A03_JA_Other_Than_Full_and_Open_HSTAMIDS_Redacted.pdf

15-BELV-008

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground-Belvoir 10205 Burbeck Road Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5811

2. Description of Action: The proposed action will result in award of a new Cost-Plus- Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract. The contract will have a four-year period of performance to research, design, develop, test and evaluate mine detection algorithm software to further improve the capability and effectiveness of the Humanitarian Demining (HD) Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System (HSTAMIDS) based detectors. Additionally, the requirement includes hardware/software repair services, maintenance, and field support for all HSTAMIDS-related detectors during testing, known as Operational Space Field Evaluation, in support of humanitarian demining efforts. Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funding of FY15 thru FY19 will be used for this effort. The anticipated award date will be 28 August 2015.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The US Army, Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), Communications-Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC), Night Vision Electronic Sensor Directorate (NVESD), at the direction of the Office of Assistant Secretary of the Defense for Special Operations, Low-Intensity Conflict, has a requirement to further improve the capability and effectiveness of the HD HSTAMIDS detectors. HSTAMIDS is a dual sensor mine detector that uses Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) coupled with an improved metal detector, integrated algorithm suite, and enhanced audio features to provide a handheld detection capability, enabling the detection of all types of landmines. HSTAMIDS provides an improved capability over any other available device for detection of metallic and low-metallic mines. HSTAMIDS-related detection systems include REV4, REV5, REV6, REV7, DELTA deep search detector, and REV8 systems. The HD Research & Development (HD R&D) Program leverages the capabilities of these detectors and utilizes them in the humanitarian demining efforts to maximize their effectiveness in support of the operations. HD R&D needs to conduct research in algorithms to maximize the system capabilities utilizing the country/region specifics and target specific knowledge to fine tune each detector to the highest potential. Operational Space Field Evaluation takes place in the field; repair, maintenance and field support are imperative to establish sustained hardware, software in order to achieve complete successes. The total estimated cost of the four-year period of performance is .

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), FAR 6.302- l(a)(2)(iii)(A) and FAR 6.302- 1(a)(2)(iii)(B), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The proposed source is L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc. L-3 SDS), 10E Commerce Way, Woburn, MA 01801-1044.

The CAGE Code is 1N8S3. In 2006 L-3 SDS acquired CyTerra Corporation, Inc, which became the CyTerra Division of L-3 SDS (hereafter referred to as CyTerra). CyTerra will perform the required effort. The proposed action is for research, engineering, testing and development of advanced mine detection algorithm software to further improve the current capabilities of HD HSTAMIDS, its variants and its effectiveness in support of humanitarian demining operations. In the early phase of the development cycle of the HSTAMIDS program, specifically during the Program Definition Risk Reduction Phase beginning in May 1996, Coleman Research Corporation (CRC) developed HSTAMIDS, also known as AN/PSS-14. The core subsystem of HSTAMIDS, as developed by CRC and as currently integrated in the system, consists of a circularly polarized antenna and related software algorithm, “Real-time Background Adaptation”, which is a crucial key to making their hardware effective in locating small mines. The circularly polarized antenna and related algorithm are under a registered U.S. patent held by Cyterra.

Although the Government has funded subsequent improvements to HSTAMIDS, this core subsystem continues to be proprietary to CyTerra and its corporate successors. In 2000, CyTerra acquired CRC’s intellectual property, to include the technical data package (TDP), background rights and all of the physical assets associated with CRC’s efforts on the HSTAMIDS Program. Since then CyTerra has steadily improved and capitalized their unique knowledge and experience with multi-sensor GPR mine detection technology. CyTerra is the only source with a mature program for a handheld dual sensor mine detector with the capabilities provided by HSTAMIDS. CyTerra has been prime contractor in the HSTAMIDS Program Definition and Risk Reduction, Engineering, Manufacturing & Development, Army Requirements Oversight Committee, Low-Rate Production and Full-Rate Production programs over the last 14 years. CyTerra has demonstrated numerous research and development capabilities, which include the evolution of the handheld mine detection sensor. The by-product of their research, development and engineering resulted in realization of many prototypes: type-classified AN/PSS-14 or HSTAMIDS, Mini-HSTAMIDS, Rev6 prototype, lightweight Rev7 prototype, Rev8 prototype, Army HD Discriminating Mine Detector, DELTA deep search detector, and next generation Army Science & Technology contract technologies versions. CyTerra’s most recent engineering developments include optimizing current algorithm to include A-priori knowledge information (country specifics and target specifics) to further optimize the detectors’ performance.

As the sole developer of the HSTAMIDS, CyTerra is the only source with the technical expertise and experience capable of performing the required work and services on the HSTAMIDS and its variants. Testing of the HSTAMIDS will require repair, maintenance and field support. CyTerra owns the proprietary information necessary for performance of this effort; therefore, the Government does not have a license to provide the information to another contractor for use. Any other interested contractor would need to perform an extensive research and development effort, which would result in delays of approximately twelve (12) years, which would result in a duplication of cost of approximately that would not be recovered through competition. This projection is based on an evaluation of historical records of CyTerra’s engineering and development efforts from the calendar years 2000 to 2014. The realization of the new improved products (mine detection software algorithms) for the HSTAMIDS and its variants will result in reducing operating costs, improved productivity, fewer casualties and fewer undetected mines for demining worldwide. Delay of these necessary improvements can be expected to cause concurrent delays in implementing and fielding HSTAMIDS improvements that can further reduce injuries and deaths from landmines for citizens of third world countries that the United States is supporting for this effort.

Additionally, the United States has committed to assisting nations that have signed the Ottawa Treaty, which has an overall goal that every country be free of landmines by 2020. A delay would preclude the United States from meeting the agreed to goal to aid third world countries requiring demining efforts.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Sources Sought was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities Page (FedBizOpps) on 22 October 2014; the Government received a single response from CyTerra on 11 November 2014. See Market Research section for additional information. Since CyTerra owns the TDP for the HSTAMIDS, effective competition for this effort is not anticipated.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

New sources for HD R&D Program are constantly being sought through market research and future advances in handheld mine detector technology, and may create new sources and products in the market place. The HD R&D and NVESD work closely with technology developers and laboratories worldwide. The efforts from these relationships, which are discussed in the Market Research section below, are pivotal in finding ways to increase competition. In the event that additional research efforts are required in the future, any source with a technical solution that meets the Government's requirements shall be considered.

8. Market Research: The HD R&D Program along with NVESD Countermine Division work closely with technology developers and national laboratories around the world.

These offices work directly with the International Test and Evaluations Program, and the United Nations agent for mine-Geneva laboratories around the world (Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and Japan). Every year NVESD hosts the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) Conference and the Joint Unexploded Ordnance Mine Detection Conference. In addition, NVESD regularly participates in symposia, technology conferences, industry trade shows and collaborates with members of the Multidiscipline Research Program of the University Research Initiative. The market research conducted supports the determination that CyTerra is the only source that can meet the Government’s requirements. CyTerra has been a sole developer and provider of the HSTAMIDS system, of which over were purchased by the US Army and Marines to support military operations worldwide.

CyTerra has over 15 years of successful technologies and product lines and is supported by an experienced engineering team, which is a crucial key to the design and development sought for by the Government.

Additionally, a Sources Sought Synopsis was issued by the Army Contracting Command- Aberdeen Proving Ground-Belvoir Division on FedBizOpps on 22 October 2014. A sole response was received from CyTerra on 11 November 2014. CyTerra submitted information detailing their credentials and their ability to research, design, develop, test, evaluate, and deliver state-of-the-art software algorithm improvements for all HSTAMIDS-based mine detectors in support of humanitarian demining efforts. In their submittal, CyTerra demonstrated their competence and ability to provide/assist the Government in the technical support, including maintenance and repair, for the HSTAMIDS and its variants. Moreover, CyTerra adequately responded to the Government’s questions listed in the aforementioned FedBizOpps announcement.

Based on the results of the market research, CyTerra’s ownership of the TDP and CyTerra’s demonstration of their potential and ability to meet the required work and services needed by the Government, the HSTAMIDS requirement should be sole sourced. This strategy is in the best interest of the Government to reduce cost, timeliness of the warfighter receiving the services, and a duplication of effort.

9. Interested Sources: All notices required by FAR 5.201 shall be published on the FedBizOpps Page, and any proposals that are received shall be considered. To date no other contractors have provided capability statements from the Government’s issued notice.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History.

Contract Number Award Date Contractor Competitive/Sole Source (FAR Exception)

DAAB12-96-C-0014 23 May 1996 CRC Full & Open Competition DAAB15-01-C-0004 31 January 2001 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 DAAB15-02-C-0015 21 March 2002 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-2 DAAB15-02-C-0026 28 June 2002 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 DAAB15-03-C-0025 30 June 2003 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 DAAB15-03-C-0024 25 July 2003 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 DAAB15-03-C-0025 30 June 2003 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 DAAB15-03-C-0031 27 August 2003 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 W909MY-04-C-0026 26 April 2004 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 W909MY-06-D-0001 08 August 2006 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1 W909MY-10-C-0009 03 Dec 2009 CyTerra Sole Source/FAR 6.302-1

b. Acquisition Data Availability. The Government possesses and maintains performance specifications for HSTAMIDS and HSTAMIDS-related systems. The US Government does not own, or intend to buy, the TDP for this effort because this is a one-time development effort. In the event that the development is successful, the system will be included in the Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining database at www.humanitarian-demining.org , which is available worldwide.

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the award of a Cost-Plus-Fixed- Fee contract Mine Detection Algorithm Research and Hardware/Software Support for Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System-Based Detectors with a four-year period of performance. The estimated cost for this contract is $2.8 M. This action is authorized, on an other than full and open competition basis, pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(1) and FAR 6.302- l, subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition. If the proposed contract action is not completed within 180 days from the below date, this Justification and Approval shall be returned to the Competition Advocate for revalidation. Additionally, if any changes to the requirements, basis for the justification, market conditions or increases in the estimated value of the proposed action occur at any time, the Contracting Officer shall document these changes in a memorandum and obtain review/concurrence from the Competition Advocate.

Date: _______________ Signature: