Redacted Simplified Acquisition Sole Source Justification.pdf

1. Contracting Activity: United States (US) Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Adelphi Contracting Division (CCAP-SCA), 2800 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783

2. Description of Action: The Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Terminal Effects Division (TED), requires the award of a five-year Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract on an other than full and open competition basis to FISICA Applied Technologies, Inc., 2700 Merced Street, San Leandro, CA 94577. The contemplated contract will provide Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supplies and services necessary to sustain, maintain, repair, restore, modify, upgrade, expand, and maintain interoperability of Government-owned FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray and Computed Radiography (CR) systems.

The proposed IDIQ will have a five-year ordering period from 25 August 2026 through 24 August 2031. Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) delivery orders will be issued against the IDIQ as requirements arise. The Government anticipates award in August 2026.

This action is a follow-on to contract W911QX-21-D-0005, which provided substantially similar OEM supplies and services supporting Government-owned FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray and CR systems. The predecessor acquisition was awarded on a sole-source basis.

In connection with that acquisition, ARL committed to continue surveying the marketplace for potential alternative sources capable of supporting the Government's installed FISICA/L3 equipment.

In support of this follow-on acquisition, ARL conducted updated market research and publicized the requirement through a Notice of Intent to Sole Source, providing responsible sources an opportunity to submit capability statements, proposals, or quotations demonstrating their ability to satisfy the Government's requirements. No alternative sources responded to the notice. The Government's market research, efforts to obtain competition, and actions to identify potential alternative sources are further addressed in Sections 6 through 9 of this justification.

X An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement either does not meet the applicable threshold at DFARS 207.103(d)(i), or is an R&D acquisition and does not meet the definition of services applicable to that acquisition-planning requirement.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supplies and services to sustain, maintain, repair, restore, modify, upgrade, expand, and maintain interoperability of Government-owned FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray and Computed Radiography (CR) systems.

The supplies and services covered by this justification are limited to FISICA Applied Technologies OEM products and services required to support Government-owned FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray and CR systems currently installed or operated by ARL.

Covered supplies may include FISICA OEM X-ray tubes of various power ratings; remote and demountable tubeheads and associated cables; control cables; capacitor modules;

high-voltage power supplies; X-ray controller (XCON) trigger systems; trigger transformers; charge resistors; OEM components, connectors, and assemblies; CR image plates; image scanners/readers; controller software; and other FISICA OEM components necessary to maintain or support Government-owned FISICA/L3 equipment.

Covered services may include factory maintenance and repair; troubleshooting; pulser rebuilding; repair or replacement of high-voltage components; calibration and certification; refurbishment; installation of replacement components; OEM engineering support; and modifications and upgrades to existing Government-owned FISICA/L3 equipment, including power-supply and trigger-system upgrades and air conversion of existing 300 kV and 450 kV Flash X-ray systems.

The IDIQ may also include additional FISICA Flash X-ray equipment, channels, components, or system expansions when required to interface with, expand, or maintain interoperability with the Government's existing FISICA/L3 equipment and experimental facility infrastructure. Such acquisitions must have a documented technical relationship to the Government's installed FISICA/L3 architecture.

This justification does not provide authority to acquire unrelated new Flash X-ray, CR, or radiography systems from FISICA when compatibility or interoperability with existing Government-owned FISICA/L3 equipment is not required. Requirements for standalone new systems that do not depend upon the existing FISICA/L3 architecture will be subject to separate market research and an appropriate acquisition strategy.

Individual delivery orders will identify the specific supplies or services required, quantities, requiring organization, delivery or performance location, and applicable technical requirements. Orders issued under the IDIQ shall remain within the scope and maximum ordering limitations established by the contract.

The estimated maximum value of the proposed five-year IDIQ is $6,300,000.00, inclusive of all contemplated orders and options. The Government will establish an appropriate minimum ordering obligation and maximum contract value in accordance with the IDIQ terms.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this acquisition is 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1), as implemented by RFO FAR 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

In accordance with RFO FAR 6.103-1, the Government may contract without providing for full and open competition when the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. For the Department of Defense, this authority also extends to situations where only a limited number of responsible sources can satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: FISICA Applied Technologies, Inc. is the only responsible source currently identified as capable of satisfying the requirements of this acquisition. FISICA is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the Government-owned Flash X-ray and Computed Radiography (CR) systems covered by this acquisition and owns or controls the proprietary technical data, engineering specifications, manufacturing drawings, software, and intellectual property necessary to manufacture, repair, modify, certify, and support the equipment.

ARL's existing FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray and CR systems are uniquely integrated into ARL experimental facilities and are used to collect radiographic data during ballistic and other dynamic test events. The Government has invested more than $20 million in this installed equipment, which includes more than 100 X-ray tubes and associated pulsers, counter/timers, trigger amplifiers, digital delay generators, regulator panels, cables, and related components. Maintaining compatibility, interoperability, and required operating specifications among these systems is necessary to preserve the Government's existing capability and the integrity and reliability of experimental data.

Replacement Parts and Components. The replacement parts and components covered by this justification must be compatible and interchangeable with the Government's existing FISICA/L3 systems. These include X-ray tubes, tubeheads, cables, capacitor modules, high-voltage power supplies, XCON trigger systems, trigger transformers, charge resistors, and associated components and assemblies. FISICA controls the proprietary specifications and manufacturing information necessary to produce its OEM components. The Government's market research has not identified another manufacturer, authorized reseller, or other source capable of providing the required FISICA OEM components.

Maintenance, Repair, and Refurbishment. FISICA possesses the proprietary technical information, OEM specifications, and engineering knowledge necessary to troubleshoot, repair, rebuild, refurbish, calibrate, and certify the Government-owned equipment to the manufacturer's required operating specifications. The requirement includes troubleshooting system malfunctions, pulser rebuilding, repair or replacement of high-voltage components, refurbishment, calibration, certification, and related factory services. The Government's market research has not identified an authorized third-party service provider capable of performing these services to FISICA OEM specifications.

Modifications and Upgrades. Modifications and upgrades covered by this justification are limited to Government-owned FISICA/L3 equipment or additional FISICA equipment required to interface with the existing system architecture. These requirements may include power-supply and trigger-system upgrades, air conversion of existing 300 kV and 450 kV Flash X-ray systems, and other modifications necessary to sustain or expand existing FISICA capabilities. Because these modifications alter or interface directly with proprietary FISICA equipment, access to FISICA technical data, engineering specifications, software, and system-level knowledge is required.

Additional Equipment and System Expansion. Additional FISICA Flash X-ray equipment, channels, components, or system expansions may be acquired under this justification only when required to interface with, expand, or maintain interoperability with the Government's existing FISICA/L3 equipment and experimental facility infrastructure. This justification does not provide authority to acquire unrelated standalone Flash X-ray or radiography systems when compatibility or interoperability with existing Government-owned FISICA/L3 equipment is not required.

Computed Radiography (CR) Systems. The Government-owned CR systems covered by this acquisition are FISICA/L3-manufactured systems or consist of proprietary components integrated with the Government's existing FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray system architecture. The CR equipment and associated components are used as part of the Government's existing radiographic data collection capability and must remain compatible with the installed FISICA equipment and associated software.

Accordingly, the CR supplies and services covered by this justification are limited to FISICA OEM or proprietary CR components, including applicable image plates, image scanners/readers, controller software, replacement components, and associated maintenance and repair services necessary to sustain Government-owned FISICA/L3 CR systems. These supplies and services must maintain OEM compatibility, system interoperability, and certification to the manufacturer's operating specifications.

CR requirements that do not depend upon the existing FISICA/L3 architecture, proprietary components, technical data, software, or OEM capabilities are not covered by this justification and will be subject to separate market research and an appropriate acquisition strategy.

The Government has conducted market research and provided industry an opportunity to identify alternative sources capable of satisfying these requirements. No alternative manufacturer, authorized reseller, service provider, or other responsible source capable of satisfying the requirements has been identified, and no alternative sources responded to the Government's current Notice of Intent to Sole Source.

Based on FISICA's ownership and control of the proprietary technical information associated with its equipment; the compatibility and interoperability requirements of the Government's installed systems; the requirement to maintain, restore, modify, and certify the equipment to OEM operating specifications; and the results of the Government's market research and industry notice, FISICA Applied Technologies, Inc. is the only responsible source currently identified as capable of satisfying the Government's requirements. Therefore, other than full and open competition is authorized pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1), as implemented by RFO FAR 6.103-1.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR Part 5, the Government publicized a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Solicitation No. W911QX26RA031 for the contemplated five-year Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract supporting Government-owned FISICA Flash X-ray and Computed Radiography (CR) systems.

The notice identified FISICA Applied Technologies, Inc. as the intended sole-source contractor and described the supplies and services contemplated under the acquisition, including OEM replacement parts and equipment, maintenance, repair, refurbishment, calibration, upgrades, modifications, installation, certification, and related engineering services.

The notice expressly provided any responsible source that believed it could satisfy the Government's requirements an opportunity to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation demonstrating its ability to meet the requirement. The notice further advised that all timely responses would be considered by the Government in determining whether competition was practicable.

The response period closed without receipt of any capability statements, proposals, quotations, or other expressions of interest from alternative sources. Accordingly, the Government did not identify any additional source capable of satisfying the requirements through the public notice process.

The results of this competition effort, considered together with the Government's market research and technical evaluation, support the determination that FISICA Applied Technologies, Inc. is the only responsible source currently identified as capable of satisfying the requirements covered by this justification.

7.Actions to Increase Competition

The Government has taken continuing actions to identify potential alternative sources capable of satisfying this requirement.

Prior to award of predecessor contract W911QX-21-D-0005, ARL conducted market research from October 2019 through October 2020 that included extensive internet research of vendors within the Flash X-ray systems industry and review of previous procurements for similar requirements. That research did not identify another source capable of providing equipment and services compatible with the Government's installed FISICA/L3 systems.

Additionally, the Government published a synopsis/Request for Information (RFI) on Beta.SAM on 2 November 2020, which remained open through 17 November 2020. The notice invited potential sources that believed they could satisfy the requirement to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation for Government consideration. No alternative sources expressed interest.

During performance of the predecessor acquisition, ARL continued to monitor the market for Flash X-ray systems and potential sources capable of supporting the Government's installed equipment. As part of acquisition planning for this follow-on requirement, ARL again conducted market research concerning available sources, OEM components, maintenance and repair services, and potential third-party resellers. The research confirmed that FISICA Applied Technologies remains the owner of the intellectual property associated with the components and services required to operate and sustain the Government's existing systems and does not sell the required components and services through intermediary resellers.

The Government also publicized the current requirement through a Notice of Intent to Sole Source under Solicitation No. W911QX26RA031. The notice provided responsible sources an opportunity to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation demonstrating their ability to satisfy the Government's requirements. No capability statements, proposals, quotations, or other expressions of interest were received from alternative sources.

These actions demonstrate the Government's continuing efforts to identify potential competitive sources since the predecessor acquisition. Despite repeated market research and two separate public notices providing industry an opportunity to demonstrate capability, the Government has not identified an alternative source capable of satisfying the requirements.

ARL will continue to monitor the marketplace during the ordering period of the resulting IDIQ for alternative sources capable of satisfying all or portions of the requirement. If an alternative source is identified, the Government will evaluate the source's technical capability, compatibility and interoperability with Government-owned FISICA/L3 systems, access to required technical data and OEM components, ability to restore and certify equipment to required operating specifications, and ability to satisfy the specific requirement. Where an alternative source is determined capable of satisfying a requirement, the Government will consider that source in developing the appropriate acquisition strategy for the requirement.

8. Market Research: Market research has been conducted throughout the acquisition history of this requirement and was updated in support of this follow-on acquisition. The Government's research has focused on identifying alternative manufacturers, authorized resellers, maintenance and repair providers, and other sources capable of supporting the Government's installed FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray and Computed Radiography (CR) systems.

For the predecessor acquisition, ARL conducted market research from October 2019 through October 2020. That research included extensive internet research of vendors within the Flash X-ray systems industry and review of previous procurements for similar requirements, including predecessor IDIQ contract W911QX-15-D-0019. The research did not identify another source capable of providing equipment, parts, or services meeting the Government's compatibility requirements for its installed L3/FISICA systems.

As an additional means of testing the marketplace, the Government published a synopsis/RFI on Beta.SAM on 2 November 2020 with a response date of 17 November 2020. The notice provided potential sources an opportunity to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation demonstrating their ability to satisfy the requirement.

No alternative vendors expressed interest.

For the current follow-on acquisition, ARL updated its market research on 24 April 2026.

The Government reviewed mandatory and existing sources and determined that the required supplies and services are not available through UNICOR or AbilityOne. The requirement was also determined to consist of non-IT supplies and services and therefore is not subject to mandatory use of CHESS.

Technical research for the current acquisition confirmed that FISICA Applied Technologies owns the intellectual property associated with the components and services necessary to support the Government's existing Flash X-ray systems and does not sell the required components and services through intermediary resellers. The Government did not identify an authorized third-party manufacturer, reseller, or service provider capable of providing the FISICA OEM products and services required to maintain the Government's installed systems to the required operating specifications.

The Government further tested the current marketplace by publicizing a Notice of Intent to Sole Source under Solicitation No. W911QX26RA031. The notice described the contemplated supplies and services for the Government-owned FISICA Flash X-ray and CR systems and expressly provided responsible sources an opportunity to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation demonstrating their ability to satisfy the Government's requirements. No responses, capability statements, proposals, quotations, or expressions of interest were received from alternative sources by the response deadline.

The Government's market research therefore includes historical and current industry research, review of prior acquisitions, review of mandatory sources, technical evaluation of the Government's existing equipment and compatibility requirements, investigation of the availability of third-party resellers and service providers, and repeated public notices to industry. These efforts have not identified an alternative manufacturer, authorized reseller, service provider, or other responsible source capable of satisfying the requirements covered by this justification.

Based on the results of this market research, the Government has a reasonable expectation that FISICA Applied Technologies remains the only responsible source currently capable of providing the proprietary OEM products and services required to sustain, repair, modify, upgrade, and maintain interoperability and certification of the Government-owned FISICA/L3 Flash X-ray and CR systems.

9. Interested Sources: The Government publicized a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Solicitation No. W911QX26RA031 in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. The notice provided interested responsible sources an opportunity to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation demonstrating their ability to satisfy the Government's requirements for supplies and services supporting the existing Government-owned FISICA Flash X-ray and Computed Radiography (CR) systems.

No capability statements, proposals, quotations, or other expressions of interest were received from alternative sources by the response deadline. Accordingly, the Government did not identify any additional sources capable of satisfying the requirements through the public notice process.

The absence of responses to the notice, considered together with the Government's market research, technical assessment, and prior efforts to identify alternative sources, further supports the determination that FISICA Applied Technologies is the only responsible source currently identified as capable of satisfying the requirements covered by this justification.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History

1. Contract numbers and dates of the last several awards:

Contract: W911QX-21-D-0005 Base IDIQ Contractor: Fisica Applied Technologies, Inc.

Award Date: 16 June 2021 Period of Performance: 16 June 2021 to 15 June 2026 Dollar Value: $5,000,000.00 (ceiling) Competitive Status: Sole Source Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1

Contract: W911QX-15-D-0019 IDIQ Contractor: L3 Applied Technologies, Inc Award Date: 08 September 2015 Period of Performance: Five (5) year ordering period, 08 September 2015 – 07 September 2020 Dollar Value: $5,000,000.00 Competitive Status: Sole Source Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1

2. Competitive status of these actions:

All actions that require materials in the acquisitions above were awarded on a sole source basis to Fisica Applied Technologies.

3. Authority previously used for less than full and open competition:

The statutory authority for this action is 10 USC 2304 (c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements was used for all of the above referenced contracts.

4. If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, a summary of the contents of paragraph 7 of the justification for that procurement and an explanation of the results:

The same justification was provided in previous procurements. ARL has been monitoring the market for Flash X-Ray Systems and will continue to search for qualified sources, comparable to Fisica Applied Technologies. However, since Fisica is the OEM of the equipment and parts, it’s most advantageous to the Government to use OEM parts for the existing Government owned equipment.

5. If any prior award was accomplished by full and open competition, a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances:

All previous actions were solicited with Fisica Applied Technologies, utilizing the Sole Source FAR authority 6.302-1 justification.

6. An explanation of any unusual patterns which may be revealed by the history;

e.g., several consecutive, urgent buys:

N/A

7. If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the buy and whether there have been any significant changes:

a. Previous justification and approval for materials/services purchased from Fisica that exceeded the simplified acquisition threshold but were under individual contract. This proposed effort is requiring a Simplified Acquisition Sole Source Justification, using the same sole source authority, in order to provide the contract usage to a bigger audience of ARL users by intending to award an IDIQ contract with Fisica Applied Technologies.

b. Acquisition data availability. N/A

c. Unusual and compelling urgency. N/A

d. Subcontracting competition. N/A

e. Follow on contracts. N/A