Pages_from_74-2587-17_JA_13.5_template_0117_0-1-2.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. 74‐2587‐17

J&A NO: J&A13.501‐DU05

Estimated Cost: $ $204,900

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 Contracting Division proposes to enter into a sole source contract with Headwall Photonics, 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.

The project requires the purchase of an integrated system that includes the hardware and software required to operate a set of sensors, including:

co‐aligned (co‐sighted) VNIR and SWIR (Visual near infra‐red and short‐wave infrared) hyperspectral sensors to meet or exceed the following specs:

combined range of 400‐2500nm, 271/267 spectral pixels (VNIR/SWIR)

640 spatial pixels

30/110 frame rates (VNIR/SWIR) minimum 12/14 bit depth (VNIR/SWIR) maximum 10.7” x 8.2” x 6.5” overall size and max 6.25lbs weight

High throughput aberration‐corrected concentric imager associated lenses for SWIR and VNIR sensors to produce a co‐aligned and co‐registered VNIR‐ SWIR images a spectral cosine collector mated to a spectrometer a minimum 32 channel automotive lidar a precise GPS/INS unit meeting or exceeding the performance of Trimble APS‐15 sensor package in same or smaller package (weight, power draw) a data storage unit software packages required to perform an integrated imagery ortho‐rectification, radiometric correction, and data retrieval and export/display.

Critically important, the system must include overall integration including all physical connectivity to data storage and necessary calibrations. The system must be capable of being mounted and operated on ground of air‐vehicles, including small UAVs.

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 components requested are as follows:

1) Lightweight Co‐Aligned VNIR/SWIR Airborne Package (including data storage, GPS/INS integration, software and hardware connectivity).

2) Velodyne HDL‐32E 32 channel LiDAR sensor

3) Fiber Optic Downwelling Irradiance Sensor (FODIS)

All items are COTS items.

Item (1) and (3) are unique systems, supplied by Headwall Photonics Corp. No other supplier is known to offer a similar set of sensors with same or better spatial and spectral capabilities, signal‐to‐noise ratios.

The estimated value is $204,900.00

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.

No other vendor is known to be able to provide a co‐sighted VNIR/SWIR sensor with integrated GPS/INS and storage components or is known to be able to fully integrate, calibrate and provide hardware and software connectivity and tasking and data processing environment in a single package, deployable on ground or air vehicles, with the size, weight, and power draw of the package requested here. The package must have SWAP (Size, Weight, and Power) amenable to installations on small UAVs. No other supplier is known to have such a package.

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.

Market research was conducted and no alternative products were discovered that matched or exceeded the required mission parameters (spectral coverage and spectral bin width, pixel size and co‐registration between VNIR and SWIR sensors, overall package size, weight, power, necessary sensor integration – hardware and software ‐ including software and hardware for tasking, mission plaining and data processing.

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 $204,900.00. The contracting officer determines that the anticipated price will be fair and reasonable based on published commercial pricing.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or the reason market research was not conducted. Open literature search was conducted and a Subject Matter Experts were consulted (from Remote Sensing Division – see paragraph 9).

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

As noted in para. 4, no other vendor is known or has been found in open web/literature search, as well as discussions with the subject matter experts (Dr. Jeffrey Bowles, NRL, code 7231) that is able to supply the required instrumentation according to the specs listed.

NEO/Hyspex provided specifications for similar equipment. The technical expert reviewed the specifications provided for the Hyspex equipment and determined the overall weight of the Hyspex sensor is more than twice that of the sensor offered by Headwall Photonics, and NRL will simply not be able to fly the UAV with the Hyspex sensor as it stands.

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

Headwall Photonics, Inc. Bolton, MA.

NEO/Hyspex Norway.

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 system built for the research projects funded by ONR. No similar future acquisitions are planned by the sponsor.