Sensor Lease Redacted SSJ.pdf

Subj: SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION MEMORANDUM FOR QUANTUM NITROGEN

VACANCY MAGNETOMETER

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Sole Source Justification.”

This is a sole source justification. Contracting activity is NSWC-PCD, Code 024, 110 Vernon Ave., Panama City, FL, 32407.

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

This action will award a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) lease and services contract to Zero Drift Technologies.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

This acquisition is for a quantum nitrogen vacancy-based vector magnetometer to enhance Navy adoption of emerging quantum sensing technologies. This will include an 8-month lease of the sensing hardware as well as technical support for noise cancellation/troubleshooting on the sensor system.

This acquisition will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures with a total estimated value greater than $25,000. The Government's minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel. This memo does not authorize acquisition for other requirements. This purchase will be funded with NISE funding.

4. Identification of the justification rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service. 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, FAR 6.302-1.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) currently has a requirement for the item(s) listed in Paragraph 3 of this document. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) currently has a requirement for the item(s) listed in Paragraph 3 of this document. Zero Drift Technologies is the only source capable of providing this prototype of a highly specialized Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) diamond quantum magnetometer technology in a fully integrated, field-ready format. Unlike standard magnetometers or bulky laboratory-bound quantum prototypes, this proprietary technology delivers absolute vector accuracy and real-time magnetic field measurements within an extreme low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) footprint. This unique combination of ruggedization, unshielded operational capability, and real-time machine-learning-assisted processing is essential for the Navy's requirement to test emerging magnetometer technologies on relevant Naval platforms including but not limited to unmanned underwater vehicles and seabed assets.

As such, the government does not expect significant savings through competition and it is more advantageous to the Government to award on a sole source basis to the Zero Drift Technologies for the item(s) listed in Paragraph 3 of this document.

5. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 13.106-1(b).

The Contracting Officer has determined that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

For the reasons specified in paragraph 4 above, Zero Drift Technologies is the only source that can meet the Government’s needs. This requirement will be synopsized in the government point of entry sam.gov because it is estimated greater than $25,000.00.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

None.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

As stated in paragraph 4 above, Zero Drift Technologies is the only source that can meet this requirement.