 to remotely sense and/or capture information about natural and manmade environments with accuracy, precision and flexibility to record things we can use to estimate conditions and describe the environments. In conclusion, the LiDAR System enables high-quality data in complex environments for discriminating surveyors.

The contract type for this commercial item will utilize a Firm Fixed Price at the estimated dollar value of

3. A description of the supplies and/or services required, including the delivery schedule and/or the period of performance (inclusive of all option periods), and the estimated dollar value of the acquisition.

This procurement for a LiDAR System requires the following: a 3-band multispectral imagery sensors with a camera and controller, waveform recorders, mount kit, and a ruggedized sensor transport case to support the customer’s requirements.

Code 5600 requires specialize 3-band multispectral LiDAR System for their diverse applications including but not limited to bathymetry imaging through foliage and having visible infrared and short-waved infrared provides spectra of interest for target identification. Furthermore, the required altitudes listed in the specifications are appropriate

pg. 2 for upcoming field-testing. The LiDAR System is required for its high quality aerial imagery, mapping, and surveying with an ultra-high resolution aerial and equip with an airborne sensors to increase the data quality.

The above requirements (programmable PRF, programmable kHz, programmable scan angle, programmable angle, and programmable swath width) will allow Code 5600 the flexibility to research instrument to adjust and tune parameters to specific scenarios and vary the operation of the device as needed. Part of their research entails different number of lidar points/areas and these adjustable parameters help to explore the whole spectrum of sensitivity, signal-to-noise, detectability that NRL will need to test against different targets in different applications.

The delivery is required as soon as possible (six months or less). Shipment date will be confirmed at the time of the order. The estimated dollar value of the acquisition is

4. The statutory authority permitting sole source.

This sole source acquisition will be conducted under simplified acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii).

41 U.S.C. 1901 41 U.S.C. 1903

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring use of the authority.

The NRL researchers from the Optical Sciences Division will be conducting airborne research for intelligence, surveillance and intelligence operations. NRL is relying on the unique spectral signatures of targets at the 532, 1064 and 1550 nm wavelengths to identify differences in targets and provide unique targeting information with access to both the spectral and 3D spatial information provided from a 3-band multispectral lidar system. In addition, the Teledyne LiDAR System is unique to its three active imaging channels of different wavelengths for day or night mapping of complex environments for full autonomous aircraft navigation that is high performing and highly reliable. The 1550 nm channel is unique for above-water targets. Materials such as foliage, asphalt and soil reflect or absorb different wavelengths of light in different ways — foliage strongly reflects near-infrared light but absorbs visible green light, whereas soil responds significantly differently to the same wavelengths. With three independent channels, one for each wavelength, operators can now compare the intensity variations of various surface targets to assist in materials differentiation.

Furthermore, the unique qualifications of simultaneous bathmetric and/or topographic mapping at 532nm, 1064 nm and 1550 nm with high-density point sampling and maximum range precision and accuracy is a requirement for the Optical Science Division. This system performs high-density topographic mapping as it is doing shallow water bathymetry, vegetation mapping and 3D land classification. This particular system decreases the number of flight missions necessary by up to 70% as compared to traditional flight missions due to the faster scan frequencies to allow surveyors to reduce their single expense, the amount of time spent in the air acquiring data.

This particular system is capable of capturing discrete and full-waveform data from all three channels with a combined ground sampling rate approaching 1 MHz. We require 3 lidar channels for our diverse applications including but not limited to bathymetry, imaging through foliage, etc; having the visible infrared and short-waved infrared provides spectra of interest for target identification. Passive imagery support is available via fully-embedded high-resolution metric mapping cameras, including multispectral, thermal, near-infrared light and red green blue options.

The lidar system is a commercial item that can be customarily used and procured by the general public. Extensive market research was conducted by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and the Contract Specialist from November 2020 to the present to determine industry can meet the similar or identical requirement. Of the seven vendors solicited during market research, only one met the identical requirement suitable for the Government. No other product can meet the Government’s specified need.

pg. 3

6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers/quotes are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized in the Government Point of Entry (GPE) (as required by FAR 5.2) and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

This requirement was synopsized on the Government Point of Entry via www.sam.gov on 4 Jan 2021 and on 21 Jun 2021. Overall, seven vendor responded with interest and provided their capability statements, however, only one vendor is technically capable of satisfying the Government’s requirement.

The LiDAR System key specification is required to have 3-band multispectral imagery with near-infrared light and red green blue options, in addition to having 532 nm, 1064 nm and 1550nm wavelength.

Teledyne Optech is the only vendor capable of satisfying the Government’s requirement.

7. The anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition, including options if applicable, and a determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated prices will be fair and reasonable based on a price analysis conducted in accordance with FAR 13.106-3 to include the COR independent Government estimated of which was based on a current market research for this specified system.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or the reason market research was not conducted.

In accordance with FAR Part 10, market research was conducted to analyze product information on the technical capabilities and prices/costs within the marketplace to satisfy the agency’s needs and the program’s mission.

Internet searches and telephone contact with interested/knowledgeable individuals inside and outside the Government were conducted.

The COR, , initiated the initial market research in November 2020. This requirement was synopsized on the Government Point of Entry via www.sam.gov.gov on 4 Jan 2021 and on 21 Jun 2021. Overall, seven vendor responded with interest and provided their capability statements, however, only one vendor is technically capable of satisfying the Government’s requirement. The COR and Contract Specialist compared the interested offerors specifications to the Government’s specified requirement; Only one vendor could meet the constraints and requirements requested. The other vendors could not meet the requirements specified due to not having the required light detection and ranging components that is required for field-testing. Based upon market research for this commercial supply, this requirement will be solicited sole source under FAR 13.5 to Teledyne Optech.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of sole source.

The specific capability is critical to meet our mission needs because it allow us the capability collect true multispectral lidar data at long range in an airborne scenario. Alternative systems can offer passive multispectral data with a one or two band lidar system, but the combined outputs from those systems do not provide the same intelligence and surveillance information that a 3-band lidar system can acquire.

NRL will continue to keep abreast of light detection and ranging products on the market. If an alternative becomes available that is technically feasible and more reasonable for the laboratory, NRL will request their capability statement. Procuring this particular LiDAR System is a new requirement and the COR anticipates procuring more after initial field-testing. The Government will continue conducting additional market research and for future requirements anticipates solicitation full and open competition.

pg. 4

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

No other sources have expressed in writing an interest in the acquisition, except for the sources listed in paragraph

6. Alternative sources had an opportunity to show interest in this acquisition when the synopsis was publicized on beta.SAM.gov for 15 days which received several responses, but only one vendor is technically capable of satisfying the Government’s requirement. Only Teledyne Optech can satisfying the Government’s requirement based upon the specifications.

11. A statement of any actions the agency will take to remove or overcome any future barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

NRL will continue to keep abreast of light detection and ranging products on the market. If an alternative becomes available that is technically feasible and more reasonable for the laboratory, NRL will request their capability statement for additional market research.