Justification FAR Part 6 (June2025) Glyphworks SS KO edits 19Aug 2025 (3)_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR Part 6 Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

Program/Equipment: The U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Chemical Biological Center (CBC) Data Analysis Center (DAC) CAE Vibration Fatigue, DesignLife Auto Body/Chassis package, DesignLife Standard Package, GPS Display, GlyphBuilder, GlyphWorks Fatigue package, standard package, VibeSys Base and nCode Fundamentals

Authority: Authority for this sole-source justification is Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) §3204(a)(1) as implemented under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), if the agency determines that the required services are available from only one responsible source and no other type of services will satisfy agency requirements.

FAR Part 6 Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Requiring Activity: The U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Chemical Biological Center (CBC) Data Analysis Center (DAC)

2. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) Installation and Technology Division 6472 Integrity Court, Bldg.

4401, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005.

3. Description of Action: Request approval to award a new Firm-Fixed-Price brand name contract for renewals of Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) GlyphWorks Software Products Maintenance in support of system software maintenance for global support via the customer portal on the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) online website and over the phone. for a potential total period of three (3) years, a base period and two (2) optional full-term one-year periods. Value breakdown is as follows:

In addition to the base period, active through 29 November 2028, the government intends to procure two (2) optional periods for this requirement, running from 30 November 2025 to 29 November 2026, and 30 November 2026 to 29 November 2027.

Currently, the previous Glyphwork’s software products contract has lapsed on 29 November 2024, due to a shift in organizational responsibility. The end-user, DAC, has been shifted to fall under DEVCOM’s area of responsibility, and DAC had incorrectly assumed the necessary renewal of these license and maintenance support subscriptions had been procured by their prior organization. When it was discovered that the renewals had not been procured, the receiving organization began working the requirement. The current requirement is intended to procure a base period retroactively dated, in accordance with the OEM’s business model to bring the proprietary software product current with missed software patches and fixes for the entire time the renewals had not been obligated. Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) - Army funding is available to fund the full base period at time of award. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 513210 – Software Publishers, with a size standard of $47 million.

4. Description of Supplies: Various GlyphWorks software products are required for multiple efforts across reliability, operational energy and predictive logistics and sustainment efforts to analyze data required for mission and customer analysis efforts for the Data Analysis Center (DAC). GlyphWorks is a unique specialized software that handles fatigue analysis, test data and field time series data. Without this specific brand-name software, DAC could not deliver the required analysis results to customers and stakeholders. This maintenance includes global technical support by phone and through the customer portal. Additionally, the software packages provide unique engineering analysis capabilities to analyze test and field data for DAC. They provide engineering models and packages that can perform vibration, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) results, fatigue and stress analysis along with a Geographical User Interface (GUI) that makes the product very efficient to use. Furthermore, the products are used to analyze measured data to support durability analysis and automotive “measured” or sensor data analyses. Designed to handle huge amounts of data, GlyphWorks provides a graphical, process-oriented environment that contains leading analysis capabilities for saving both time and money in environmental qualification and product validation. The government’s requirements are below.

NCODE DESIGNLIFE is a CAE-based fatigue analysis system that contains a comprehensive set of solvers and advanced methods for predicting structural durability from major finite element analysis (FEA) result files.

STRAIN-LIFE (E-N) method is applicable to a wide range of problems including low-cycle fatigue where the local elastic-plastic strain controls fatigue life. The standard E-N method uses the Coffin-Manson-Basquin formula, defining the relationship between strain amplitude and the number of cycles to failure Nf. Material models can also be defined using general look-up curves. This enables the ability to interpolate multiple material data curves for factors such as mean stress or temperature.

SEAM WELD option enables the fatigue analysis of seam welded joints, including fillet, overlap and laser welds. The method is based on the approach developed by Volvo and validated through years of use on vehicle chassis and body development projects.

Seam weld analysis can be carried out with all load types including vibration. Stresses can either be taken directly from Finite Element (FE) models (shell or solid elements) or calculated from grid point forces or displacements at the weld.

SPOT WELD option enables fatigue analysis of spot welds in thin sheets. The spot welds are modelled by stiff beam elements and the creation of these welds in this form is supported by many leading FE pre-processors. Connector Weld Element (CWELD) and Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) formulations using solid element representation are also supported. Related model information is automatically identified, allowing quick and simple job setup and solutions. Cross-sectional forces and moments are used to calculate structural stresses around the edge of the weld. Life calculations are made around the spot weld at multiple angle increments and the total life reported includes the worst case. The provided ‘materials data’ can be applied to many spot weld cases. Python scripting enables modelling of other joining methods such as rivets or bolts.

DANG VAN is a multiaxial fatigue limit criterion used to predict the endurance limit under complex loading situations. The output from the analysis is expressed as a safety factor and not a fatigue life. It uses specific material parameters calculated from tensile and torsion tests. Manufacturing effects can also be accounted for by using equivalent plastic strain in the unloaded component. As well as the standard Dang Van method, it can also be used for spot welds and can use Dang Van multi-temperature materials data.

VIBRATION FATIGUE option enables the simulation of vibration shaker tests driven by random Power Spectral Density (PSD), swept-sine, sine-dwell or sine-on-random loading. It provides the capability to predict fatigue in the frequency domain and it is more realistic and efficient than time-domain analysis for many applications with random loading such as wind and wave loads. Finite element models are solved for frequency response or modal analysis and the vibration loading is defined in DesignLife. This can include the effect of temperature, static offset load cases and complete duty cycles of combined loading. Vibration fatigue loads can be used for Strain-Life (EN), Stress-Life (SN), Spot Weld, Seam Weld and Short Fibre Composite analyses. The multi-load vibration option allows the use of multiple random input PSDs and cross-spectra for the analysis of structures with multiple load application points and/or directions. This option also includes the Frequency Response Analysis glyph to convert time series input into the required spectra and cross spectra.

GLYPHWORKS

• Fatigue Package includes: nCode Fundamentals, Signal, Fatigue and Fatigue Editing

• Standard Package includes: nCode Fundamentals and Signal

• GPS Display is an add-on feature not included in the packages listed.

• GlyphBuilder is an add-on feature not included in the packages listed.

• VibeSys Base is an add-on feature not included in the packages listed.

NCODE GLYPHWORKS is a post-processing system that contains a comprehensive set of standard and specialized tools for analyzing measured data to increase product durability and performance. Designed to handle huge amounts of data, GlyphWorks provides comprehensive analysis through a graphical, process-oriented environment.

Workflows are easily created by dragging and dropping analysis building blocks.

NCODE FUNDAMENTALS enable correlation between test and finite element results.

Gauges (single or rosette) or displacement sensors may be graphically positioned and oriented on finite models as a post-processing step. Time histories due to applied loads can be extracted for direct correlation with measured strain, displacement, acceleration and velocity data.

SIGNAL option contains a set of glyphs often used in durability test applications to identify ‘features’ such as spikes, drift, and flat lines within time series data. Features can be viewed and corrected automatically using other glyphs such as the Graphical Editing glyph.

FATIGUE - GlyphWorks provides the industry-leading fatigue analysis technology necessary to calculate fatigue life from measured data. A materials database with over 450 in-house validated fatigue properties for many commonly used materials is included.

FATIGUE EDITING - Performing durability tests, such as vehicle road simulators, can take many weeks and require huge amounts of time history data. Fatigue Editing is an option that can be used to perform damage-sensitive editing to generate shorter time series data that retain the required damage. A highly flexible tool, Fatigue Editing uses powerful Fatigue glyphs, enabling complete control over the parameters used in the damage calculations.

NCODE VIBESYS provides a set of glyphs that enable acoustics and vibration engineers to design a reliable product that satisfies customers’ expectations in terms of sound, comfort, and regulatory requirements. A Vibration Manager is included, providing the ability for DAC users to enter, edit, and view vibration specification data.

GLYPHBUILDER option enables DAC users to add their own unique or proprietary methods and file formats by combining the capabilities of the Scripting and OpenGlyph.

The Scripting glyph allows users to define their own processes by using either MATLAB or Python programming language. The OpenGlyph gives direct access to external applications from a GlyphWorks process. A given command line operation is executed from this glyph so that external code or scripts such as Visual Basic®, Java™, nCL, C++, etc., can all be called using data from the process.

GPS DISPLAY option allows DAC to plot latitude and longitude GPS data on a map or grid background. Data can be easily exported for viewing in Google Maps™ or Google Earth™. Feature lists are also supported, allowing locations of interest on the data lines to be automatically identified and marked. Regions for editing data can be defined based on geographical location. The GPS Processing glyph enables vehicle performance data to be estimated from low sample rate GPS data. Calculated channels include speed, percent gradient, yaw rate and lateral acceleration.

5. Authority Cited: Authority for this sole-source justification is Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) §3204(a)(1) as implemented under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), if the agency determines that the required services are available from only one responsible source and no other type of services will satisfy agency requirements.

6. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. Background: GlyphWorks is unique specialized software that handles fatigue analysis, test data and field time series data. Without this specific brand-name software, DAC could not deliver the required analysis results to customers and stakeholders. This maintenance includes global technical support by phone and through the customer portal. Additionally, the software packages provide unique engineering analysis capabilities to analyze test and field data for DAC. They provide engineering models and packages that can perform vibration, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) results, fatigue and stress analysis along with a Geographical User Interface (GUI) that makes the product very efficient to use. Furthermore, the products are used to analyze measured data to support durability analysis and automotive “measured” or sensor data analyses.

Designed to handle huge amounts of data, GlyphWorks provides a graphical, process-oriented environment that contains leading analysis capabilities for saving both time and money in environmental qualification and product validation.

b. Alternatives: Alternative software products were analyzed when this requirement was identified in the DAC programs of record. Competitive solicitation ended with Glyphworks receiving the requirement award from the government. Continual analysis of technological advances within this field is completed in an ongoing basis. The government is always monitoring for a better solution at a lower price to support this type requirement. To date, no viable alternatives have been identified to replace Glyphworks software products. Maintaining the current existing solution is in the best interest of the Government.

c. Impact if not approved: The failure to procure the GlyphWorks software maintenance before it expired in November 2024 has left DAC engineers who use the software without access to the necessary updates that are needed. Major new releases of products, incremental updates, patches and technical support are currently unavailable to the users. GlyphWorks competitors include other software solutions used for data analysis, durability analysis, and fatigue analysis in engineering. Some alternatives included Altair HyperLife, COMSOL and FEsafe. However, all competitors lack features and capabilities GlyphWorks excels at such as advanced signal processing, reduced data conversion, one-click generated reports and faster testing.

DAC engineers are familiar with the required software, have been for over 20 years, therefore switching to another software would require significant changes. Switching software involves time spent learning the new software, migrating data, and training users to become proficient. During a switchover, users typically experience a decrease in productivity as they learn the new software. This lost productivity will have a financial impact resulting in up to a full work year of hours of lost productivity ). The estimate for this loss would be approximately

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market Research was performed by DEVCOM CBC from April 2025 to June 2025 with the intent to increase competition by finding alternative products, by increasing the number of authorized distributors, by increasing participation by small businesses, small disadvantaged small business, HUBZONE, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, and Woman Owned Small Businesses and or to find companies that could provide GlyphWorks software maintenance or an alternate software product. Furthermore, CBC posted CHESS, NASA SEWP and GSA eBuy Requests for Information (RFIs) to obtain competition.

a. Effective competition: This is a sole-source procurement of proprietary software products license and maintenance support subscription renewals.

b. Subcontracting competition: There are no opportunities for subcontracting this requirement of proprietary software products license and maintenance support subscription renewals.

8. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if changes occur in the marketplace that would enable future requirements to be procured outside of the mandated CHESS contracting vehicle.

Ongoing market research may include posting of sources sought announcements, reviewing trade journals, and attending industry symposiums to stay current on the latest software license requirements to determine if any additional contractors develop products that meet the Government’s needs. Market research will be conducted annually and on all new requirements to verify on the current baseline to determine if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable greater competition, and if there are alternate sources for the COTS products.

9. Market Research:

• CBC posted a CHESS Request for Information (RFI) 530983 on 1 May 2025 which closed on 8 May 2025, resulting in one (1) ROM out of 23 vendor responses. 15 cited no bid, not an authorized reseller, 3- no bid, insufficient time to respond and 3 - no bid, other. The vendor providing the ROM, Enterprise Technology Solutions, is a small, woman owned business. Further market research by the ACC contracting team warranted the CHESS contract holder is not an authorized reseller for Glyphworks and is therefore not eligible for award.

• CBC posted GSA eBuy RFI RFQ1755685 on 1 May 2025 which closed on 8 May 2025, resulting in (0) ROMs out of 16 vendor responses received. Of the vendor responses, vendors cited unable to provide pricing information, they do not sell the products or services and would quote if they were an authorized reseller.

• CBC posted National Aeronautics and Space Administration Solutions for Enterprise-wide Procurement (NASA SEWP) RFI 343136 on 1 May 2025 which closed on 8 May 2025, resulting in (2) ROMs out of 127 contract holders.

However, only one vendor is a viable source, vendor SIRC. SIRC is a small women owned business.

o Vendor BahFed Corp provided a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) through the NASA SEWP contracting vehicle, however the vendor is not an authorized reseller therefore the ROM was not considered in the government estimate as viable pricing data since it had not been submitted based on pricing from the OEM. ROM # 136024 can be located in the PCF cabinet.

• CBC conducted market research on GSA Advantage where it was discovered none of the requirements can be met.

• Contacted Contracting Officers, contract specialists, and the DAC technical POC who have specific knowledge of previous GlyphWorks procurements.

• DEVCOM CBC corresponded with HBK via phone and email on multiple occasions from 29 April 2025- 6 June 2025 seeking information on this procurement. On 6 June 2025, HBK provided the updated ROM # Q110071 to include option year two.

14. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price for this contract action is fair and reasonable, consistent with DoD Class Deviation 2014-O0011, “Determination of Fair and Reasonable Prices When Using Federal Supply Schedule Contracts” (March 13, 2014), and FAR 15.403-1(c)(3). This determination is based on comprehensive market research, including a review of historical pricing from previous contract awards for the same software license and maintenance, current Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) obtained directly from the OEM government sales team, and a detailed comparison with the Independent Government Estimate (IGE). The IGE was developed using [briefly state IGE methodology - e.g., publicly available pricing databases, similar contract awards]. The results of this comparison demonstrate that the proposed price is within a reasonable range. As this acquisition is for a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software license and maintenance subscription renewal, and adequate price competition data exists, certified cost or pricing data is not required per FAR 15.403-1(c)(3).

15. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.