N6660422Q0267 Justification Approval_Redacted.pdf

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5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

NUWCDIVNPT, Code 85 supports the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Lime Kaiser program. This procurement is for the purchase of silver-zinc battery cells for deep submergence application on various undersea vehicles. ONI The Lime Kaiser program is tasked with performing in water testing of equipment associated with their program. A silver-oxide battery is a primary cell with a very high energy-to-weight ratio. The equipment being used for testing has an existing compartment to house the battery cells used to power the unit. The AZH75DC-2X silver zinc battery cells manufactured by BST Systems, Inc., is the only company that can produce these battery cells that are of the correct, size, weight, voltage and power capability to meet the testing requirements. The manufacturing process of these battery cells is proprietary to BST Systems, Inc. and if the Government were to go out competitively, there would be extensive redesign costs and schedule delays to match the exact specifications required for this testing while maintaining compatibility with the existing battery compartment. This would cause diminished testing capability due to less available voltage and/or power due to a decrease in the number of battery cells that are able to fit in the compartment which is unacceptable.

Based on the above, it is in the Government’s best interest to award this requirement to BST Systems on a sole source basis to prevent unacceptable delays and substantial duplication of costs in providing the required silver-zinc battery cells.

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

A combined synopsis and solicitation notice will be published publically on the Government Point of Entry, sam.gov. The notice will state the intention of NUWCDIVNPT to award a contract on a sole source basis to BST Systems, Inc. and it will invite all responsible sources to submit a capability statement for the consideration to the Government. No additional market research was conducted because it was not practicable, for the reasons discussed in paragraph 5 above, for any company other than BST Systems, Inc. to fulfill the requirement.

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 Approving Official.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer will conduct price and/or cost analysis using FAR Parts 13.106-3 and/or FAR 15.404-1(b) and 15.404-1(c) methods, in accordance with FAR 13.003(g)(2).

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CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

CONTRACTING NEGOTIATOR IDENTIFICATION:

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, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

TECHNICAL & REQUIREMENTS COGNIZANCE:

APPROVAL BLOCK (FAR 13.501(a)(2) for Approval Official) As Contracting Officer, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve, as Contracting Officer, 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).