SOLE SOURCE_REDACTED.pdf

cluster ion (2-8keV, atom clusters up to 2000). He gas discharge source and UPS capabilities are necessary for probing of electronic density of states in our materials. The system will include the first year of the essential service agreement, as well as on-site training, shipping, installation and at least 1 yr warranty for all materials and labor. The approximate dollar value for this action is and the delivery date is 6 - 8 months after purchase order received.

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.

Thermo Fisher Scientific as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has the custom components hardware and software to ensure proper fit and function to meet our requirements to interface with our existing equipment. No other vendor can guarantee fit and function with our existing hardware and allow us to take advantage of existing Thermo Fisher Scientific hardware and software in a cost-effective manner. The system being ordered will add new functionality over current NRL-owned integrated chemical analysis tools, and will enable quick-turnaround, robust, and automated measurements for thin film materials, while allowing for future customization and expansion. The Thermo Fisher Nexsa G2 system is a tried and tested tool that is used across industry, universities and government labs with great success. The service contract allows for immediate diagnostics and servicing which cannot be replicated by other vendors and thus enables for minimal downtime and impact on a wide variety of internal and external programs. NRL currently has one Nexsa G2 system primarily focused on powders and different materials with custom components that can be reused. A second system, will enable more throughput and to have it custom tailored to address the needs of inorganic and organic semiconductor and insulating materials that require added features such as UPS, cluster ion sources and charge compensation to accurately analyze and feedback to current materials development.

The Nexsa G2 has several features that make it unique over other competitors including the MAGICs ion source, Fast entry airlock (FEAL), small XPS spot size (down to 10μm) snapshot chemical mapping for rapid and high sensitivity at high spatial resolution enabled by an electron analyzer with large acceptance lens (> 60°). The complete automation of the system uniquely makes it well positioned for multiple users and variety of sample, while the included site license for the software means rapid and in-depth analysis can be performed for many simultaneously. It also can be easily retrofitted and integrated to include novel features such as a glove box, ISS, REELs and Raman which will ensure long-term adaptability and expansion to meet future research needs.

If another vendor’s system was acquired, extensive design costs and labor hours will be required to design interfaces and obtain new equipment to permit interfacing with existing components, effectively re-designing the entire system in order to achieve NRL’s desired function of the system. Therefore, this action is necessary to meet NRL requirements for interoperability, functionality, and to avoid substantial additional costs.

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 to the Government Point of Entry (as required by FAR Subpart 5.2) and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

An RFI (N00173-24-RFI-CY25) was posted to Contract Opportunities at www.SAM.gov (SAM) on September 14, 2024 through September 29, 2024 and yielded one response from Kratos Analytical. The intent of this RFI was to gauge industry interest and search for potential sources capable of fulfilling the requirement. The RFI included the Governments minimum technical requirements. After a review of Kratos Analytical’s capability statement by the Technical POC, it was determined that their system could not meet three critical specifications, see below:

1. The requirement was to have a spot size of 10um but the minimum spot size provided by Kratos was 15um.

2. The combination of energy resolution with count intensity does not meet specifications for both for XPS and UPS modes. This will lead to lower signal to noise ratios and limit the sensitivity of the system to sampling.

3. The total acquisition size that can be done in total with one pump down assumes 3 sample holders.

However, each sample holder is only 35x75mm and does not meet the 60x60 mm requirement. This is critical because it means that we cannot load wafer scale samples which are key to NRL’s scientific programs.

Additionally, the Kratos systems footprint of 3.64 m2, while listed as compact, does not meet the specifications of 2.25 m2. This limits where we can put the system in our labs or during the upcoming building move. Also, there was no mention if a 12 month service contract would be included. Due to the timeframe required for this service, it is critical that we already have a service contract in place with the order to ensure that timely delays are not encountered.

The Technical POC conducted a market survey of potential vendors offering commercially available products.

The Technical POC researched competing systems owned by other NRL personnel as well as discussed their specifications. A potential vendor was Physical Electronics Inc. who did not respond to the RFI. However, their system cannot directly interface to existing NRL equipment and cannot use existing vacuum suitcases and other components designed for the Nexsa G2 geometry. The Physical Electronics system did not meet NRL’s specifications of spot size, resolution/intensity, sample size, tool footprint, and user-friendly aspects. The systems provided by Kratos Analytical and Physical Electronics will not perform at the levels required for NRL’s scientific programmatic needs.

A notice of intent to sole source will also be posted to SAM in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2.

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 cost to the Government is . The Contracting Officer will determine through cost or price analysis that the anticipated cost to the Government for the equipment covered by this J&A is fair and reasonable. Pricing offered to the public and other Government agencies, as well as historical prices paid by the Government, will be used as a basis for fair and reasonableness.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or the reason market research was not conducted.

As noted above in section 6, market research and further discussions with NRL personnel and brochure research took place to ascertain if the potential sources identified had the capabilities to meet the minimum requirements outlined within the specifications. Code 6800 routinely monitors the commercial marketplace using the internet and publications such as IEEE and AIP journals, as well as product literature published by manufacturers, distributors, and dealers available online to stay informed on the most current signals equipment technology product offerings and how products could be used to further work at NRL. The marketplace was surveyed and it has been determined that a commercial, stand alone, automated XPS system was available.

Several vendors of XPS systems exist, but only one meets our specific requirements for reuse of existing components, handling of semiconductor and insulating thin film materials with the automation, high throughput, and high spatial and high sensitivity required for our programmatic needs. Similar types of equipment have been purchased in the past, and were determined to be commercial in nature.

The Technical end user and the Contract Specialist reviewed catalogs and other generally available product literature published by manufacturers, distributors, and dealers that were available on-line.

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

While this procurement for a XPS system is considered commercial in nature, it supports NRL by providing novel thin-film materials growth and in-situ characterization of semiconductor, metal, and oxide samples and heterostructures for use in Navy and DoD electronics research and development. The rapid acquisition and installation of this equipment suite will allow NRL to quickly and cost-effectively improve the research capabilities, reliability, and operational efficiency of thin-film oxide materials critical for advanced Navy and DoD electronics.

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

FEI Company Kratos Analytical

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. NRL is not aware of any specific procedural barriers to competition. NRL has no plans at this time to procure future items for the type of supplies covered by this document. If another potential source emerges or new technology is developed which advances the state of the art and provides the capabilities NRL requires, NRL will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.