REDACTED_Simplified Acquisition Sole Source Justification (FAR 13.5).pdf

Control No: [REDACTED]

Contractor: Keysight Technologies Inc

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Programs/Equipment: The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL) [REDACTED] requires one one (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and Critical Add-on Components.

Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

Amount: [REDACTED]

Prepared by: [REDACTED]

Contracting Officer: Meghan Whitmore DSN: 301-394-3880 Branch Chief Date: 05/15/2025 Email: meghan.c.whitmore.civ@army.mil

Technical: [REDACTED]

Requirements: [REDACTED]

Controlled by: US Army Controlled by: ACC-APG

CUI Category: General Procurement & Acquisition Distribution/Dissemination Control: FEDCON

POC: [REDACTED]

mailto:meghan.c.whitmore.civ@army.mil

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components

FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground, Adelphi Contracting Division, (ACC-APG), Adelphi Contracting Division, (CCAP-SCA), 2800 Powder Mill RD, Adelphi, MD 20783.

2. Description of Action: DEVCOM [REDACTED] at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requests a firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract with Keysight Technologies, Inc. 1900 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907-3423, United States. The Government projects award for July 2025 and fiscal year 2025, Congressional Add funds will be used.

_X_ An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement either does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i), or is an R&D acquisition and does not meet the definition of services in 10 U.S.C. 2330(c)(2).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Government requires one (1) Keysight UHV Expander Test System and Critical Add-on Components. The following are specifications, and quantities estimated costs:

Part# Description Quantity

N1265A

Ultra High Current Expander /

Fixture KeysightCare Assured

First Year Support Return to

Keysight Warranty - 1 year.

N1265A-001 Ultra High Current Expander /

Test Fixture

N1265-010 500 A Ultra High Current 3-pin

Inline Package Socket Module

N1265-040 10 kilovolt (kV) Ultra High Voltage

Gate Protection Adapter

N1254A-508 Banana to Banana Cable (red) 2

N1254A-508 Banana to Banana Cable (black) 2

N1254A-508 Dolphin Clip (red and black) 2

N1254A-511 Cable Lug Adapter (red and black)

N1254A-520 10 kV Ultra High Voltage Open

End Cable, 1 meter

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components

N1268A

Ultra High Voltage Expander

KeysightCare Assured First Year

Support Return to Keysight

Warranty - 1 year.

N1268A-

STD

Ultra High Voltage Expander 1

16493V-002 10 kV Ultra High Voltage Cable, 3 meter

PS-XSUP-

AESN1

Solution Engineer Professional

Services Days delivered over 12 months from invoicing

Period of Performance: Seven (7) weeks after contract award (ACA) Total Value: [REDACTED]

4. Authority Cited: 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: [REDACTED] at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) needs to advance its test capability to ten (10) kV UHV to enable characterization of wide bandgap and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor power switches being developed in-house and through collaborative device development programs. Electrical characterization is critical to validating two (2) and three (3) dimensional device models and key material and performance metrics from test structures and fully fabricated in-house devices. The outcome of this work supports the development of high voltage power-switching devices that will enable Army and DoD capabilities for high efficiency and high power density power conversion systems.

The Keysight Technologies Inc. ten (10) kV UHV expander is the only product in the commercial marketplace that provides the minimum blocking voltage requirements with integration into the teams existing power analyzer framework previously purchased from Keysight Technologies Inc, safe operation with interlocked test fixture with ten (10) kV and one (1) kiloampere (kA) capabilities, and dedicated protection modules for lower voltage source measurement units integrated into the existing mainframe unit.

The research that will be conducted using the required UHV ten (10) kV Expander and critical add-ons from Keysight Technologies, Inc. will allow the Army to fully characterize and evaluate power switching devices being developed under various Department of Defense (DoD) programs to be transitioned from lab-to-lab in support of the Warfighter. If the Government does not procure this system, ARL will have to find a collaborator with

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components this capability which will slow electrical testing and analysis and impact the speed of development and the overall program.

The Government evaluated similar products from [REDACTED] to determine the compatibility to the current mainframe unit. It was determined that they cannot be integrated into the existing framework being used in the laboratory. The Keysight Power Semiconductor Analyzer purchased under contract W911QX21P0106 is the mainframe unit and is designed to only work with Keysight Technology components. Keysight is the only manufacturer that can provide the minimum technical specifications required by the Government and is the only vendor who can supply components compatible with existing systems. Additionally, procurement of such an entire system would come at an [REDACTED] to the Government in comparison to procuring just the ten (10) kV upgrade.

Due to all of the aforementioned details and based upon the market research performed, Keysight Technologies, Inc. is the only company that can satisfy the Government’s minimum requirements as they are the only source that allows for complete integration of the 10 kV UHV expander and critical add-on components into a one system solution.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Keysight Technologies Inc is the only vendor capable of meeting all of the Government’s minimum requirements and able to be integrated into the existing power device analyzer framework. A few standalone ten (10) kV systems are available in the commercial marketplace from other suppliers; however, they cannot be integrated into the existing framework being used in the laboratory. The Contracting Officer published a formal synopsis on 27 May 2025 with a closing date of 03 June 2025.

[REDACTED]

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Two other sources were found capable of meeting all of the Government’s minimum requirements – TestMart and TEVET. These vendors are resellers of Keysight products and allow for integration within the existing power device analyzer framework being used in the laboratory. Keysight Technologies, Inc. will likely be the only source that can meet the Government’s minimum requirements for the near future; however, the Government will continue to monitor the commercial marketplace for other UHV Expanders that will meet the Government’s minimum technical requirements. In addition, the requiring office will continue to survey the commercial marketplace for any changes in Keysight Technologies, Inc. proprietary rights for the required technology. ARL will continue to pursue web searches, consultations with knowledgeable Government and industry personnel, and attend trade shows or web-based communications to help locate alternative manufacturers that can provide the required UHV Expander.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted between 15 January 2025 to 04 March 2025 by [REDACTED] searched on the General Supply Schedule (GSA) website, contacted knowledgeable people within the Government and industry, and searched the internet for potential offerors. Market research identified multiple companies able to provide power device analyzers such as Keysight Technologies, Inc., Tektronix/Keithley, and Scientific Test. Power device analyzers from Tektronix/Keithley

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components do not have ten (10) kV capability and offerings from Scientific Test, Inc. are industrial standalone solutions that cannot be integrated into the existing platform and would cost the Government much more to procure the new system in its entirety. Keysight Technologies, Inc. is the only company capable of meeting the Government’s minimum requirements. It was also determined that Keysight Technologies has two (2) authorized resellers who can provide quotes for Keysight products – TEVET LLC and Technical Communities Inc.

9. Interested Sources:

As required by FAR 5.201, a synopsis was posted to the government wide point of entry, SAM.gov. The Government received one (1) response from an interested vendor, Technical Communities Inc. However, further market research determined that Keysight Technologies has two (2) authorized resellers for the requirement, Technical Communities and TEVET LLC.

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

1900 Garden Of The Gods RD Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907-3423, United States Unique Entity ID: NNMLTBU9E5H3 CAGE Code: 7ZXR5 SAM Expiration Date: 06 December 2025 Business Size: Large

Technical Communities, Inc.

1840 Gateway DR STE 150 San Mateo, California 94404-4028, United States Unique Entity ID: MCQUYM6GHNJ5 CAGE Code: 1RPN6 SAM Expiration Date: 23 January 2026 Business Size: Small

TEVET LLC

1113 Tusculum BLVD. Suite 108 Greeneville, Tennessee 37745-4038, United States Unique Entity ID: CQLFMKPGRUQ3 CAGE Code: 34SR4 SAM Expiration Date: 07 May 2026 Business Size: Small

10. Other Facts:

On 11 June 2021, the mainframe unit with contract number W911QX21P0106 was awarded to Keysight Technologies, Inc. in the amount [REDACTED] for one (1) Keysight

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components

Power Semiconductor Analyzer. However, there is no procurement history for the specific UHV Expander being procured as this is a first time buy for the required ten (10) kV UHV expander that will be integrated into the mainframe unit.

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

[REDACTED]

X

Technical Certifier (Tech)

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

[REDACTED]

Requirements Certifier

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following:

__ Cost analysis __ Price analysis __ Should-cost

_X_ IGE

__ Audit:

__ Other:

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data:

__ will be required.

_X_ will not be required and the following exception applies (FAR 15.403):

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on adequate price competition.

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on prices set by law or regulation.

_X_ A commercial item is being acquired.

__ A waiver has been granted by the head of the contracting activity (HCA) in accordance with DFARS PGI 215.403-1.

__ The contract action is a modification to a contract or subcontract for commercial item(s).

__ The estimated cost of the contract action is less than the threshold for certified cost or pricing data.

Contracting Officer (KO)

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

Supply/Service: One (1) Keysight Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Expander Test System and

Critical Add-on Components

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of One (1) ten

(10) kV UHV Expander with critical Add-on components required to support internal and external testing and evaluation of UWBG power switching devices, for an estimate of [REDACTED] and for seven (7) weeks after receipt of order, on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.