BNJ greater than SAT_Strain gauges Final signed_Redacted.pdf

J&A Number: N00167-

25-RFPREQ-CD-65-0020

Code: 02 P.R. Number: TBD

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), Contracting & Acquisitions Department (Code 02).

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

NSWCCD intends to award a five year blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for the procurement of Micro-Measurements brand precision strain gage and sensor products and compatible accessories peculiar to one manufacturer, Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (VPG) on a Brand Name basis.

The justification document is in accordance with FAR 13.501(a).

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The NSWCCD, Performance Evaluation Branch (Code 653), Dynamic Measurements & Testing Branch (Code 663) and Physical Metallurgy and Fire Performance Branch (Code 612) require the repetitive purchase of Micro-Measurements brand strain gauges and sensors and accessories to evaluate the structural response of ship components/structures in the laboratory environment or underway at sea. These Codes also require the Micro-Measurements training and instructional workshop for instrumenting strain gages, preparing and planning strain gage layouts, and applying adhesive agents to maintain our mission readiness, operational capabilities, and deliver accurate data while conforming to Code 653’s instrumentation standard practices and procedures. Products will be of a type and in a quantity to be determined for

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

CARDEROCK DIVISION

9500 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD

WEST BETHESDA MD 20817-5700

J&A Number: N00167-25-

RFPREQ-CD-65-0020

each specific BPA call. Services will be of a type to be determined for each specific BPA call. Requirements include:

General Purpose Strain Gages, including but not limited to:

• Linear patterns

• Tee rosettes

• Rectangular rosettes

• Delta rosettes

• Shear/torque patterns

Special Purpose Strain Gages and Sensors, including but not limited to:

• Residual stress strain gages

• Magnetic fields strain gages

• Weldable gages strain gage

• High temperature strain gages

• Manganin pressure strain gages

• Shear modulus strain gages

• Embedment strain gages

• Temperature sensors

• Crack detection sensors

• Crack propagation sensors

• Displacement sensors (Linear displacement sensors, Cable

• Transducer-Class® Strain Gages with Advanced Sensors

Technology

Strain Gage Accessories and Installation Accessories, including but not limited to:

• Surface Cleaning Supplies

• Strain Gages Adhesives and Cements

• Installation tools and Accessories

• Bondable terminals

• Solders and Accessories

• Wire, cable, and Accessories

• Protective coatings

• Strain Gage Application Kits

• Precision Resistors

• Bridge completion modules

• Special-Purpose Equipment

Strain Gage Training and instructional workshop topic, including but not limited to:

• Strain Gage Characteristics

• Construction

• Limits (Fatigue, Strain)

• Selection

• Adhesive Selection

• Types (incl. Heat-curing)

• Selection

• Attachment (incl. clamping)

• Protective Coatings

• Selection

• Application

• Strain Gage Circuitry

• Measuring Strain Level

• Transverse Sensitivity

• Temperature Effects

• Extreme Heat & Cold

• Volatile Temperature

• Measurement & Compensation

• Generated heat

• Lead wire

• Selection

• Attachment

• Compensation (length)

• Linearizing Networks

• Wheatstone Bridges

• Types & Excitation

• Power Levels

• Static & Dynamic Measurements

• Complex Recording Systems

• Signal Conditioning

• Frequency Response

• Readout Instrumentation

• Noise Reduction

• Shielding

• Grounding

• Gage Installation Procedures

• Surface Preparation

• Normal Installation

• Calibration

• Gage Check-Out Procedures

This BPA will be awarded in FY25 and have a five-year ordering period through FY30.

The below table provides estimated funding amounts for purchase of strain gauge products and instructional workshop by dollar value, fiscal year (FY), and appropriation.

Table: Appropriation by FY Approp. FY25 FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 Total Varies

The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel for the above total. A maximum ceiling of for the unknown requirements from the entire command’s use is the anticipated ceiling. This ceiling also accounts for possible higher market prices as the economy changes and even if production costs rise.

The Product Service Code (PSC) for this procurement will be 6695 (Combination and Miscellaneous Instruments) and U006 (Education/training- vocational/technical).

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The permitting regulatory authority is FAR 6.302-1(c)(1)(i) – “An acquisition or portion of an acquisition that uses a brand-name description or other purchase description to specify a particular brand-name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer does not provide for full and open competition, regardless of the number of sources solicited.”

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

Micro-Measurements is the developer, manufacturer, and marketer of sensors for high precision strain measurement.

This includes strain gages (gauges), PhotoStress equipment and coatings, data acquisition systems, and gear necessary to obtain accurate, reliable stress data. Code 65 utilizes these strain gages to conduct a structural evaluation of surface ship and submarine structures, often to compare/validate results against finite element analyses (FEA). Micro-measurements manufactures a larger variety of strain gages with specific size, pattern, fatigue rating, wiring option, self-temperature compensation, encapsulation, and resistance combinations, commonly used by code 65, that are not available from other manufacturers. Market research comparing strain gages from Micro-Measurements, HBM, and Tokyo Measuring Instruments was conducted. Micro-

Measurements was the only supplier able to provide strain gages meeting all required combinations of specifications:

such as high cycle fatigue resistance, specific grid patterns (stacked and non-stacked), specific grid sizes, and thermal compensation. Neither HBM nor Tokyo Measuring Instruments could offer the required combinations of features to meet test program specifications.

Additionally, the structural evaluation of material properties relies on the proper placement, location, and wiring of strain gages. Code 65 technicians and engineers are using Micro-Measurements Strain gages, M-Bond adhesive material and their procedures to support all of the structure testing efforts. These technicians and engineers are involved with laying strain gages and planning strain gage layouts. Therefore, in order to maintain our mission readiness and operational capabilities, the strain gage training and workshop specifically on Micro-Measurements Strain gages, M-Bond adhesive material and their procedures by Micro-Measurements is required.

The impact of not procuring these strain gages would result in re-training of personnel to a different set of products and methodology for installing strain gages, as well as a reconfiguration of data acquisition systems. Measurements demanding the Micro-Measurements gages with the required characteristic combinations, to ensure measurement validity, accuracy, and longevity, will not be able to be measured correctly. This would significantly increase the cost of the labor necessary to learn the products and methodology for installing new brand of strain gages, test out and debug the new strain gages and data acquisition interfacing system, redesign, retest, modified the standard operational procedures, and reeducate the affected personnel. This would severely delay program schedules and structural load assessments on any structural testing program.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many

Offerors as Practicable

Micro-Measurements has authorized distributors and resellers that have been determined to be capable of providing the equipment listed in section 3. The following are three of the companies that are capable of providing the necessary items:

1) Newark Company

2) Digikey Corporation

3) GracoRoberts

Pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iv), the Government will make this justification available on the Government Point of entry (SAM.gov). The Government will ensure that the contract file will be documented as to any responses received from making the Justification available.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

In accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a), the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) shall ensure that all materials and training workshops provided under the anticipated Agreement are procured at a fair and reasonable price. The Government will require the contractor to submit a formal price proposal and sufficient information to support the accuracy and reliability of the estimate. The PCO shall determine that the proposed order represents the best value (as defined in FAR 2.101) to meet the Government's needs.

The PCO will also rely on the contract specialist and Code 653’s experienced technical experts, as well as information from prior Navy procurements of the same (or comparable) strain gauge products, when conducting the price analysis.

This information will form the basis for a fair and reasonable price.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

The Government will continue to stay abreast of strain measurement technology developments by manufacturers (via symposiums and conferences, product test reports, publications and advertisements, vendor demos, etc.) and alternative strain measurement products directly compatible with Code 653’s in-house data acquisition systems.

Accordingly, the Government will continue to re-examine its future procurement needs relative to the technology advancements in this industry.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION - (FAR 6.303-2(c))

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, that are included in this justification and its supporting data, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

ADVOCATE FOR COMPETITION- APPROVAL BLOCK (FAR 13.501(a)(2)(ii) for a proposed contract exceeding $750,000, the Advocate for Competition approval)

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve, as Competition Advocate for the Contracting Activity, the solicitation of the proposed procurement(s) using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 10