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BRAND NAME DETERMINATION & FINDINGS FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: One (1) Anisoprint Brand Composer A3 3-Dimensional (3D) Printer and accessories.

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

Anisoprint SARL

9 Ave Des Hauts Fourneaux

Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4362

Luxembourg

Authorized Reseller:

iMakr (Macadame Inc.)

68 34th St Unit 6 Brooklyn, NY, 11232-2000

CAGE: 7XFP1

Business Size: Small

3. ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE: [REDACTED]

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: The statutory authority permitting sole source is 41 USC 1901(e), implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i):

X Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE:

The item(s) listed in section one above is available from only one source and competition is precluded for reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.

X Other reasoning to support a sole-source buy:

The Vehicle Structures and Dynamics Branch (FCDD-RLW-VB) of the Army Research Laboratory’s (ARL) Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD) requires the purchase of one (1) Anisoprint brand Composer A3 3D printer with accessories. FCDD-RLW-VB requires a 3D printer to fulfill a critical role in research and development projects that require precisely machined composite fiber parts.

The Anisoprint Composer A3 3D Printer is the only printer that meets the Government’s minimum requirements to produce the required parts using a polymer-based additive manufacturing (AM) system from a foreign country in line with the Foreign Technology (and Science) Assessment Support (FTAS) program and will also fit on a laboratory desk. Additionally the Anisoprint Composer A3 is the only 3D printer with the ability to extrude carbon fiber and basalt fiber materials throughout the interlayers of the polymers which allow for increased structural stiffness and strength. The Anisoprint Composer A3 3D printer has the capability to print continuous composite carbon fiber and composite basalt fiber materials that are not compatible with any other printer on the market. The required Anisoprint Composer A3 3D printer has the ability to print these materials to be rapidly deployed in the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).

FCDD-RLW-VB is currently utilizing an UAS. The acquisition of the Anisoprint Composer A3 3D printer will allow FCDD-RLW-VB to replace existing materials with replacement parts machined using composite carbon fiber and composite basalt fiber materials without losing quality or strength. While the current parts are too heavy to be flying on a small craft, the replacement parts crafted with continuous dual-matrix composite fibers result in materials that are 20 times stronger than plastic, 7 times lighter than steel, and twice as stronger and lighter than aluminum which will decrease weight for the UAS without compromising the strength needed for the craft.

Failure to acquire the Anisoprint Composer A3 3D printer would detrimentally impact various projects within FCDD-RLW-VB, specifically the FTAS program which specifically requires the use of foreign technology, by incurring costs for the Government in excess of [REDACTED] due to having to purchase multiple 3D printers which do not have the same dynamic dual-composite fiber and polymer-based additive manufacturing when one machine, the Anisoprint Composer A3 3D printer can produce a dual-matrix composite. The parts being machined for the UAS are so complex in nature that in order to machine them under current conditions requires multiple days for setup and machining time. The Anisoprint Composer A3 3D printer, however, will print any part that can fit on the print bed while limiting interference for step by step setup. Another cause of delay under current conditions occurs when projects require ten (10) or more copies of the same part. The Anisoprint Composer A3 can print continuously non-stop with multiple parts in the same print job, eliminating the need for human interaction, which creates the backlog. Without this purchase, the Government will lose in-house capabilities to further mission deliverables which will result in long term costs and considerable productivity loss.

[REDACTED] [REDACTED] conducted market research between 02 February 2021 and 19 April 2021 while working in FCDD-RLW-VB and [REDACTED]. Market research techniques included searching Government required sources, GSA federal supply schedule, and conducting internet searches. Market research determined that it is in the Government’s best interest to pursue a sole source procurement to acquire the Anisoprint Composer A3 3D printer from iMakr (Macadame Inc.) as this company is Anisoprint’s only authorized US reseller and can meet the Government’s minimum requirements.

6. FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE DETERMINATION:

It has been determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable and that approval of this recommendation is in the best interest of the government. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Template last updated 4/23/2018