A13_SignedForm_CD492__NB672010-18-02838_Redacted.pdf

FORM CD-492 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

(REV.12·16) OAM

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

I recommend that the Department of Commerce negotiate only with Aspen Systems, Inc.

(Proposed Conlracto,tsl) for High Perfonnance Computer Expansion

(Oac:ripllon of Supplies or Services)

Requisition No. NB672010-18-02838 Cost Estlmat

(Include ba1lc contrael period and all options or lolal systm11 llfa co111)

Requesting Activity NISTICTURFT Contracting Activity NIST/AMO

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

I certify that the attached narrative justification is accurate and contains complete data necessary to support the recommendation for other than full and open competition.

The requisitioner further certifies that the attached narrative justification verifies the Government's minimum needs or schedule requirements and any rationale used to justify other than full and open competition procedures.

Requisitioner (Name and Title) Date

05/1612018

Before requesting this acquisition, slate the statutory authority for conducting this acquisition under "other than full and open competition" procedures in the following blank 41 use 1901 (use only one stalutory authority). Also provide a narrative justification to this form. In accordance with FAR Subpart 6.3, the narrative justification must Include the facts necessary to reasonably and legitimately lead to the use of the specific authority for other than full and open competition; Including adequate Information on the nalure and/or description of Iha action being approved and a description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs.

Use of this form Is optional when: the justification contains all information required by FAR 6.303-2, is certified by the requisitioner and contracting officer and is approved at the appropriate levels.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

41 USC 3304(a)(1) - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responslble source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

41 USC 3304(a)(2) - Unusual & compelllng urgency

The agency's need for the supplies or services Is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the govemment would be seriously Injured unless the agency Is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits bids or proposals. (NOTE: This authority will not be approved if it Is determined that the urgency Is due to a lack of advance planning by the requiring activity. Solicitation from as many potential sources as Is practlcable under the circumstances Is required.)

41 USC 3304(a)(3)- lndustrlal moblllzatlon; engineering, developmental, or research capablllty; or expert services

It is necessary to award the contract to a particular source or sources in order (a) to maintain a facility, producer, manufacturer, or other supplier available for fumishing supplies or services in case of a national emergency or to achieve industrial mobilization; (b) to establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center; or (c) to acquire the services of an expert or neutral person for any current or anticipated litigation or dispute.

41 use 3304(a)(4)- lntematlonal agreement The terms of an International agreement or a treaty between the United States and a foreign government or international organization, or the written directions of a foreign government reimbursing the agency for the cost of the acquisition of the supplies or services for such government, have the effect of requiring the use of procedures other then competitive procedures.

41 USC 3304(a)(5) - Authorized or required by statute

A statule expressly authorizes or requires that the acquisition be made through another agency or from a specified source, or the agency's need Is for a brand-name commercial Item for authori2ed resale.

41 USC 3304(a)(6) - National security The disclosure of the agency's needs would compromise the national security unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which It sollclts bids or proposals.

41 USC 3304(a)(7)- Public Interest

The agency head (Secretary of Commerce) determines that it Is not ln the public Interest to use full and open competition In the particular acquisition concerned, and notifies Congress in writing of such determination not less than 30 days before award of the contract.

APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Contracting Officer (CO) Signature Phone No. Data

Operating Unit (OU) Competition Advocate - Not exceeding $700,000:

OU Competition Advocate (Name and Title) Signature Phone No. Data

Daparbnent of Commerce (DOC) Competition Advocate - Over $700,000 but not exceeding $68 mllllon:

DOC Competition Advocate (Name and Title) Signature ·phone N o. Date

Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) • Over $68 mllllon:

SPE (Name and Title) Signature Phone No. Date

NOTE: Use the total cost estimate specified on the front of this document ln determining the necessary approvals. Each review must be preceded by lower level approval(s), e.g., over $68 million all approvals are required.

NIST Boulder has a state of the art research laboratory to support the most sensitive research done at NIST. Included In this bulldlng Is a High Performance Computation (HPC) Cluster for finite element simulations of electromagnetic systems, Including but not llmltad to mllllmeter-wave circuits, transistors, ampllflers, and filters. The HPC cluster requires addltlonal compute nodes for a wide range of applications Including:

simulations of patterned circuit boards for microwave circuits, dlelactrlc resonators, waveguides, slllcon and metal shut structures. The system Is required for a variety of new programs that are fundamental to NIST mission critical work. Through market research the HPC team has determined that only the Aspen Systems can meet Its nuds for the following reasons. One of the key aspects of this tool ls Its ablllty to run high-frequency structure slmulatlon software and Interface with the existing hardware. It Is critical that the HPC cluster have as little down time as possible during the expansion and Integration of the new compute nodes. The current headnode, and compute nodes ware purchased from Aspen Systems. NIST requires that the Integration of the new compute nodes mlnlmally Impact ongoing work, which requires seamless Integration and exparlentlal knowledge that the high frequency structure simulation software operate on the new compute nodes. Failure to Integrate will mean that It Is Impossible to accurately model the microwave circuit characteristics or achieve repeatable circuit board performance that are required for NIST mission critical work. Aspen Systems compute nodes currently run NIST mission crltlcal software and they are the only company which sails compute nodes that are known to be compatible with the current headnodes and compute nodes. Since only Aspen Systems can provide this ability, NIST requires the Aspen Systems 2U compute chassis to complete Its mission crttlcal work.

41 USC 1901- Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services wlll satisfy agency requirements Is appllcable.