Redacted Justification for FA865124CB030.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

Was a J&A approved for the preceding acquisition where that acquisition required a J&A? D Yes [gj No

Is this a new or amended J&A Document? [gj New D Amended ( Prior to Award Only!)

Is this a Bridge Action as defined at AFFARS 5302.101 ? D Yes [gj No

Dollar Value of this Acquisition: 0 .5 $?SOK [gj > $?SOK and .5 $1 SM O > $1 SM and .5 $1 OOM 0 > $100M

Contracting Activity: AFRL/RWK

Purchase Request (if available)/ Local ID Number: TBD

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): Large-format infrared scene projector(IRSP) System for Hardware in Loop Application(HWIL)

Program Type (PEO, Enterprise, of Operational):

Supplemental Authority (if applicable):

6.302-1 - IO USC 2304(c)(l), Only One Responsible Source - No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): $ 1,400,000 J&A Type: 0 Class [gj Individual

COORDINATION ( AF FARS S306 .304(a) )

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Date Signature

12 Aug 2024

Date

14 Aug 2024

Date

APPROVAL ( AF FARS 5306 .304(al l

Date Competition Advocate Signature

13 May 2022 CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION I Page 1 of 5

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Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

I. Agency and Contracting Activity.

Air Force Research Laboratory

AFRL/RWK

203 West Elgin Blvd , Building 300 Eglin, AFB FL

II. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Division requires a Mirage-XL Dynamic Infrared Scene Projector. This will be a new, Firm Fixed Price contract action. Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. is capable of producing the projector.

Ill. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (Munitions) requires one Infrared scene projector that utilizes resistive emitter array technology to produce high-definition dynamic IR scenes to include the signal processing electronics, power supplies, emitter array cooling, calibration hardware, and user interface software.

There are no services associated with the system. - '

, - I

The estimated value of the ·acquisition is $1,400,000, the estimated delivery date for the projection system is 18 October 2025. This is a commodity item. There are no special requirements for the system, such as rights in technical data, systems engineering, integration , or sustainment.

The system must have the ability to integrate with existing infrared scene projector and all digital video interface (DVI) and locally stored custom images.

IV. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above.

The system will be under the configuration control of the government and will be integrated into our Kinetic Kill Vehicle Hardware in the Loop Simulator (KHILS) test capability.

his is not a follow-on contract; however, the KHILS contains a similar projector. It is not uncommon, as greater capabilities are needed, to acquire an additional system that can be utilized to gain greater efficiencies or expand current capabilities.

e technical team evaluated the provided documentation and deemed it technically incompatible.

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Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

It is unacceptable to incorporate an inferior scene projection system into the KHILS for the sole purpose of competition or providing an acquisition opportunity to a small business. The cost of procuring dynamic scene projection system, combined with engineering a means of compatibility , would result in a substantial duplication of costs that would n.t b ecovered in a competitive effort between the two projection systems. The cost of procuring ynamic scene projector would result in substantial costs that would not be recovered in the course o a competitive effort between the two systems.

V. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

On 24 June 2024 special notice synopsis FA865124IRPROJECTOR was posted on SAM.Gov. The special notice identified AFRL/RWs need for potential sources that might possess the ability to provide infrared scene projection that utilizes resistive emitter array technology to produce high-definition dynamic IR scenes to include the signal processing electronics, power supplies, emitter array cooling, calibration hardware, and user interface software. Our rationale to exclude sources was based on compatibility to be integrated into a system that already used the MIRAGE-XL Dynamic Scene Projection System.

Compatibility and capability of the system are key criteria to ensure the KHIL remains capable of high fidelity hardware-in the-loop (HWIL) simulation of guided hit to kill weapons.

We contacted SBIR, Inc. who we knew to be a source.

as a possible source. The technical team evaluated the provided documentation and deemed it technically incompatible.

A list of key SBIR, Inc. Mirage-XL Dynamic Infrared Scene Projector components and technical requirements follows:

General Requirements

• Emitter type: Micro-resistor (thermal emitters)

• Emitter array resolution: 1024 x 1024 pixels

• Emission Spectral Band: 2.5 to 12.5 micron

• Pixel size: 48 microns square

• Effective temperature range: 285 to 675K, 3-5 µm, 290-650K with NUC applied ; 285 to 525K 8-12 µm, 290-500K with NUC applied, 285 to 525K 8-12 µm, 290-500K with NUC applied

• Thermal resolution (MWIR): <40mK below 325K MWIR apparent; <1 00mK above 325K MWIR apparent; <1 00mK above 325K MWIR apparent

• Input frame rate : 20-200 Hz

• Non-uniformity correction: 16-point LUT

• Max pixels change per frame: Full frame (1 ,048,576) pixels

• Pixel rise time (10% to 90%): ~5.0 msecs

• Dead pixels: <0.5%

• Input scene data: DVI , local memory, or high-speed serial data input

• Gray scale resolution : 14-bit

Additional Unique Requirements

• Image frame capture from image data stream at multiple stages

• Image frame capture from image data stream at multiple stages

• External frame synchronization

• User-customizable real-time non-uniformity correction (NUC)

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• User-customizable pixel drive transformation lookup tables (LUTs)

• Image orientation control (horizontal and vertical image flip)

• Scene Accelerator Upgrade

• 50-foot-long jacketed coolant lines to allow for installation on a flight motion simulator

To summarize, only SBIR and ~xpressed interest in providing an IR dynamic scene projection system. Of the two, - was evaluated as unable to meet the government requirement. No further interest was expressed by any vendor.

VI. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The projector was purchased previously at a cost of $1 ,371 ,060. The purchase was made in fiscal year 2020. The contracting officer will use historical price pricing as a price analysis technique to ensure a fair and reasonable cost. Additionally, the cost of procuring CDS' dynamic scene project system, then engineering some means of compatibility , would result in a substantial duplication of costs that would not be recovered in the course of a competitive effort between the two incompatible dynamic scene projection systems.

VII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

On 24 June 2024 a special notice synopsis was posted on SAM.Gov. The special notice identified AFRL/ RWs need for potential sources that might possess the ability to provide infrared scene projection that utilizes resistive emitter array technology to produce high-definition dynamic IR scenes to include the signal processing electronics , power supplies, emitter array cooling, calibration hardware, and user interface software. Our rationale to exclude sources was based on compatibility to be integrated into a system that already used the MIRAGE-XL Dynamic Scene Projection System. Compatibility and capability of the system are key criteria to ensure the KHIL remains capable of high-fidelity hardware-in the-loop (HWIL) simulation of guided hit to kill weapons.

We contacted SBIR, Inc. who we knew to be a source. One other potential source, - -esponded to our synopsis and proposed their Infrared LED Scene Proje~ proposed dynamic scene projector . ... documentation was forwarded to the technical team for review as a possible source. The technical team evaluated the provided documentation and deemed it technically incompatible.

VIII. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

Manufacture of Dynamic Infrared Scene Projectors is a very specialized endeavor. There are few known sources of supply. Only two sources expressed an interest in our requirement.

IX. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition .

( " responded to our synopsis and proposed their Infrared LED Scene Projector ystem with a proposed dynamic scene projector.

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X. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

AFRL Munitions Directorate will continue to push the boundaries of available technologies for incorporation into our Kinetic Kill Vehicle Hardware in the Loop Simulator. When our market research identifies competition exists, we will accommodate competitive acquisition strategies to the maximum extent practicable.

XI. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

13 May 2022 Page 5 of 5