Sole Source Justification.pdf

J&A Number: N00167-

25-SIMACQ-CD-65-0040

Description Quantity AU-ME-STD--MNT, Altair Software Perpetual License Maintenance � Mechanical Engineering Level Package, Code 65

AU-ME-STD--AN, Altair Software Leased License-50 units � Mechanical Engineering Level Package � PPS-Promo-AN conversion, Code 65

AU-ME-STD--AN, Altair Software Leased License-total of 84 units� Mechanical Engineering Level Package � PP-Promo-AN conversion, Code 65

AU-ME-STD--AN, Altair Software Leased License-total of 84 units� Mechanical Engineering Level Package � PP-Promo-AN conversion, Code 661

AU-ME-STD--AN, Altair Software Leased License-total of 42 units� Mechanical Engineering Level Package � PP-Promo-AN conversion, Code 664

AU-ME-STD--AN Altair Software License Perpetual Maintenance - Mechanical Suite, Code 652

This contract will have a period of performance through Fiscal Year (FY) 2030 if all options are exercised.

The below table provides estimated funding amounts for purchase of Altair software and maintenance by dollar value and appropriation.

Table: Appropriation by FY

Approp. FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Total Est.

Cost

SCC

The Government�s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel.

The Product Service Code (PSC) for this procurement will be 7A21 IT and Telecom - business application software (perpetual license software).

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Soliciting from a Single Source

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), �The property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency.� (FAR 13.501(a))

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

NSWCCD Code 65, Structures and Composites, and Code 66, Survivability and Weapons Effects Division engineers have used Altair software to create, modify and run finite element models to support testing, evaluation and certification of US Naval ship and submarine systems since FY 2011. As such, NSWCCD personnel have already been trained on this specific software. Current streamlined workflows utilized by NSWCCD for finite element analysis model generation are specifically based on software tools available within the Altair Simulation software suite.

Current Altair-based evaluation and certification processes are approved by the NAVSEA Submarine Propulsor Technical Warrant Holders (TWHs). Therefore, use of software other than Altair would require completing a new modeling process proven through a validation and verification (V&V) effort, resulting in additional cost and schedule delays associated with the V&V effort.

Altair Simulation software is required to continue collaboration among NSWCCD Codes 65/661/664, and between other Naval Warfare Centers, contractors, and customers.

The procurement of any other brand of software would result in additional costs to the Government that are not expected to be recovered through competition, as NSWCCD would require retraining of its personnel for use of different software, as well as Government labor for redevelopment of finite element models, structural designs, and software codes/scripts. Additionally, use of any other brand of software may result in unacceptable delays and coverage gaps in fulfilling NSWCCD�s mission to test, evaluate and certify US Naval ship and submarine systems.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable

Altair Engineering, as the developer of Altair Simulation software, has proprietary rights and is the sole provider of the requisite Altair Software. There are no authorized resellers for this software, and NSWCCD has verified that the software is not available through mandatory sources, such as the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule, or DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) Agreements.

NSWCCD performed market research, in accordance with FAR 10.002(b)(2), and the results of which verified that Altair is the sole provider of all AU-ME-STD-MNT PP-PROMO-AN Conversion and PPS-PROMO-AN Conversion products.

It is worth noting that contracting with Altair is subject to and governed by Altair Software License Agreement (SLA) terms and conditions. Altair and NSWCCD have an existing SLA dated 12 September 2017 and the use of the Altair software procured by NSWCCD is subject to and governed by said Master SLA. Please see the attachment, Altair and NSWCCD License Agreement of 12 Sept 2017.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

In accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a), the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) shall ensure that all materials provided under the requested contract are procured at a fair and reasonable price. The Government will require the contractor to submit a formal price quote and sufficient information to support the accuracy and reliability of the quote. The PCO shall determine that the proposed order represents the best value (as defined in FAR 2.101) to meet the Government's needs. The PCO will also rely on the contract specialist and Code 653�s experienced technical experts, as well as information from prior Navy procurements of the same (or comparable) Altair products, when conducting the price analysis. This information will form the basis for a fair and reasonable price.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

The Government will continue to stay abreast of Altair software and similar software (via symposiums and conferences, product test reports, publications and advertisements, vendor demos, etc.) and alternative software products directly compatible with Code 653�s in-house data acquisition systems. Accordingly, the Government will continue to re-examine its future procurement needs relative to the technology advancements in this industry.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION - (FAR 6.303-2(c))