Sole Source - ForceMate Bushing - 4-23-2019 - Final_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE

SMALL PURCHASE ACTION

1.

Competition not feasible and practicable for the following reasons:

Supply: Only known source to provide direct replacement parts that will interface and be compatible with existing equipment.

Service: Only known source with the schematics, drawings, and technical knowledge to repair equipment to its original functioning capacity.

Original Equipment Manufacturer:

This acquisition will be negotiated on a noncompetitive basis with

Restricted to one source by Source Controlled Drawing.

Contractor has proprietary rights to software/hardware. Only source to provide enhancements, upgrades, and technical support.

Complete drawings, specifications and technical data are not available.

The acquisition must be effected by this contractor's part number.

Other

By soliciting available distributors with an estimated cost of:

In compliance with FAR 13.106-1(b), I have reviewed the proposed acquisition of

By negotiating on a noncompetitive basis with

This acquisition will be on a brand name only basis (supporting documentation is attached).

The procurement will be accomplished:

2. On the basis of the facts above which are supported in the file, I have determined that it is impractical to obtain competition for this acquisition.

CONTRACTING OFFICER SIGNATURE DATE LEGAL REVIEW SIGNATURE (Waiver attached) pp-63 6 October 2015

Fatigue Technology, Inc.

See attached.

ForceMate Bushings

Apr 23, 2019

VENTRESCA.NI

CHOLAS.S.1374

716987

Digitally signed by

VENTRESCA NICHOLAS.S.13747

16987 Date: 2019 04 23 10:40:12 -04'00'

Sole Source Justification for ForceMate Tooling with Fatigue Technologies Incorporated (FTI) for 155mm M284 Bushings.

This Watervliet Arsenal has a requirement for the following:

ForceMate Bushing # FMB-1602-45020C – 1,500 each

ForceMate Bushings are required for the bore evacuator on the 155mm M284 cannon.

The estimated dollar value is $

Commercial proprietary technology was found that would improve the fatigue life of the bore evacuator region of the 155mm M284 cannon. This technology is used in the Aviation/Aerospace industry to improve the life of bolted connections on aircraft and rotorcraft. The technology was evaluated and live fire tested by U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) Weapons and Software Engineering Center (WSEC) at Benét Laboratories and deemed an effective solution to the corrosion and bore cracking problem of the cannon and implemented as part of the repair process of M284 cannon tubes. Benét Laboratories has completed the design of a stainless steel bushing and bushing swage process which will mitigate future corrosion of the bore evacuator holes. The success of use of these bushings has prompted the artillery design, safety and user communities, as well as U.S. Army Leadership to require this feature in the production of replacement M284 barrels. The process completed by Benét Laboratories requires the installation of 13 bushings, of proprietary design, in each new M284 produced by the Watervliet Arsenal.

The U.S. Army is requiring WVA to incorporate the new bushing design on all new M284 cannon tubes, thus the bushings required to comply with the new process to mitigate future corrosion.

The above referenced bushings are proprietary to FTI. The ForceMate Bushings are required in the 155mm M284 bore evacuator holes. No other company in the U.S. has the ability to fabricate bushings to the specifications necessary to overstrain the M284 evacuator holes to the required compressive stress field as FTI.

When the corrosion problem with the M284 bore evacuator became known, Benét Labs conducted market research. Various companies were contacted however only one source, FTI was well versed in cold expansion processes. The initial review of FTI also determined the company to be well established in the aerospace industry, military, and commercial sectors. Multiple cold expansion processes were evaluated, and demonstration of the Forcemate process confirmed it to be robust, portable and easy to use. Benét Labs assisted in the testing and analysis as FTI worked to design the bushings and corresponding mandrels specifically for the M284 evacuator hole application. The ForceMateTM System process achieved the requirements for the M284 evacuator hole overstrain to mitigate crack propagation in the holes due to fatigue.

Sole Source Justification for ForceMate Tooling with Fatigue Technologies Incorporated (FTI) for 155mm M284 Bushings.

These bushings and their installation process have been fatigue tested in accordance with International Test Operating Procedure (ITOP) 3-3-829, Cannon Safety Test and live fire tested with over 2,300 155mm rounds at the Yuma Proving Ground.

The technology sought has been patented by FTI. Again, a separate and new process would be required if an alternative source was considered. This would require the development and testing of new technology by the alternative source resulting in added cost and schedule.