SSJ_Redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

2023 NDIA Undersea Warfare Fall Conference

BACKGROUND:

The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Undersea Warfare Fall Conference is the primary venue for ensuring that the Naval Undersea Warfare (USW) community (Government and Industry) meets the USW challenges and to assure the success of the U.S. Submarine Force. The information exchanged at this conference is critical to improving and contributing to the concept and doctrine development process and insuring that industry and government engineers and scientists are aligned to the

U.S. Submarine Force goals and objectives. The workshop will focus on the Navy’s key undersea warfare missions of countering submarine and mine threats to sea lines of communications and protecting and facilitating power projection from the sea.

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport personnel have participated in NDIA’s Undersea

Warfare Fall Conference for over 15 years as presenters, exhibitors, and attendees. Registration was previously procured through various contracts including Contract Numbers N66604-15-P-1018, N66604-

15-P-1182, N66604-15-P-1183, N66604-15-P-1184, N66604-15-P-1268, N66604-15-P-1842 and

N66604-19-P-2789.

REQUIREMENT:

Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, (NUWCDIVNPT) Code 10 requires registration for

180 personnel to attend the NDIA Undersea Warfare Conference. The period of performance is 18 – 20

September 2023.

Sole Source Justification:

NDIA’s Undersea Warfare Fall Conference is the only venue where NUWCDIVNPT leaders and personnel can meet and hear from operational, acquisition, and technology professionals, including active duty Navy leaders, key Navy Secretariat and Pentagon leadership and personnel, SYSCOM program office leadership and personnel, Navy and University lab leaders and principal investigators, and leaders and members of the defense industrial base. It serves as a network forum to build relationships with the

USW community (Government and Industry) providing and seeking information on Navy system capabilities, requirements and technological opportunities.

The NDIA is the only vendor that provides USW specific technical sessions that focus on the Navy’s mission areas in Aviation USW, C4I, Combat Systems, Mine Warfare, Undersea Sensors, Undersea

Vehicles, and Warfighter Performance. NDIA’s Undersea Warfare Fall Conference provides a forum for discussing methods to maintain undersea superiority to secure access and maneuver in the Global

Commons.

If we were not able to get these registration seats, we would limit our capacity to make meaningful connections, opportunities, and exchanges of ideas, from industry and other Government experts. The ability to connect at this forum does not have a dollar value that can be assigned, and seems priceless for our efforts towards consistent improvement. Although a dollar value cannot be assigned, it is determined that if we were to not attend this conference several of the Navy’s actions would be impacted negatively.

Requiring Department: N/A

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a Sole Source Specification basis. I certify the technical data which form the basis of this justification are complete and accurate.

APPROVAL:

Contracting Officer:

Based on the above, I have determined that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.