REDACTED Sole Source Justification.docx

USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION LESS THAN SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD MEMO

FROM:

CODE:

I. BACKGROUND

1. FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) states for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

2. As required by FAR 13.106-3(b)(3)(i), this memorandum explains the absence of competition for this acquisition, as only one source will be solicited for this requirement (or for a portion of the requirement) and the requirement is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

3. This memorandum is derived from Enclosure 3, Department of Navy Simplified Acquisition Procedures Guide (April 2018) and is only applicable to acquisitions under the SAT.

II. DESCRIPTION OF ITEM OR SERVICE

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) located in Bayview, Idaho conducts Navy RDT&E test programs for submarine technologies. Model submarines are deployed on the Intermediate Scale Measurement System (ISMS) underwater test range for a variety of acoustic and structural tests. The ISMS range is located in Lake Pend O’reille in northern Idaho. Electrical power is provide to this range via a 20,000 foot long cable linking utility power from a shore facility to the movable Target Model Handling (TMH) platform. The TMH platform moves from near the lake bottom to the lake surface at irregular intervals. This movement is primarily vertical through the 1160 foot water column but the TMH platform also moves in a relatively small 75 foot diameter watch circle while on the lake surface for periods of up to 2 days. The vertical movements are at irregular intervals and average about 100 times per year.

This current cable has been deployed for over 25 years and is near the end of its operational life and needs to be replaced. It connects electrical transformers and rectifiers inside a pressure vessel to utility power at the lake shore facility. It penetrates the pressure vessel through a custom made feed-through. The feed-through makes it extremely difficult to remove the pressure vessel from the TMH platform for maintenance or upgrades.

The replacement cable should be able to accept waterproof and pressure proof connectors to eliminate the existing feed-through. This will allow removal of the pressure for maintenance and upgrades without having to compromise the watertight integrity of the power cable.

The estimated cost for this service is $

MANUFACTURER: R.T. Casey, L.L.C.

ADDRESS: 121 Jarrell Dr. Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037

PHONE: 504-394-4908

NSWCCD Sole Source/Brand Name Justification Under SAT Rev 3 Template Effective February 2023

POC: Zachary Casey POC EMAIL: zcasey@rtcasey.com

POC PHONE: 504-491-2288

III. BASIS FOR DETERMINATION FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

· A. BRAND NAME:

Item required must be a brand name product, or feature of a product, particular to one manufacturer.

· 1. Restrictive Rights: The source has established proprietary rights, limited rights in data, patent rights, copyrights, or secret processes in the item or service required.

· 2. Exclusive Licensing Agreements: The item or service is only available from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

· 3. Other Reasons:

☒ B. SOLE SOURCE (select all that apply)

· 1. Restrictive Rights: The source has established proprietary rights, limited rights in data, patent rights, copyrights, or secret processes in the item or service required.

R.T. Casey, L.L.C., the vendor selected for the project, has developed proprietary knowledge and expertise over their 40 years in electrical service. This includes their ability to work closely with cable manufacturers to ensure the construction of cables that meet or exceed specific operational parameters required by NSWCCD ARD.

RT-Casey supplied power cables during the original design and installation of the ISMS range back in the early 1990s. They have unique knowledge of the power cable system design, installation, and functional considerations of ISMS equipment as compared to an alternate vendor. The ARD does not have the expertise to define the specific technical requirements on a highly unique power cable specification and is relying on the program’s original vendor (RT-Casey) to provide an enhanced power cable specification that is compatible with the existing range infrastructure.

Site visits by other vendors would be required for them to understand the complex, dynamic system that this cable must be engineered to perform within. The government labor required to facilitate other bidders in transferring information and facilitating site visits would likely exceed the cost of the engineering support being requested.

Going with an alternate vendor will require the ARD to expend significant engineering time working to explain the range infrastructure layout, design considerations, installation considerations, and require re-engineering new system components such as the cable compensation hardware and buoys, cable vault protection system, anchoring system, and TMH BSR brackets at an estimated cost of $ to develop. Additionally, there is a high risk of equipment compatibility and unknown quality if an alternate vendor is selected. This power cable is required to operate the ISMS range which has direct impact on COLUMBIA Test Programs, PMS450 & ONR 331 Signature work as well as emergent VIRGINIA issues / future Block VII testing and intermittent NUWC calibrations, NAWC, DARPA, future SSN(X), and other advanced systems testing and demonstration work.

· 2. Exclusive Licensing Agreements: The item or service is only available from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or there is only one authorized distributor or technical representative for the OEM.

☒ 3. Other Reasons: NSWCCD ARD contacted multiple vendors search of a company that can meet the requirements provided in the statement of work. This design project was out of scope for all vendors contacted except R.T. Casey, L.L.C. Due to the unique and non-standard technical requirements for the power cable, R.T. Casey LLC was the only vendor found during market research that expressed the capability to provide a design and identify manufacturers within the subsea power cable industry capable of producing this cable. R.T. Casey works closely with cable manufacturers ensuring construction of the power cable meets or exceeds the specification parameters. With this knowledge base, they can provide a unique power cable design that meets NSWCCD ARD operational needs.

As part of market research, other vendors were contacted and expressed capability of producing a cable specification that spanned 20,000’ in length however they specified that it would have to have intermediate splicing to join cable sections. Having cable splices does not meet the technical requirements that NSWCCD ARD is willing to accept based on the following:

A continuous cable provides improved reliability: splicing introduces potential points of failure. Without splices, the cable has few potential mechanical weakness points which improve the overall reliability and reduce the chance for faults. Splices can also be points of increased electrical resistance which introduces greater risk for overheating issues and overall reliability and service life impacts. A continuous cable minimizes electrical resistance and signal loss, leading to better performance which is especially pertinent due to the long length of the power cable. Without splices, the installation process reduces the complications and risks for installing a subsea power cable making it less prone to error or potential damage from mishandling the splices. Having a continuous piece cable also reduces the need for any periodic inspection, maintenance, or life cycle impacts.

R.T. Casey has prior experience in designing and installing a previous power cable used by NSWCCD ARD on Lake Pend Oreille. Their experience gives them the experience of understanding the “fit for purpose” specifications of the cable.

· C. LIMITED SOURCE (FAR 8.405-6):

Item required must be a brand name product, or feature of a product, particular to one manufacturer.

· 1. Restrictive Rights: The source has established proprietary rights, limited rights in data, patent rights, copyrights, or secret processes in the item or service required.

· 2. Exclusive Licensing Agreements: The item or service is only available from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

· 3. Other Reasons:

IV. CERTIFICATIONS & APPROVALS

A. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the facts and representation under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.