JA_3D Printers_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

Control Number:JA-23-Ten-

128 Program/Equipment: MakerGear 3D

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Justification Review Document For Sole Source - FAR Part 13.501

Program/Equipment: DEVCOM CBC G-6 Pure Storage Expansion Requirement

Authority: 41 United States Code 1901 as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items

Amount: to include one (1) base year and one (1) option period.

Prepared by:

Typed Name: Julia Walls Phone:

Title: Supervisory Management Analyst Date:12/21/2022 E-mail:

Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: Rex M. Valdez Phone:

Date Reviewed: 12/21/2022 E-Mail: rex.m.valdez2.civ@army.mil

Technical Representative:

Typed Name: Bradley Ruprecht Phone:

Title: Lead Additive Manufacturing Tech Date Reviewed: 12/08/2022 Email:

Requirements Representative:

Typed Name: Bradley Ruprecht Phone:

Title: Lead Additive Manufacturing Tech Date Reviewed: 12/08/2022 Email:

128 Program/Equipment: MakerGear 3D

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

(Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Reviews

I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Legal Counsel

Typed Nam DSN:

Signature: Date:

128 Program/Equipment: MakerGear 3D

Sole Source Justification and Approval Under FAR 13.501

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground Tenant Contracting Division (ACC-APG TD), Building 6001, 6565 Surveillance Loop, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005-1846

2. Description of Action: Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Chemical Biological Center (CBC) requests a new firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract with MakerGear LLC, Cage Code (7LSR4), 23632 Mercantile Rd. Ste. L, Beachwood, OH 44122 for 100 each MakerGear Ultra One 3D printers with Army specifications to be delivered and utilized in the field completely unattached to any network. The 3D printers are custom machines for the Army and the system it is being used in.

These are for the Product Manager (PdM) Sets, Kits, Outfits and Tools (SKOT) Metal Work Mobile Shop Set (MWMSS) the Army program of record for expeditionary additive manufacturing (3D printing). This program is fielding an Additive Manufacturing kit complete with a 3d Printer to make on demand parts in the field. The total duration of this proposed contract, including all option periods, is not expected to exceed two (2) years. All work to include customization of the application will be procured on a FFP basis. It is anticipated this effort will be awarded in second quarter fiscal year 2023 using Operations and Maintenance Funds (OMA) from the appropriate fiscal year corresponding to the period of performance listed in section 3 below.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: ACC-APG TD in support of CBC G-6, intends to purchase up to 100 each brand name MakerGear Ultra One3D Printer as follows:

75 each MakerGear UltraOne FDM Additive Machines (3D Printers) with custom MWMSS doors and mounted lifting straps in the base year and one (1) option to procure an additional 25 MakerGear Ultra One FDM Additive Machines (3D Printers) with custom MWMSS doors and mounted lifting straps. The government and PdM SKOT MWMSS require a 3D printer that is capable of printing specific parts in the field remotely on a moment’s notice.

The total estimated value above was based on the IGCE which was developed independently by government personnel within PdM SKOT. The total estimated value for this acquisition is estimated at , inclusive of one base year and one option to buy in the following breakdown:

Base Year:

Option to Buy Year One:

4. Authority Cited: 41 United States Code 1901 as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: This requirement is for the acquisition of additional printers to CCDC-CBC’s already existing MakerGear brand 3D printers. MakerGear brand 3D printer is the only brand that can fulfill this requirement. The use of the same brand of what is already in place is essential for the Government because this is

128 Program/Equipment: MakerGear 3D a continuation of a program already in development. The program has all documentation, training, and required testing complete to address previously purchased kits. The MWMSS is the program for the Army to address at the point of need manufacture of replacement parts as far forward in the field as possible. To do this the MWMSS is equipped with a machine shop Computerized Numerical Control (cnc) mill, cnc lathe, plasma cutting table, computing power via two laptops, CAD software, CAM software, a 3d printer capable of making polymer parts. The MWMSS had a Limited User Experiment (LUE) testing the feasibility of adding a polymer 3d printer to the MWMSS set of tools. This testing event proved that additive manufacture of polymer replacement parts in the field was warranted and feasible. In January of 2020 the DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center hosted a User Jury to select the machine that would be deployed with the MWMSS in quantiles to be determined.

Any deviation from the MakerGear Ultra One 3D machines already in the field would require the program manager, PM SKOT, to support two different Additive Manufacturing Kits, resulting in a significant duplication in effort. In addition, any new system would be required to repeat and pass all testing protocols which have already been successfully completed by the MakerGear Ultra One 3D machine. This would result in a significant duplication of costs to the government as well as program schedule delays. The Government would experience delays of approximately 12-18 months, as CBC would need to conduct another user jury. Estimated costs to support this additional effort would be in the realm of $3k to $4k more per unit, based on market equivalents, totaling an additional $300k in additional machine costs. Additional costs associated with requisite drop testing and environmental testing of the unit, are estimated to cost an additional $100k to $200k. Finally, award to another vendor would result in an additional estimated $70k in duplicative costs to support re-training personnel to utilize a new machine and the labor necessary to replicate all the associated program documentation and system drawings.

Failure to acquire these printers will result in a back log of MWMSS systems not being fielded as scheduled. These printers are required to complete systems being fielded in April of FY23, in support of the Army’s need for more Additive Manufacturing Kits to fulfill obligations as part of the MWMSS program of record for expeditionary additive manufacturing. This specified machine must be ordered to keep continuity between previous Additive Manufacturing Kit orders and this order.

In conclusion, the MakerGear Ultra One 3D printer with custom MWMSS doors and mounted lifting straps is the only solution capable of performing the functions needed to meet this requirement and is only available through the sole proprietor, MakerGear LLC.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market Research was conducted in an effort to identify other potential sources for this requirement, to include internet searches and review of applicable market information. The Contracting Officer will publish the notices required by FAR 5.201 and any bids or proposals received shall be considered. Based on the information provided outlined in Sections 5 (Reason for Authority Cited) and Section 8 (Market Research), effective competition for this effort is not expected, as the only known equipment available to effectively satisfy the government’s is only available through the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), MakerGear, LLC. As required by FAR 5.301 the notices will also be posted as required. A notice of intent to sole source will be posted through the webpage at www.sam.gov.

128 Program/Equipment: MakerGear 3D

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The supply items (MakerGear Ultra One 3D printers) are critical to support DEVCOM CBC G-6 mission be part of an additive manufacturing kit that will be inserted in the fielded MWMSS system. Although the Government is limited in this case to the MakerGear Ultra One 3D printer, DEVCOM CBC G-6 will continue to conduct market research and make every effort to use compatible supplies that will not limit to brand name only, but instead compete these requirements to the maximum extent possible, and within current policy and requirements. Future efforts to remove barriers to competition will include contacting various industry partners, manufacturers, distributors, etc. Ensuring the widest dissemination of opportunity among these entities will maximize the possibility of achieving competition and cost savings for the Government.

The previous award, W91ZLK-22-P-0062, was awarded sole source to MakerGear LLC on 14 SEP 2022. Justification JA-22-TEN-159 was approved on 19 JUL 2022 under the exception to limit competition for certain commercial items, as stated within FAR 13.501. Within Para.7 of JA-22-TEN-159, it was stated that the Government would pursue the possibility of procuring this system through resellers of MakerGear products in an attempt to remove barriers to competition on future requirements. As detailed within, para. 8 below, the Government attempted to identify potential resellers and distributors of MakerGear products. MakerGear LLC was also contacted in an attempt to identify any additional sources of supply. Research efforts identified no new sources, and MakerGear cited, in a letter received on 21 DEC 2022, that they are the only available source of supply.

8. Market Research: A Supervisor for Program Analyst Acquisition at DEVCOM CBC G- 6 conducted Market Research in September 2022 - December 2022. As the requirement cannot deviate from the specified items, market research has centered on the identification of alternate sources other than MakerGear and their network of factory authorized distributors. This has included Google searches for alternate vendors, none found. Market surveys to obtain information from potential sources by creating a CHESS Request for Information (RFI) (#422139), which posted on 9/1/2022 and closed on 9/12/2022 at 13:38. This returned 12 responses out of 17 vendors. All responses were no bid.

In addition, a Supervisor for Program Analyst Acquisition at DEVCOM CBC G-6 reviewed results of recent market research on similar or identical requirements by reviewed previous contract delivery order numbers W91ZLK22P0062 and W91ZLK20P0109, with both indicating awards to be made to MakerGear.

Additionally, Contract Specialist has reached out to the manufacturer, MakerGear and requested for a sole source letter. MakerGear responded and provided a sole source letter on 21 December 2022.

Based on the market research findings by the contracting office and the needs of the requiring activity it is recommended to be in the best interest of the Government to issue a sole source request for quote to MakerGear LLC.

9. Interested Sources: To date, no other sources have written to express an interest.