Corrosion_Chambers_JA_redacted.pdf

“SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION – SEE FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, AIRCRAFT DIVISION

21983 BUNDY ROAD, BLDG 441

PATUXENT RIVER, MD 20670-1127

J&A Number: 18-0143

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR USE OF OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Patuxent River, MD, in support of a Cyclic

Corrosion Test Chamber.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This Justification and Approval authorizes and approves, on a sole source basis, the issuance of a Non-

Competitive contract (solicitation N00421-18-R-0018) to Auto Technology Company for the purchase of

Cyclic Corrosion Test (CCT) Chambers. This is anticipated as a firm fixed price commercial contract for lab equipment in the estimated amount of $254,000 to support the Materials Engineering Division (AIR

4.3.4) at NAWCAD, Patuxent River, MD. The Corrosion test laboratory is the Navy’s only facility for larger scale accelerated corrosion testing and supports both the Aircraft Division as well as Weapons

Division of NAWC. The accelerated corrosion testing is used to verify and validate Original Equipment

Manufacturer (OEM) designs for proposed and current products to be able to withstand the Navy environment as well as determining additional maintenance requirements to prolong the service life of various Navy assets. The accelerated corrosion testing allows the Navy to determine the component’s ability to withstand corrosion within several weeks or months versus 2-4 years if just left outside in the elements and allowed to rust naturally. Testing comprises different climates and environments which are representative of the changing environments realistically expected to be encountered in real world Navy application. The impact of unexpected corrosion damage is increased maintenance and potentially structural or electrical failures which could cause catastrophic failures. Having the ability to test corrosion effects allows the Navy to work with the Original Equipment Manufacturers to develop components that improve the safety and service life expectancy for the fleet.

3. Description of Supplies and Services.

Under the proposed contract, the vendor will provide AIR 4.3.4 with three (3) commercially available

Cyclic Salt Fog Corrosion test chambers, model no. 700040-PC NC-PC-40. The vendor shall build, deliver, and install the chambers, which shall have a non-corrosive design to ensure longevity. A relative humidity package shall be installed on each chamber to ensure humidity control and monitoring for pre-programmed and custom test methods. The vendor shall also provide a PC controller for each of the three new test chambers with options to provide two additional PC controllers (to update the existing Cyclic

Corrosion chambers). Each PC controller shall be pre-programmed to perform ASTM B-117 & GMW-

14872 testing, contain all the proprietary software to perform standard industry test specifications, data logging and recording, and be capable of storing up to 100 custom programs to NAWCAD flexibility for

J&A 18-0143 corrosion test parameters. The PC controllers will also incorporate Windows 10 which has become the standard across PAX.

The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel.

Estimated Dollar Value:

FY18 FY19 FY20 Totals

Section 219 NWCF $244,000* $10,000 $254,000

* Delivery, Installation, and Proprietary software included in price.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The statutory authority cited for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

Auto Technology Company is the original designer, developer, and manufacturer of the 700040-PC NC-

PC-40 Cyclic Chamber and associated PC controller. The Auto Technology Company’s Cyclic Chamber was found to be the only product to be fully compliant and meet the Government’s requirements.

The Auto Technology Company model no. 700040-PC NC-PC-40 Cyclic Chamber will expand

NAWCADs current Cyclic Corrosion testing capability. NAWCAD currently owns and operates two

700030-PC NC-PC-30 cyclic chambers. The 700030-PC NC-PC-30 cyclic chambers operate with the same software as the 700040-PC NC-PC-40 Cyclic Chambers. The difference in the two part numbers is that the -40 design has a greater internal capacity and greater chamber volume to allow larger scale testing than the typical lab scaled testing currently supported. Purchasing Auto Technology Company chambers minimizes both the operational training and routine service/maintenance training necessary for

Government personnel following chamber installation, allows the Government to utilize existing tooling, and ensures consistent test results. The daily/weekly routine service/maintenance is done in-house at

NAWCAD to retain accurate calibration and minimize the risk of unusable equipment due to common parts failure. NAWCAD has the ability to correct common parts failures by utilizing the NAWC spares inventory to replace a failed part.

Auto Technology Company’s 700040-PC NC-PC-40 chamber minimum interior testing dimensions of

1905mm Length (75 inches) x 914mm Width (36 inches) x 635mm Height (25 inches) and robust and durable shelving will accommodate existing tooling used in the corrosion test laboratory. The 700040-

PC NC-PC-40 maximizes interior testing space while minimizing its exterior footprint. Currently, there is no other Navy facility that has the capacity to test equipment for corrosion. Upgrading to the larger

Cyclic Salt Chamber can provide the capability to test avionics boxes, electrical connectors, engine components, relief valves, and other high priority large scale equipment.

Without the procurement of Auto Technology Company 700040-PC NC-PC-40 chambers, the Materials

Division will not be able to meet the Navy’s Corrosion testing demand. Historically, NAWCAD has had

“SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION – SEE FAR 2.101 and 3.104” to turn away requests for testing due to volume and capacity restraints from the currently owned lab equipment. The purchase of the three additional 700040-PC NC-PC-40 chambers will enable NAWCAD to meet the anticipated testing requirements. Facilitating accelerated corrosion testing is the primary purpose of the test laboratory and is essential to the success of the Materials Engineering Division. The chambers are utilized to test corrosion on a wide variety of new designs and existing aircraft.

Based on the market research, no other vendor was found capable of providing equipment which met our minimum requirements to meet or exceed our current capabilities which also includes Certification of

Calibration traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (N.I.S.T) as well as temperature and humidity environmental controls. While other vendors have some corrosion testing or salt spray testing abilities, only Auto Technology had the N.I.S.T Certification and the ability to meet all of our requirements.

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

Market research was conducted verifying that several venders sell various types of corrosion chambers.

However, many companies specialize in salt spray testing equipment rather than environmental chamber capabilities with both temperature and humidity controls. Additionally, AIR 4.3 reviewed the specifications for both Singleton Corporation and Q-Lab Corporation equipment to determine if these manufacturers’ products meet or exceed the minimum capabilities for the equipment that is currently owned by AIR 4.3. Neither Q-Lab nor ngleton have the capability to meet all the requirements.

AD-4.3.4.2 conducted market research via the internet to ascertain other companies’ ability to Cyclic

Corrosion chambers. Although other companies produce and sell Cyclic Corrosion chambers, no other vendor was found capable of providing equipment which met our minimum requirements for our current capabilities. Requirements include salt fog cycle, high humidity cycle, dry cycle, dwell cycle, controlled humidity cycle, solution spray cycle, and immersion cycle, as well as environmental controls for both temperature and humidity, and a solution reservoir.

A sources sought announcement was posted on FedBizOps October 30, 2017 detailing the minimum requirements for the specifications of the equipment currently in the lab and requesting vendors submit capabilities statements if they had equipment that met the minimum requirements. Responses were due by

November 14, 2017. No offerors responded. The pre-solicitation announcement was posted on

November 20, 2017 and closed 6 Dec 2017. Only one offeror, Equilam, responded, and the evaluation team determined the offeror was not capable. Equilam did not have the required solution reservoir or the

Certification of Calibration traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (N.I.S.T).

Therefore, it was concluded that Auto Technology Company is the only company possessing the required equipment necessary to provide the essential capabilities, compatibility and interchangeability necessary for immediate integration into existing facilities.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

In accordance with FAR 15.402(a), the Contracting Officer shall ensure supplies and services under this contract are procured from responsible sources at a fair and reasonable price. The vendor will submit a formal priced proposal with sufficient information to support the accuracy and reliability of the proposed prices. Each proposal will be reviewed by experienced technical personnel at AD-4.3.4.2 and cognizant

Contract Specialists, with the assistance provided by DCAA and DCMA analysts as deemed necessary.

In accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b), the Contracting Officer must use price analysis to determine whether the price is fair and reasonable whenever the contracting officer acquires a commercial item.

According to FAR 15.403-3(c), Other than certified cost and pricing data may include history of sales to non-governmental and governmental entities, cost data, or any other information the contracting officer requires to determine the price is fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 15.403-1(c)(3) commercial items are exempt from the requirement for certified cost and pricing data.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

Auto Technology Company is the original designer and manufacturer of the 700030-PC NC-PC-30 and the 700040-PC NC-PC-40 Cyclic Corrosion chambers and is currently the only source with the equipment able to meet NAWCAD requirements to match or exceed the existing capabilities. If future procurements are necessary, additional market research will be conducted and NAWC Code 4.3 will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

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:

Julia M. Russell, 301-342-8112 Date

Chemist, NAWCAD 4.3.4.2 Materials Engineering Division

Requirements Cognizance:

Amy L. Fowler (301) 342-0986 Date

Branch Head, NAWCAD 4.3.4.2 Materials Engineering Division

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined this Justification is legally sufficient.

Kori Wilson (301) 995-3089 Date

Legal Counsel, NAWCAD 11.7

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

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

Lynn Kaniss (301)757-3421 Date

Deputy, Procuring Contracting Officer, NAWCAD 2.5.1.5

APPROVED

Upon the basis of the above Justification, I hereby approve the solicitation of the proposed procurement described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(1), FAR 6.302-1: only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Lynn Kaniss (301)757-3421 Date

Deputy, Procuring Contracting Officer, NAWCAD 2.5.1.5