JA Sole Source FAR Part 13.5 - Redacted.pdf

Control No:

Contractor: Vision Research Inc

Supply/Service: Phantom High Speed Video Cameras

5. Authority Cited: Title 41 U.S.C.§1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

6. Reason for Authority Cited: As described at FAR 13.501(a), when the supplies or services required by the agency are available only from one responsible source, or for Department of Defense (DoD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other types of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.

Army Research Laboratory’s (ARLs) Flight Sciences Branch uses Vision Research’s Phantom cameras for all gun launched ballistic experimentation at Transonic and Aero ballistic Experimental Facilities. Currently five (5) Phantom cameras are owned and utilized between the two (2) ranges. The facilities have the infrastructure to support seamless integration of new phantom cameras without loss of time or cost to learn new camera systems and to become trained on new software and hardware. Over the years, over six (6) personnels have attended multiple trainings for these cameras at a cost to the Government. Two (2) personnels attended one (1) week training at Vision Research at a cost of in 2024. The two (2) primary operators have 13 and 14 years of experience respectively with these systems, both hardware and software, and have each been to over four (4) training courses estimated at around per training per person. The increased cost and lost experimental time would preclude this branch from switching to other high speed video vendors and being forced to do so would reduce mission effectiveness. ARL also partners with Aberdeen Test Center’s Technical Photo team to add extra camera coverage, and their team uses Vision Research phantoms which can seamlessly be added to the test setup.

Researchers at ARL’s Flight Science Branch (FSB) utilize data and measurement tools from the phantom cine view and phantom camera controller software to analyze current and historical visual data from live fire, including calibration, velocity and angular measurements. ARL FSB has previously purchased these cameras from a sole source contract effort in 2019 and more, along with peer organizations at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer published the notice required by FAR 5.201. As required by FAR 5.201, an Intent to Sole Source Synopsis was posted on SAM.gov on 14 July 2025 with a closing date of 23 July 2025. One small business vendor responded to the synopsis posting: Cordin Scientific Imaging (CAGE Code: 1E0Z3). Upon technical evaluation, this company does not meet the Government’s requirements as it effects experimental continuity. ARL currently have five(5) Vision Research cameras along with software and infrastructure to support them. Due to compatibility and experimental continuity – using Vision Research Phantom software will seamlessly integrate towards the existing cameras without requiring additional training and changing of analysis software. Additionally, Cordin Scientific Imaging is focused on framing cameras, which are much more niche oriented applications. Whereas the items requested require longer running times. Cordin takes fast shots, but in shorter durations (approximately 80 frames). Market research technical document describes efforts to obtain competition. Due to the nature of the requirements as a sole source action, only Vision Research is identified but efforts were made to track current state of live-fire experimentation and what camera systems were being used. Vision Research Amatek, Photron and IX Cameras were the identified primary systems that were found to operate near the frame rate and resolution required, and being prominently used in Government wise experimentation.

Supply/Service: Phantom High Speed Video Cameras

Government Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) were contacted and industry vendors for information, descriptions, and product data sheets describing capability.

Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable. Other companies have been contacted and market research performed, and no other company has been identified due to experimental continuity.

8. Actions to Increase Competition: Currently there are no other devices in the marketplace that can meet the experimental continuity requirement. The Government will continue to research other manufacturers for future efforts.

9. Market Research: , Team Lead, with 34 years’ experience in live-fire test and experimentation conducted market research in February 2025 through June 2025 to identify vendors capable of meeting ARL’s requirements. Market research efforts for this requirement included searches for high-speed cameras on the Government mandatory sites of UNICOR, AbilityOne, CHESS, and GSA Acquisition Gateway. contacted subject matter experts (SMEs) within Government and industry including: from Aberdeen Test Center and from Army Research Laboratory. Market research concluded with only one company found that can supply the required capability to the Government for this effort: Vision Research Amatek. No high-speed video manufacturers were found that met the requirements for the Government to match compatibility with current high speed video equipment used in Flight Sciences Branch – phantom camera controller software, vision research hardware interoperability, training and hardware/software familiarity. It would be cost prohibitive to buy new systems at similar cost with lower performance that are not interoperable with the current stable of cameras used in Flight Sciences Branch (currently have six (6) vision research phantom cameras), and to train up at least four (4) personnels on new controls, analysis software, camera hardware and settings. Flight Sciences branch has two (2) direct high speed video operators and four (4) others who can run the hardware with 14 and 13 years of experience and over four (4) week-long trainings per operator at approximately per training per person. As such, it was determined that it is in the Government’s best interest to issue a sole source to Vision Research Inc. based on experimental continuity of the requirement.

10. Interested Sources:

Vision Research Inc 100 Dey Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470 CAGE Code: 09PN9 Business Size: Large

However, as required by FAR 5.201, a synopsis was posted to the government wide point of entry, SAM.gov on 14 July 2025. However, the Government received one response from an interested vendor: Cordin Scientific Imaging (CAGE Code: 1E0Z3). Upon technical evaluation, this company does not meet the Government’s requirements due to disruption in experimental continuity and compatibility.

11. Other Facts:

Supply/Service: Phantom High Speed Video Cameras

a. Procurement History:

(1) Contract: W911QX19F0060

(2) Competitive status of this action: Competitive

(3) Authority: Full and Open Competition

(4) Procurement Value: $194,537.04

(5) Award Date: 08 May 2019

Previous Contracts: W91ZLK-21-P-0132, W91ZLK-20-P-0108, W91ZLK-19-F-0052, W91ZLK- 15-P-0290, W91ZLK-18-P-0041 and others

12. 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.

Team Lead Experimental Flight Dynamics

13. 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.

Supervisory Associate Division Chief

14. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following:

__ Cost analysis _X_ Price analysis __ Should-cost

_X_ IGE

__ Audit:

__ Other:

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data:

__ will be required.

_X_ will not be required and the following exception applies (FAR 15.403):

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on adequate price competition.

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on prices set by law or regulation.

_X_ A commercial item is being acquired.

__ A waiver has been granted by the head of the contracting activity (HCA) in accordance with DFARS PGI 215.403-1.

__ The contract action is a modification to a contract or subcontract for commercial item(s).

__ The estimated cost of the contract action is less than the threshold for certified cost or pricing data.

Contracting Officer

15. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Supply/Service: Phantom High Speed Video Cameras

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of two (2) Phantom High Speed Video Cameras, for an estimate of $320,900.00 and for an estimated delivery date of September 2025, on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.