N6660418P1700_JA_Redacted.pdf

NCH 53.6-2 (MAR 2013)

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

N A V A L U N D E R S E A W A R F A R E C E N T E R D I V I S I O N

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I N R E P L Y R E F E R T O :

J&A Number: 18036.0 Control #: 181700

P.R. Number: 1300701723

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION

The following facts support contracting for commercial items without full and open competition, using the procedures in FAR 13.5-Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901.

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, RI (NAVUNSEAWARCENDIVNEWPORT), Contracts Department, Code 02

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

Request approval to solicit and award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract on a sole source basis, to VENTUREDYNE LTD (doing business as (DBA) Thermotron Industries) for a quantity of four (4) Thermotron Environmental Test Chambers with on-site installation services.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

Estimated Dollar Value

FUND TYPE FY18

NUWCDIVNPT Overhead – 219

The NUWCDIVNPT Code 7014 Survivability Test and Evaluation branch requires four (4) Thermotron Environmental Test Chambers (Part Number: SE-1000-15-15), including four (4) Thermotron T8800 Controllers, and on-site installation services. The Thermotron Controller shall include the following options:

• Tier 1 Data Acquisition

• Tier 2 Thermocouple 8 channel

• Water Purification System

• (2) 4" Cable Ports per unit

The contractor shall also provide its commercially available, complete set of documentation consisting of operation manuals, drawings, wiring diagrams, and parts lists.

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

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1): Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Survivability Test Lab provides environmental testing for new construction as well as the in-service submarine and surface fleet. For the past 30 years the Survivability Test Lab has been conducting environmental testing using

These chambers have exceeded the 20 year service life and now are at end of life; with of the units more than 32 years in service.

The Warfare Center (WC) Environmental Testing Collaboration effort, comprised of Navy Environmental Test Labs, has been established to improve efficiency and leverage unique capabilities.

The stated goal briefed to Dr. Luebke, WC T&E Executive and Technical Director Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona, in June 2015, was to implement common measurement techniques and test equipment throughout the Warfare Centers. In response, JOINT LETTER NUWCDIVNPT / NSWCDD Ser E40/009 & 70/055: Common Environmental Qualification Test Equipment For Naval Sea Systems Command, Warfare Centers was issued on 7 March 2017. In response, Navy Environmental Test Labs have purchased Thermotron Environmental chambers, complete with proprietary Thermotrak Software. To meet the Government’s mission of collaboration between the Navy Environmental Test Labs, all the Environmental Test Chambers must be able to communicate and share data. The Thermotron Environmental Test Chamber includes the T8800 series controller, which operates on proprietary Thermotron Thermotrak software; it is this proprietary software that will enable NUWCDIVNPT’s Survivability Lab to communicate with the other warfare centers’ chambers, which enables the collaboration and sharing of data among all warfare center Environmental Chamber test equipment.

This software includes the capability to fine tune the control parameters and enables sharing of these parameters with other Thermotron T8800 series systems, thereby reducing the time required to thermal map the Chamber. For example, when NUWCDIVNPT conducts developmental thermal testing on the inert sections of a torpedo, and then adds energetics, the results are sent to

Utilizing the T8800 Thermotrak software, NUWCDIVNPT will have the ability to upload the control parameters from Thermotron Environmental Test Chamber, prior to testing, thereby reducing test time, personnel resources and gaining efficiencies in the identification of correct control parameters.

Once NUWC has common test platforms with NSWC, the Survivability Lab will be able to receive and share this test data and capitalize on personnel who are fully trained on the use of the Thermotron T8800 controller with the Warfare Center Environmental Test Labs, which will contribute to meeting the Navy’s mission. While there are other manufacturers of Environmental Test Chambers of comparable test chambers, there are no other vendors that employ the Thermotron Thermotrak T8800 series controller, which operates on proprietary Thermotron Thermotrak software; which enables the receiving and sharing of data between the Navy Environmental Test Labs. The Government’s requirement for the Thermotron Environmental Test Chamber, with the proprietary Thermotron T8800 Controller software, cannot be met by any other manufacturer’s COTS solution.

If a product other than the Thermotron Climatic Chamber is obtained, then NUWC will not be compatible with the other NAVSEA Warfare Centers testing sites; and will not benefit from the receipt and sharing of test data.

Of the NAVSEA environmental test labs, the NUWCDIVNPT lab is the only environmental test lab currently without the Thermotron test chamber, which includes the T8800 series controller and proprietary Thermotron Thermotrak software. The Thermotrak software is currently used at the other NAVSEA Labs.

Based on the above, it is in the Government’s best interest to solicit this requirement on a Sole Source basis because having the ability to receive and share this test data is a significant benefit to the Government.

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

The proposed contract action was synopsized via a combined synopsis/solicitation on 27 March 2018 via posting to the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website in accordance with FAR 5.2. The synopsis stated the intention to award a contract on a sole source basis to Thermotron Industries. The synopsis stated that all responsible sources could submit a capability statement for consideration by the Government.

To date, no capable challenging responses have been received.

If a responsible source submits a capability statement for consideration by the Government prior to contract award, it will be brought to the attention of the Competition Advocate.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The contracting officer will determine the order placed pursuant to this Justification is fair and reasonable based on a price analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(a)(2) and/or a cost analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(a)(4), if required.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

The Government does not anticipate any additional requirements for Thermotron Environmental Test Chambers at this point in time. In the event that any future acquisition of the Thermotron Environmental Test Chamber, with the proprietary Thermotron T8800 Controller software, is required, renewed market research will be performed and the information contained in section 5 will be revisited and validated to confirm the sole source requirement still exists.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

CONTRACTING NEGOTIATOR IDENTIFICATION:

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12))

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

Signature and Date

Name (Print) and Title (Code) Phone No.

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(c))

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and its supporting acquisition planning data, including Acquisition Plan No. N/A, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

TECHNICAL COGNIZANCE:

REQUIREMENTS COGNIZANCE: