N00-0001-JA-_00L_Redacted_230725.pdf

Brand Name/Sole Source Justification under $250K

PMD Number: N63394-23-SIMACQ-PHD-N00-0001

Department: PD4 Fleet Readiness Portfolio Department

Company Name/Brand: 3M Technical Ceramics

Description of Product, Supplies or Services required to meet the agency’s needs:

NSWC PHD requires quantity of 16 3M Technical Ceramic targets be installed on survey measurement applications. These Ceramic targets are designed to fit Spherically Mounted Retroreflectors, which are used with laser tracker instruments to measure equipment angular orientation . The ability to measure ceramic targets directly affects lifecycle sustainment of new construction and in-service across the fleet.

Identification of Justification Rational:

The Material or service must be compatible will aspects (Form, Fit, and Function) with existing systems presently installed.

A patent, copyright, proprietary data, or licensing agreement limits competition.

These are “direct replacement(s)” parts/components for existing equipment.

Urgency.

Identification of the Justification Rationale Explained: **If using form, fit, and function, describe the current equipment and how the new item/service must coordinate or interface.

**If using patent, copyright, proprietary data, describe the proprietary data. **If using direct replacement, describe this below.

The ceramic target material is used on board all surface (BMD and non-BMD) .

In order to maintain configuration management and to ensure that all ceramic target material are interchangeable and integration and interfaces are maintained, the ceramic target material must meet or exceed the material properties of the original ceramic target material.

All previous silicon nitride ceramic targets were purchased through and manufactured by 3M Technical Ceramics (f.k.a. 3M Ceradyne, Inc). Material testing and analysis was conducted by NSWC Carderock on both the 3M Technical Ceramics legacy material and new 3M Technical Ceramics material to ensure the new material properties meet or exceed that of the legacy material. Final approval and authorization was received from NSWC PHD Chief Scientist, allowing for the use of the 3M Technical Ceramics sintered silicon nitride (SSN) material onboard US Navy Vessels. No other ceramic target material was approved and authorized.

Specific Characteristics of the Item or Service required that Limit the Availability to a Sole Source or Brand Name: **This is the most important section. Explain in detail why this company or brand are the only ones that can meet the requirement.

As stated, 3M Technical Ceramics material is the only ceramic target material that has been approved and authorized for use . 3M Technical Ceramics is the only vendor that can manufacture this item due to the material specifications in support of ORDALT 77292. 3M does not have any third party and or outsourced vendors. The ceramic material produced by 3M, which has been the only material used on for this specific application, is a proprietary material only offered, developed, and manufactured by 3M.

If 3M were no longer in service or unable to continue to manufacture the SSN material, NSWC PHD PD416 would have to conduct significant laboratory and shipboard testing and analysis in the development and research of another product, at increased costs that is not expected to be recovered. Currently, all ceramic products not produced by 3M do not meet the material physical requirements, and would not be interchangeable for this US Navy application. Additionally, there would be unacceptable delays in fulfilling US Navy fleet requirements.

Market Research Conducted:

Market Research was conducted with Greenleaf, Coorstek, and Morgan Technical Ceramics.

Greenleaf will have to conduct analysis on 3M SSN material to determine if they can produce a similar material, currently Greenleaf does not produce SSN material. Morgan Technical Ceramics produces a SSN Nilcra E material; not all material properties meet the threshold requirements to that of 3M SSN, for the required naval application. Coorstek does not currently produce any variation of SSN material. Additional engineering studies would have to be conducted in order to develop a new material, which does not currently exist at any other company.

Statement of Actions, if any to Remove Barriers to Competition in the Future:

NSWC PHD Contracts Office will continue to conduct market research as warranted to provide a broader vendor base as applicable for the types of supplies/services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, NSWC PHD will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.