N0018918CZ082_JA,_N0018918RZ079.docx

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVSUP FLEET LOGISTICS CENTER NORFOLK

700 ROBBINS AVE, BLDG 2B

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111-5083

IN REPLY REFER TO:

270.3C, MP

J&A 18-046

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity. The contracting activity for this action is NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk, Philadelphia Office.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved. This is a sole source action to be awarded as a firm fixed price contract to Associated Universities, Inc. (CAGE: 0D809) of Washington, DC 20036-2252 in support of the United States Naval Observatory (USNO), Washington, D.C.

3. Description of Supplies/Services. This is a requirement to develop, build, and install both the hardware and software necessary to upgrade and replace a software-based correlator system for the USNO, for the purpose of processing Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) data. This new correlator system will replace the existing correlator system. The required software, a significant portion of which includes the DiFX software package, will be specially designed to perform the correlation of VLBI data on the hardware platform. This correlator system modernization and procurement program will be performed in two stages: The first stage is designed to replace and upgrade the existing hardware-based correlator system and the second (optional) stage will be to expand the capabilities of the correlator system storage to meet future anticipated mission requirements.

The anticipated performance period will be from date of contract award (anticipated no later than 30 September 2018) through 12 months after date of award.

The estimated amount of this requirement is $[redacted] and will be funded with fiscal year 2018 Other Procurement Navy (OPN) appropriations.

The following specifications apply to this procurement and represent the minimum need of the Government:

The correlator will be an integrated system that includes computing nodes, data storage, data playback units, high-speed interconnects, and the software necessary to control and process data through the system. The VLBI DiFX Correlator will consist of the central processing unit, several large RAID storage devices, and specialized Mark V and Mark VI playback units. The new correlator system will be capable of processing in real time recorded data streams recorded at up to two (2) Gbps from up to fifteen (15) VLBI stations simultaneously. Data will be transferred to the correlator via high speed interconnects (10 Gbps) from disk based storage and existing USNO VLBI data acquisition units. The correlator system will contain at least sixty (60) processing nodes that will be connected through high-speed (10 Gbps) interconnects. The operating system and correlator software will consist of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux running the DiFX software package. A system for distributing OS and DiFX package upgrades to all nodes within the cluster will be put in place. The system architecture will be fully expandable in order to meet future USNO mission requirements. The contractor will provide all necessary documentation regarding the correlator system hardware and software. The contractor will also provide the system software integration necessary to make the correlator capable of processing current VLBI data loads. The following optional services are also applicable to the requirement.

The contractor will expand the capabilities of the new software correlator system. The expanded correlator system will contain data storage, the interconnecting switches, and software integration necessary to meet future mission requirements as needed. The expanded software correlator system will be capable of processing in real time recorded date streams recorded at up to four (4) Gbps from up to thirty (30) VLBI stations simultaneously. The contractor will provide additional data storage capacity in anticipation of ever increasing amounts of electronically transferred data in the form of state-of-the-art data playback units (e.g. Mark6). Finally, the contractor will provide the software necessary to integrate these expanded capabilities in the USNO correlator system.

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. 2304 (c) (1), “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements,” as implemented by FAR 6.302-1.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority. USNO is the sole organization in the Department of Defense (DOD) dedicated to rapid processing of VLBI observations to produce earth orientation measurements in a time-frame necessary for Navy and DOD operations. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), being the sole designer and builder of the original correlator, is the only source with the in-depth knowledge to assure USNO’s continued operations in this field. AUI designed and built the current USNO correlator under contract N0018912CZ027 and has since provided support services under contracts N0018914PZ750 and N0018916CZ084, all of which were processed as sole source requirements with AUI. The software running on the central processing unit is a DiFX Correlator VLBI-specific code, which was developed and designed by the scientists, engineers, and technicians at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), a facility run by AUI on behalf of the National Science Foundation. Only AUI’s personnel at NRAO have the requisite knowledge and expertise to provide a modernized, replacement VLBI correlator and its associated support. No other organization has the detailed level of knowledge about the design and operation of the type of correlator required by USNO for the processing of Very Long Baseline Interferometry data. Moreover, the personnel at NRAO are considered the world leaders in the theory and practice of DiFX operations. No other source possesses this unique, invaluable, and critical expertise, which is necessary to successfully fulfill this requirement of behalf of USNO.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable. Market research was conducted for this procurement to identify sources capable of fulfilling the Government’s minimum need. USNO personnel conduct continuous market research for this and other efforts in order to maintain an awareness of the capabilities of sources through numerous scientific presentations and professional discussions; in addition, USNO personnel have reviewed trade literature and articles relevant to this work. As a result of this market research, a determination was made that AUI is the only capable source for the current effort. No source other than AUI was involved in the designing, building, or support of the current correlator. AUI is considered the only known source with the necessary knowledge, technical expertise, physical infrastructure, personnel resources, logistical support system, and necessary credentials to provide the required correlator hardware, software, and support services.

In addition to the market research conducted by USNO, further actions were taken to remove barriers to competition: Pursuant to DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d), a sources sought notice was posted to the Government-Wide Point of Entry (GPE) on 22 May 2018 under posting number N0018918RZ079; in response, one (1) Technical Capability Statement was submitted from industry for evaluation. The response, from Affigent, LLC, was reviewed by USNO to determine if the firm could fulfill the agency’s requirement. USNO determined the submission did not demonstrate the firm’s capability to meet the agency’s needs; in particular, the submission did not demonstrate experience with a multi-node Red Hat operating system environment or a DiFX software package, which are among the minimum requirements for this procurement.

Market research has determined AUI is the only source capable of meeting USNO’s requirements. No other source has been identified who possesses the expertise with the hardware and the DiFX software necessary to build and support such a system on the scale of which USNO requires.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

Pursuant to DFARS PGI 206.303-2(b)(i)(B), a copy of the previous justification (N0018912CZ027 for the development and building of the current correlator) was included with the instant document to assist the approval authority in determining whether the planned actions to remove any barriers to competition cited on the previous justification were completed. The previous justification (J&A # 12-012) stated that, if another potential source emerged, NAVSUP FLCN Contracting would assess whether competition for future requirement was feasible. However, no new potential sources have emerged, and the Government’s current market research continues to indicate AUI is the only source that can meet the agency’s requirements.

As indicated in paragraph 6, steps taken to remove any barriers to competition included conducting research of the marketplace to ascertain the existence of firms capable of meeting the Government’s minimum need. Moreover, a sources sought synopsis was processed for this procurement, the results of which reaffirmed the determination made following initial market research – that only AUI could fulfill the requirement on behalf of USNO. Based on the foregoing, it has been determined that the circumstances surrounding this requirement, the state of the marketplace, and the sole source nature of the effort have not changed since the award of the previous contract.

The requiring activity was contacted to determine whether the requirement could be revised to improve competition. USNO advised that the stated requirements represent USNO’s minimum need and that the Government’s need could not, therefore, be altered or lessened in that area. The requiring activity will continue to perform market research to try to identify additional sources for future requirements.

If additional sources are identified or made known to the Government at a future point, the Government will re-evaluate the requirement at that time.

9. Contracting Activity Point of Contact. The NAVSUP FLC Norfolk point of contact is Michael Placido, Code 270.3C who may be contacted by telephone: DSN 442-9654, Commercial (215) 697-9654 or e-mail: michael.placido@navy.mil

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

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

Technical Cognizance:

__[redacted]______________ ___________________________ ________________ _______________ Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

Requirements Cognizance:

Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined this Justification is legally sufficient.

Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. To the extent that the J&A/LSJ value is between $250K and $700K, the Contracting Officer’s signature below also represents approval of the J&A/LSJ.

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CONTRACTING ACTIVITY COMPETITION ADVOCATE REVIEW

To the extent that the J&A/LSJ value is between $700K and $13.5M, the Competition Advocate’s signature below also represents approval of the J&A/LSJ.

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