Sole_Source_Justification_-_Redacted.pdf

v1.3_DECEMBER 2018

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

Thermotron Environment Chamber and Controllers

PR 1300777652

BACKGROUND:

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) Code 7012

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 five (5) floor model style environmental chambers in

Building 114 consisting of four (4) Thermotron Environmental Test Chambers and one (1)

Associated ZHD-238 Environmental Test Chamber. The Associated ZHD-238 Environmental

Test Chamber model was anticipated to be operational until 2024, however, due to the salt water testing conducted in the chamber it has had a unexpected premature end of life and has deteriorated to the point that it is no longer serviceable.

As such, the NUWCDIVNPT Code 7012 Survivability Test and Evaluation branch requires replacement of a floor model chamber that has reached end of life. Code 7012 requires one (1)

Thermotron Environmental Test Chamber (Part Number: SE-1000-15-15), including one (1)

Thermotron T8800 Controller. Additionally, NUWCDIVNPT requires on-site chamber installation services and start-up services (consisting of installing the external condenser behind the building, piping and electrical hookup) to be performed seven (7) days after delivery of the

Test Chamber.

The Thermotron Controller shall include the following options:

• Tier 1 Data Acquisition

• Tier 2 Thermocouple 8 channel

• Water Purification System

• (2) 4" Cable Ports

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

The required delivery for this procurement is fifteen (15) weeks after date of contract award and the required period of performance for installation and start-up services is seven (7) days after delivery of the chamber. The estimated value of this procurement is $102,575.00.

REQUIREMENT:

MFGR Part No Description/Title Qty

SE-1000-15-15

Environmental Test Chamber

(Including: Tier 1 Data Acquisition; Tier 2

Thermocouple 8 channel; Water Purification

1 Each

System; Two (2) 4" Cable Ports and

Commercially available complete set of documentation consisting of operation manuals, drawings, wiring diagrams, and parts lists)

T8800 Controller 1 Each

N/A Chamber Installation Services 1 Job

N/A

Start-Up Services

(Installing the external condenser behind the building, piping and electrical hookup)

1 Job

Sole Source Justification/Brand Name Specification:

The Warfare Center (WC) Environmental Testing Collaboration effort, comprised of eleven (11)

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

07 March 2017. In response, ten (10) Navy Environmental Test Labs have purchased Thermotron

Environmental chambers, complete with proprietary Thermotrak Software, from Venturedyne, Ltd. (doing business as Thermotron Industries), the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). To meet the Government’s mission of collaboration between the eleven (11) 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 ten (10) 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 an explosive certified lab, such as NSWC Dahlgren.

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

Additionally, with the use of Thermotron software, the Survivability Lab is able to receive and share 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 test chambers, there are no other vendors that employ the Thermotron Thermotrak T8800 series controller, which operates on proprietary Thermotron Thermotrak software. As previously mentioned, this software enables the receiving and sharing of data between the eleven (11) Navy Environmental Test Labs.

Therefore, 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 chamber is obtained, then the Government will incur costs in addition to procuring a new environmental chamber. The Government estimates these costs will be incurred as a result of required training and generation of stand-alone operating procedures

(approximately $25,000 to develop and qualify standard operating procedures and approximately

$54,000 to train eight (8) engineers). Additionally, NUWC’s Survivability and Test Lab equipment will not be compatible with the NAVSEA Warfare Centers testing sites, which will result in a loss of efficiency in sharing test data and an inability to support collaborative projects and programs, ultimately impacting the Fleet.

Based on the above, it is determined to be in the Government’s best interest to solicit this requirement on a sole source basis to Thermotron due to the requirement for exact, sharable test data across Warfare Centers and the additional costs associated with procuring other than a Thermotron chamber.

RESELLERS:

Not Applicable. The requirement can only be met via sole source procurement to Thermotron

Industries. Thermotron Industries does not have any resellers.

Requiring Department:

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a Sole Source/Brand Name

Specification basis. I certify the technical data which form the basis of this justification are complete and accurate.

Paul Wells Date

Facility Manager, Code 7012

APPROVAL:

Contracts Department Branch Head:

Based on the above, I have determined that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available/only this brand can fulfill the requirements. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Andrew Nagelhout Date

Code 0223 Branch Head