BLAST JA_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

4555 OVERLOOK AVE SW

WASHINGTON, DC 20375-5320

REPLY REFER TO:

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5000.

2. Description of Action Being Approved.

This individual Justification and Approval is for the authority to award an estimated Cost-Plus-Fixed- Fee (CPFF), completion contract on a sole source basis to SRI International (SRI) of Menlo Park, CA for the requirement titled �Bluestar Low Amplifying Signal Transmission (BLAST)�.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The services to be acquired consist of continuing the research, development, experiments, maintenance and systems engineering of the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) low-frequency, high-power Bluestar antenna and all associated antennas and equipment. This requirement takes the research into the next phase of radio frequency (RF) exploration for the use by space and airborne assets. The 150ft Bluestar antenna and its associated hardware/software located is located at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA.

The anticipated period of performance is a base year plus four (4) 1 year options and will be funded by the following funds: Research Development, Test & Evaluation, Air Force (RDT&E, AF) as broken down below

Type of Funds FY24 FY25 FY26 FY27 FY28 Total RDT&E, AF $4,318,026.40 $4,488,167.19 $4,665,442.21 $4,850,166.97 $5,042,671.56 $23,364,474.33 Total $4,318,026.40 $4,488,167.19 $4,665,442.21 $4,850,166.97 $5,042,671.56 $23,364,474.33

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

10 U.S.C. Section 2304(c)(1)

J&A #6.302-1-24WR01

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

There are two main reasons that no other vendor can provide the necessary services for this critical government requirement:

1) SRI is the only vendor with access to the Bluestar antenna and its facility on grounds owned by Stanford. SRI has a lifetime contract/lease agreement with Stanford for use of the property on which the antenna facility is located. Existence of this pre-existing property lease from a third-party grants SRI control of a basic resource essential to on-going operations. No other vendor has access to the site, and the requirements of this NRL mission cannot be met without direct access to the Bluestar facility. Award to any other vendor would result in extreme difficulty in accomplishing this critical mission, substantial duplication of cost, and unacceptable delay.

2) The Navy is performing research that provides high precision signals in the low frequency high power for communications to support the warfighter. This is achieved using the 150ft Bluestar antenna owned by NRL located on Stanford property. This antenna is needed in that area due to the environment in the atmosphere and the geometry of the location. SRI has been the sole operator of this facility since its inception in 1961. SRI is the only vendor with the requisite experience in the analysis, design, calibration, and operation of the Bluestar antenna.

SRI will be responsible for development of hardware and software for the antenna, and will also be responsible for conducting continuing research using the Bluestar antenna. Award to any other vendor would require significant training, resulting in unacceptable delays and costs to the Government. Further, as stated above, SRI is also the only vendor with access to the Bluestar facility.

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

NRL issued a Request for Information (RFI) notice #N00173-23-RFI-WR03 through sam.gov on 9/27/2023, entitled �Bluestar Low Amplifying Signal Transmission (BLAST). The minimum capability and specifications for the RFI are stated in Section 3 of this document. Capability statements were requested from interested parties with a due date of 10/31/2023. The RFI closed with 2 responses received from SRI and SRR. SRI was the only vendor determined to be capable of performing the requirement. A notice of intent to sole source will be published through sam.gov website immediately following approval of this Justification and Approval document, IAW FAR 5.201.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

SRI is the only source that has a long term agreement/lease with Stanford for the use of the 3-acre property in which the Bluestar antenna resides. The cost of this lease is and has remained unchanged since 1961, despite significant increases in land costs in the ensuing years. Undeveloped land in the Palo Alto area is estimated to cost roughly $3 million per acre today based on an informal internet search of land prices. If another company were to request Page 2 of

Page 3 of that Stanford renegotiate the lease, which is outside of the Government�s control, significant market incentive exists for the lease holder to negotiate a lease at today�s higher rates.

Relocating the antenna to another location would cost NRL approximately $40 million dollars.

Due to the age of the antenna, it is likely that the antenna could not withstand such a move. It is also possible that the state of California would not give authority to take down the antenna due to environmental concerns. The antenna location is driven by the geometric orbit of the space objects that are receiving the transmission from the antenna. The size of the antenna is required to provide the transmission power at the frequency the research is being performed. No other antenna can provide the power at the frequencies that are needed due to atmospheric loss. SRI built the antenna and no other contractor can come in with the knowledge needed to operate and maintain the antenna and its component without significant learning curve. Award to any other contractor would significantly impact NRL�s mission and incur significant costs to the Government.

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CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION

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

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

CHIEF OF CONTRACTING OFFICE

APPROVAL