Source Selection Information See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

B03 Request to Restrict Competition NTE SAT v060126 Effective June 2026

CUI

CUI

C. Market Research Conducted & Conclusions.

Detailed market research is required to establish why only one source, or one brand can meet the requirement for the exclusion of other sources or brands. This information will be verified before Contracting Officer approval.

Restrictive Rights:

Property Ownership Confirmation_18.06.26.pdf

In the US, Gexcon does not have an authorized agent or reseller

Market Research:

Assessing the hazard and resultant risk of shipboard casualties like fire and explosions requires detailed resolution of both thermal and pressure dynamics. Resolving these phenomena typically requires a fine mesh to be applied to the modeling domain. However, the application of this fine mesh to an entire ship platform becomes computationally infeasible (i.e., millions of cells). The X-Suite, more specifically the FLACS computational fluid dynamics code within it, has successfully addressed this disconnect using a Porosity Distributed Resistance (PDR) approach whereby small-scale physics can be reliably simulated within complex structures (like ship platforms) without resolving every structural detail within the modeling domain. Code 612 FPG engineers have investigated the capabilities of similar commercial codes (i.e., exploCFD and Ansys Fluent) and found that these codes either lack the ability to accurately predict the complexity of the casualty or efficiently manage the scale of the platform.

The Department of the Navy requires a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling tool capable of accurately predicting blast overpressures, shockwave propagation, and toxic/flammable gas dispersion in extremely congested environments (e.g., shipboard engineering spaces, magazines, and dense piping arrays).

While other CFD tools (such as DNV KFX/EXSIM or generic RANS solvers) exist, Gexcon's FLACS is the only software that utilizes a proprietary, fully validated Porosity Distributed Resistance (PDR) model specifically calibrated against 40 years of large-scale explosion testing for sub-grid geometry resolution down to one inch. In naval environments, failing to account for the turbulence generated by small-scale piping and structural framing leads to severe underestimations of flame acceleration and resulting blast overpressures.

FLACS is uniquely validated for the specific fuel types (including hydrogen and LNG) and confined-space geometries relevant to current DoN engineering programs. Procuring an alternative software would require the Navy to expend unacceptable time and engineering labor attempting to re-validate a generic CFD code to match the empirical baseline already established by FLACS, resulting in substantial duplication of cost that is not expected to be recovered through competition. Therefore, Gexcon is the only source capable of providing a software solution that meets the Navy's stringent blast consequence modeling requirements.

IV. CERTIFICATIONS & APPROVALS

A. Requirements Owner/Technical Certification. I certify that the information provided above is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that approval of this request precludes use of full and open competition.

Source Selection Information See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

B03 Request to Restrict Competition NTE SAT v060126 Effective June 2026

CUI

CUI

Requirements POC/Customer Digital Signature

B. Contracting Officer Decision. Based on the information provided herein, I approve the request to restrict competition pursuant to FAR 12.102(a).

Code 02 Contracting Officer Digital Signature