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

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: The Government requires one (1) Teledyne FLIR T560 infrared thermal imaging camera unit (Manufacturer Part No. 89005-0101), one

(1) Teledyne FLIR close-up infrared lens compatible with the base imaging unit (Manufacturer Part No. T300238), and one (1) Research Studio Professional Edition one (1) year license with online activation (Manufacturer Part No. 4232535).

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM):

CAGE Code:

UEI:

Business Size:

POC:

Email:

Product Suppliers/Resellers:

CAGE Code:

UEI:

Business Size:

POC:

Email:

CAGE Code:

UEI:

Business Size:

POC:

Email:

3. ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE: $

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

___ Unusual and Compelling Urgency ___ Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert

Services ___ International Agreement ___ Authorized or Required by Statute ___ National Security ___ Public Interest

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.

___ Compatibility: The item(s) must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed. Describe the equipment you have now and how the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system:

___ Proprietary: A patent, copyright, or proprietary data limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows:

___ Experimental Continuity: The item(s) must be consistent with prior materials in order to ensure experimental continuity. Describe the conditions that necessitate the use of experimental continuity:

___ Warranty: Purchasing item(s) from another manufacturer/provider would void existing warranty. Provide a brief explanation for the use of this reason and the impact that would occur if the item was purchased from another manufacturer/provider:

___ Direct Replacement: These are “direct replacement” parts/components for existing equipment and no substitutes exist.

_X_ Other reasoning to support a sole-source buy:

The Advanced Laser Source Development (ALSD) team at the United States Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has a mission of developing systems and methods of scaling the output power of fiber lasers to the kilowatt level and beyond. This is an intensive laboratory research and development effort. A critical success criterion for this work is that the laser and associated systems can withstand significant amounts of excess heat. To properly diagnose and validate various designs to handle excess heat loads, the Government requires a comprehensive thermal monitoring system consisting of one (1) T560 infrared thermal imaging camera unit, one (1) close-up infrared lens compatible with the base imaging unit, and one (1) Research Studio Professional Edition data acquisition and processing software.

The thermal monitoring system will be required to acquire spatially resolved temperature data over a wide range of temperatures, spanning from sub-zero (less than (<) zero (0) degrees Celsius) to localized extreme heat of greater than (>) 1000 degrees Celsius. In addition to the necessary large dynamic temperature recording range, some elements of ALSD’s laser experiments are highly sensitive to small changes in temperature. This translates to the requirement that any thermal monitoring system be capable of detecting changes in temperature less than (<) 0.5 degrees Celsius. The most critical element in a fiber laser system is the glass optical fiber itself, which is where the excess heat is majority generated.

These glass fibers are typically small in diameter, in the range of one-tenth of a millimeter (mm). To accurately monitor temperature of such small spatial features requires any thermal monitoring/imaging system to have exceptionally high spatial resolution in addition to the temperature resolution. However, in addition to the heat load on the glass optical fiber itself, several other aspects of the laboratory experiment require thermal monitoring as well. This includes mounts for optical components such as lenses and mirrors, and laser beam diagnostics like power meters which absorb laser light and can heat to material failure without careful cooling and monitoring. Thus, a monitoring system needs to be capable of recording a small field of view with fine spatial resolution for recording optical fiber temperature, as well as a large field of view to monitor the temperature of an entire benchtop experimental layout.

The system is also required to digitally record the acquired data in real-time, with the capability of in-depth post acquisition analysis of the data to allow temperature profiles and time-dependence to be easily visualized. Computer-based data acquisition software is required to interface directly with the thermal imaging camera unit to provide this system functionality. An additional requirement of any data acquisition system is that it be capable of customizable user-programmed thermal alarms to trigger laser shutdown so as to avoid unnecessary thermal damage to the experimental setup.

Market research was conducted by ALSO team member has identified multiple manufacturers of thermal imaging units such as , , and -- However, products from these manufacturers are intended for use in industrial field applications such as power line monitoring and HVAC systems. The stringent research and development requirements outlined above are not met by these industrial grade systems. Only one (1) company was found to manufacture a thermal imaging system with all of the aforementioned requirements, Teledyne FUR. Therefore, Teledyne FLIR's products are the only ones capable of meeting all of the Government's minimum requirements of a comprehensive thermal monitoring system consisting of one (1) T560 infrared thermal imaging camera unit, one (1) close-up infrared lens compatible with the base imaging unit, and one (1) Research Studio Professional Edition data acquisition and processing software.

Teledyne FUR sells its products direct to end users and through authorized product suppliers, which includes both large and small businesses. Market research identified two (2) small businesses that can supply the Government's minimum requirements. Therefore, this procurement will be set aside for small businesses.

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.

8/24/2023

X Joseph Dellinger

Contracting Officer (KO)

Signed by: DELLINGER.JOSEPH.M.1456820650