JA_Navmar_PSUAS_DO_15_REDACTED.doc

SBIR_14_24180

SBIR_14_24180

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE III JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

Department of the Navy, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Lakehurst, NJ

2. Nature/Description of Action(s) Being Approved.

This justification and approval is in support of a three (3) year Cost Plus Fixed-Fee contract with NAVMAR Applied Sciences Corporation (NAVMAR), of Warminster, PA for a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract under topics N92-170: Laser Radar (LADAR) Laser Detection and Ranging Identification Demonstration, N94-178: Air-Deployable Expendable Multi-Parameter Environmental Probe, and AF083-006 Low Cost Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The total estimated value of this action is $ dollars and will be funded with FY14 Operations and Maintenance, Army (O&MA) and Other Procurement, Army (OPA) appropriations.

3. Description of Supplies/Service Special Surveillance Programs, (SSP), Persistent Surveillance Unmanned Aerial System (PSUAS) programs requires advancements in noise-reduced, communications-payload-enhanced UAVs to fulfill mission requirements. This requirement is for the assessment, procurement and deployment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, communication systems, Unmanned Systems, noise reduction technology, improved aircraft aerodynamics to include increased lift and decreased drag, UAV weatherization, improved endurance, support of at sea Navy operations and related support hardware. Under this Phase III follow-on effort, NAVMAR shall provide the engineering and integration of the ISR systems on to the PSUAS platform. In addition, NAVMAR will be responsible for the provision of sufficient assets to exercise support and flight demonstrations (CONUS and OCONUS) of various sensor payload spares & replacements, as well as for direct support of the operations, maintenance, logistics and reset requirements of two currently operational OCONUS detachments providing round-the-clock surveillance covering regions of interest. This requirement will further the development and assessment of interoperability of manned and unmanned airborne vehicles to support military ISR operations.

This Phase III SBIR effort is a follow on to Phase I and Phase II SBIR Department of Defense (DoD) contracts awarded under topics N92-170 (LADAR Identification Demonstration), N94-178 (Air-Deployable Expendable Multi-Parameter Environmental Probe), and the Phase 1 SBIR DoD contract and phase III contact awarded under topic AF 083-006 (Low Cost Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, UAV).

A competitive SBIR solicitation under the DoD SBIR Topic N92-170 was issued in January 1992 and resulted in the Phase I contract N62269-94-C-0002 on November 04, 1993 to NAVMAR. Under that contract, NAVMAR developed technologies such as LADAR, Electro-Optics (EO), and acoustics. As a result of the successful development efforts accomplished under Phase I, NAVMAR was awarded a Phase II contract,N62269-95-C-0187, on September 29, 1995. NAVMAR developed expertise under the Phase I contract that enabled it to meet new sensor system requirements during Phase II. Under the same SBIR topics, NAVMAR developed principle ISR sensor technologies that substantially improved the detection, acquisition, classification, tracking, and localization of targets of interest, including the following: high resolution imagery; LADAR; more sensitive EO components such as focal plan arrays; Radio Frequency target detection; miniaturization of sensor and processing systems; precision target identification; acoustic sensor arrays; data fusion techniques; and automatic target recognition algorithms. This sensor technology has been applied to acoustic, non-acoustic, and seismic sensors for remote surveillance and target classification. Under this Phase III award for SBIR Topic N92-170, NAVMAR will continue to expand and transition the high precision capacity of LADAR sensor technology into modern counterinsurgency situations. These target detection and identification technologies continue to be critical for the protection of the Forward Operation Bases.

A competitive SBIR solicitation under the DoD SBIR Topic N94-178 was issued in January 1994 and resulted in the award of three separate Phase I awards including the award of contract N62269-95-C-0089 to NAVMAR on June 6, 1995.. As a result of the successful development efforts accomplished under Phase I, two separate Phase II contracts were awarded, including an award to NAVMAR under contract N00421-97-C-1038 on December 2, 1996. Under the Phase II contract, NAVMAR provided innovative integration of sensors and an acoustic sensor for enhancing sensor airborne operational performance which included miniature acoustic sensors that provide data fusion of multi parameter information. NAVMAR developed additional software signal processing techniques for detection and target recognition, as well as miniaturized mechanical designs. Under this Phase III award for SBIR Topic N94-178 NAVMAR will continue to support the development of sonobuoy-related sensors which are capable of providing oceanographic/ environmental monitoring in time critical situations. All development work will be done CONUS (Yuma Proving Grounds). All eventual deployment will be carried out OCONUS.

A competitive SBIR solicitation under DoD SBIR Topic AF083-006, "Low-Cost Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)," was issued in July 2008 and resulted in the award of SBIR Phase-I contract FA9451-09-M-0045 on 30 January 2009 to NAVMAR As a result of the successful development efforts accomplished under Phase I, contract N68335-10-G-0026 was awarded on 1 July 2010 requesting that Navmar develop and improve the Tigershark UAS.. This topic dealt with improving the performance of air vehicles by inserting new technologies into the platform. Some of these technologies include the development of a high-aspect wing with winglets to increase range and payload capabilities; passive noise-reduction components, such as mufflers, quiet-propeller design, and exhaust system tuning; active noise-cancellation techniques; and the use of lightweight carbon-fiber composites in the development of the aircraft fuselage. Each of these technologies are being considered for Tigershark, which will improve the endurance, payload capacity, or survivability of the UAV. Under this Phase III award for SBIR Topic AF083-006, NAWMAR will improve the Weatherization & Freeze-Point Ice-Protection System, Water-Intrusion Protection, Engine Improvements, Improved Takeoff & Landing Capabilities, Sense and Avoid Anti Collision Systems, and EMP/RF/Radar Hardening as well as developing other technologies to aid with operations analysis of various UAV missions, concept development of countermeasure techniques, and forward-area support methodologies.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5), as implemented by FAR 6.302-5: Authorized or Required by Statute.

This is an SBIR Phase III award that is derived from, extends, or logically concludes efforts performed under prior SBIR funding agreements 15 U.S.C. 638(r)(1) states:

“In the case of a small business concern that is awarded a funding agreement for Phase II of an SBIR or STTR program, a Federal agency may enter into a Phase III agreement with that business concern for additional work to be performed during or after the Phase II period. “

Furthermore, 15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4) states:

“To the greatest extent practicable, Federal agencies and Federal prime contractors shall issue Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology.”

5. Demonstration that Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of Acquisition Requires Use of Authority Cited.

The nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited. The SBIR/STTR Programs are structured in three phases. Phase I (project feasibility) determines the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of the ideas submitted. Phase II (project development to prototype) is the major research and development effort, funding the prototyping and demonstration of the most promising Phase I projects. Phase III (commercialization) is the ultimate goal of the SBIR/STTR Programs. Because the Phase III work for this effort derives from, extends, or completes efforts performed under Phase I and Phase II, use of the authority cited is required.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure Offerors Were Solicited From as Many Potential Sources as Practicable/ Public Notification through Government Point of Entry (GPE).

The original topics for this effort were included in the Department of Defense Program Competitive Solicitation issued under the SBIR Program. This action is an exception to the FAR 5.201 synopsis requirement. FAR 5.202(a)(7) states, “The Contracting Officer need not submit the notice required by 5.201 when the proposed contract action results from acceptance of a proposal under the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-219).”

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

In accordance with FAR 15.402, the Contracting Officer shall ensure that all supplies and services provided under this contract are procured at a fair and reasonable price. The Contractor will submit a formal cost proposal with certified cost or pricing data and sufficient information to support the accuracy and reliability of the estimate. NAVMAR's proposal will be reviewed by experienced technical analysts, cost analysts and contract specialists with the aid of necessary field pricing support. The Contracting Officer will utilize cost and price analysis as the basis for negotiating a fair and reasonable price.

8. Description of Market Research or Statement of the Reason Market Research was not Conducted.

Market Research was not conducted for this effort because this Phase III SBIR effort is a logical follow-on to Phase I and Phase II SBIR contracts under Topics N92-170 Laser Detection and Ranging Identification Demonstration),N94-178 (Air-Deployable Expendable Multi‑Parameter Environmental Probe) and AF 083-006 (Low Cost Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, UAV).

9. Any Other Supporting Facts.

Not applicable.

10. Listing of Interested Sources.

Not applicable.

11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

SSP looks for other potential sources by soliciting technical proposals for a broad range of SSP research and development topics through the posting of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) titled Reconnaissance and Surveillance Payloads, Sensors, Delivery Systems and Platforms. The BAA allows SSP to use a competitive process to evaluate proposals in accordance with the BAA criteria to continually identify and pursue other viable sources that have the ability to meet existing and future program requirements. If another potential source emerges, NAVAIR will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

12. Period of Performance.

Base: 12 Month Base Option(s): None

13. Total Estimated Dollar Value of the Acquisition Covered by this J&A, with Funding Specified by Year and Appropriation.

The total estimated value of this action is $ dollars and will be funded with O&MA and OPA appropriations.

14. Actions Attempted to Make Immediate Acquisition Competitive and Cost/Benefit Analysis.

SSP looks for other potential sources by soliciting technical proposals for a broad range of SSP research and development topics through the posting of a BAA, titled Reconnaissance and Surveillance Payloads, Sensors, Delivery Systems and Platforms. The BAA allows SSP to use a competitive process to evaluate proposals in accordance with the BAA criteria to continually identify and pursue other viable sources that have the ability to meet existing and future program requirements.

This Phase III SBIR effort is a logical follow-on to past NAVMAR efforts of the Phase I and Phase II SBIR contracts under Topics N92-170: LADAR Identification Demonstration; N94-178: Air-Deployable Expendable Multi-Parameter Environmental Probe, and AF 083-006 (Low Cost Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, UAV)

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