N6230619P0014_JA_19-019_-_N6230619PR071NV_Unmanned_Maritime_Systems_Redacted.pdf

February 2018 CONDEPTSOP 4200.03

JA-19-019

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

41 U.S.C. 1901 as Implemented by FAR 13.501

Pursuant to the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) and 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by

FAR 13.501, the justification shall incorporate sufficient facts and rationale.

1. Contracting Activity.

Naval Oceanographic Office

Contracts Department

1002 Balch Blvd.

Stennis Space Center, MS 39522

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

The Government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity

(IDIQ) contract on a sole source basis to the University of Southern Mississippi for Unmanned

Maritime System training courses.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The course of study will introduce students to unmanned maritime systems, provide a complete understanding of the physical environment in which these systems operate, and teach how the environment influences unmanned operations and mission planning. The purpose of this certification is for students to learn foundational material in which to build more detailed skills related to the mission planning and operation of specific Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), including powered vehicles as well as gliders and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs).

The Performance Work Statement (PWS) identifies the scope and all minimum topics to be covered in order to meet the goals of the requirement.

This requirement will consist of one (1)-base year with four (4) one (1)-year options for an estimated total of . This requirement will utilize Naval Oceanographic Office

(NAVO) training, Operations and Maintenance Navy (O&MN) funding.

Estimated Dollar Value

BASE OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3 OPTION 4 Total

RDT&E

OPN

O&MN

Total

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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

41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(i), Only One Responsible Source and No

Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is the only known source capable of providing all of the requirements in accordance with the PWS.

Through market research, it was found there are four (4) other potential sources that could offer similar programs. These sources are Penn State Applied Research Laboratory Undersea Systems

Office; the University of New Hampshire; the University of Delaware; and, Orca Maritime.

However, all four (4) of these educational institutions are not capable of providing all requirements stated within the PWS based on the following:

In 2012 and 2014, NAVO sent participants to automated unmanned vehicle (AUV) Boot Camp, a symposium hosted by the University of New Hampshire and the University of Delaware. The

6-day, 48-hour training was co-supported by Kongsberg-Hydroid and included limited practical experience in the Portsmouth Harbor on Kongsberg-Hydroid AUVs. The symposium was advertised as biennial on the University of Delaware web page but, no AUV Boot Camps have been conducted since 2016. The University of New Hampshire web page only mentioned the

AUV Boot Camp as a past research effort and does not have an AUV Boot Camp scheduled for

2019. Furthermore, the AUV Boot Camp does not fulfill NAVO’s requirement as the symposium focused on the development of new methods of AUV operation and was limited in AUV vehicle ocean-based practical experience. Even if this course offered everything required in the PWS, by having the students attend this class, the Government would incur extra travel and accommodation costs compared to the local USM course.

The Penn State Applied Research Laboratory Undersea Systems Office offers a thirty-two (32)-hour Unmanned Underwater Vehicles course; the next course is in April 2019. This course will not fulfill NAVO’s need as it is a classroom only class and does not provide ocean-based practical experience with UUVs or USVs. If students were to attend this course the Government would also incur extra costs for extended travel and accommodation to attend the course.

Orca Maritime has not previously conducted a similar course; and, therefore would have to create an entire curriculum in order to provide the training required. With a short amount of time before the course is required to take place it would be very difficult for this company to create a comprehensive course that would properly cover the required material in the PWS before the proposed start date of the course. Orca Maritime would have to conduct a course at the company’s facility in San Diego, CA. Not only will the Government have to pay for the cost of the course, but it will also have to pay for the travel, as well as the cost of lodging for each student throughout the duration of the course. Compared to the locality and cost of the USM course, this course would not be cost advantages to the Government because of the additional cost of travel and lodging involved.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

The USM Certification Program is the only source of training to fulfill NAVO’s need. This course meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in the PWS and is also located locally and not out of state as the other courses that were identified. This course is more economically feasible to the Government in that the cost of travel and lodging for each student will be significantly cheaper than it would be if the students were sent to one of the other courses.

This training is critical. Without it, NAVO will experience severe mission impact as unmanned vehicle expertise in the workforce will stagnate and atrophy while the command is tasked with increasing its use of unmanned maritime systems to collect mission critical oceanographic data.

Although other sources provide AUV training, those courses do not meet the requirement of

NAVO because they are limited in scope, only apply to proprietary AUVs, or the extra cost of travel and lodging far outweigh the benefits of sending students out of state when there is a local entity that can provide the required training.

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

A sources sought notice was posted for this requirement and one other source, Orca Maritime, was identified. Market research was also conducted, via the internet, to see if other sources had become available that had the required Unmanned Maritime System Certification. Even though

Orca Maritime was identified and can meet the requirements set in the PWS, it would not be economically feasible to send students out of state to this course.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

Before making the award, the Contracting Officer will determine the proposed price is fair and reasonable based on FAR Sub part 13.106.3 (vi) Comparison with an Independent Government

Estimate.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

Prior to awarding future contracts, NAVO will conduct market research to determine if other potential sources that can meet the requirement are available in order to allow for competition.