Pages_from_71-4053-17_JA_13.5.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. 71‐4053‐17

J&A NO: J&A13.501‐DU04

Estimated Cost: $405,000.00

On the basis of the following, I, as the Contracting Officer, 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 (NRL) Contracting Division proposes to enter into a sole source contract with Stratasys, Inc., 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.

NRL is seeking authority to award a firm‐fixed‐price sole source purchase order to Stratasys, Inc. of Eden Prairie, MN for a J750 3D printer.

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.

The Stratasys J750 3D printer will be used for printing a variety of custom designed acoustic structures related to the Division’s scientific research. Once fabricated, these structures will be used in acoustics experiments. These structures must be fabricated from plastic‐like and rubber‐like materials with acoustic and mechanical properties that have already been experimentally established by the NRL Acoustics Division.

The estimated cost for this procurement is $405,000.00

4. The statutory authority permitting sole source. ☒ 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 Stratasys J750 3D printer is the only commercially available printer which is capable of utilizing the Vero™, Tango™, Digital ABS™ and Digital ABS2™ families of materials. This printer utilizes material cartridges that are interchangeable with an existing Connex500 printer. The J750 has both a high speed and high quality build modes. In high speed mode the J750 is able to accommodate at 3 base materials without swapping material cartridges, and the printing resolution is capable of 27 microns or better. In the high quality build mode the J750 is able to accommodate 6 base materials without swapping material cartridges, and the printing resolution capable of 14 microns or better. The J750 is capable of utilizing water soluble support material and all other materials are easily removable.

The Vero™, Tango™, Digital ABS™ and Digital ABS2™ families of materials are proprietary to Stratasys.

Their printers are designed to work with these materials. There are no other commercially available 3D printers that use these materials or that can handle cartridges in which these materials are procured.

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 FEDBIZOPPS (as required by FAR 5.2) and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

A Notice of Intent was publicized on FBO as required. The only respondent was the manufacturer. After speaking with the Stratasys representative it was confirmed that Government sales are handled directly by the manufacturer and not by resellers.

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 anticipated dollar value of this procurement is $405,000.00. The contracting officer determines that the anticipated prices will be fair and reasonable based on based on published commercial pricing.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or the reason market research was not conducted. A search on GSA eLibrary revealed that Stratasys does not have a GSA FSS contract. The Stratasys representative confirmed that Government sales are handled directly by the manufacturer and not by resellers.

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

NRL Acoustics Division has invested substantial time and effort to characterize the material properties of build utilizing Vero™, Tango™, Digital ABS™ and Digital ABS2™ families of materials. It is critical that the division continue to build using precisely these materials.

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

Only Stratasys, the manufacturer, expressed any interest in this procurement.

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.

This is a one‐time purchase of a machine that currently meets the specific needs of NRL’s Acoustics Division. This is a rapidly advancing field with new materials and printing methods likely to be available to NRL in the future. At that time NRL will assess the products available and make procurements based on what best serves our research needs.