A03_-_Redacted_J A_over_ 150K.pdf

Version – November 2015

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR PART 6 JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Supply/Service: X-Ray Diffraction and Imaging Experiments at the Dynamic Compression Sector (DCS).

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(3) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-3 -- Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert Services.

Amount: $300,000.00

Prepared by: [Redacted]

Contracting Officer: Dan Dougherty [Redacted] Contracting Officer Date: 7 Sept 2016 Email: Daniel.p.dougherty14.civ@mail.mil

Technical: [Redacted]

Requirements: [Redacted]

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Program Manager:

[Redacted]

Department of Army FAR Part 6 Justification and Approval for Other than

Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: United States (US) Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Adelphi Contracting Division (CCAP-SCA), 2800 Power Mill RD, Adelphi, MD 20783

Requiring Agency – US Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD), Impact Physics Branch (RDRL-WMP-C, 4600 Deer Creek Loop, Building 4600, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD 21005.

2. Description of Action: Approval is requested to solicit for a new Cost no fee type of contract in support of ARL WMRD on the basis of other than full and open competition for a 12 month period of performance. The suggested sole source vendor is Washington State University (WSU), French Administration Building, Room 240Q, P.O. Box 641025, Pullman, WA 99164-1025. Fiscal year 2016, Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds will be utilized for this effort.

__ An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B).

_X_ Associate Division Chief for ADC approved an acquisition plan in accordance with DFARS 207.103(d)(i)(B) on 12 Sept 2016.

__ The required acquisition plan in accordance with DFARS 207.103(d)(i)(B) is currently awaiting (insert approval authority title) approval.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Government requires services for performing experiments at the DCS that support the study of material behavior when subjected to extremely high rates of mechanical loading and providing necessary instrumentation improvements to the DCS facility that enable higher speed and resolution imaging of materials during the extreme loading events. The period of performance (POP) for the required services is anticipated to be twelve (12) months. The proposed acquisition consists of the following CLIN structure:

CLIN CLIN Description Estimated Amount

0001 X-Ray Diffraction and Imaging Experiments at the

DCS

[Redacted]

0002 Accounting for Contract Services/Contractor Manpower Data

Total $300,000.00

Period of Performance: 30 September 2016 to 29 Sept 2017.

The estimated total dollar value for this procurement is $300,000.00.

4. Authority Cited:

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(3) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii) -- Industrial Mobilization;

Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert Services.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

The Government requires a 12 month research and development service contract for X-ray diffraction and imaging experiments for the continuation of research and development efforts at WMRD. WMRD requires experiments to establish an essential capability for exploratory studies and experiments on behalf of the Army that subjects a material (such as metals, ceramics, and polymers) to extremely fast loading conditions that are typical of those occurring during ballistic impact while simultaneously capturing multiple x-ray images of the internal microstructural changes occurring during the ultra-fast loading event. This is required to establish research and development experiments for improved materials for ballistic and blast protection for soldiers and vehicles and is the reason for the primary authority cited.

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is the world’s brightest x-ray synchrotron that provides a pulsed “light” for imaging the microstructural changes that occur inside materials. There are only three (3) large-scale synchrotron light sources in existence that can potentially take high speed x-ray images of the changing material microstructure during dynamic loading conditions. One (1) is located in Europe, one (1) in Japan, and the third is the APS at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) located in Argonne, IL in the United States. Of these three (3) sources, only the APS at ANL has an electron beam that pulsates quick enough (one pulse every 153 nanoseconds) to obtain multiple x-ray images during the ultra-fast test specimen loading and is of sufficiently high energy level for penetrating into the large material specimens that are bigger than ten (10) mm in size.

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within the Department of Energy provided funds to ANL to construct the DCS as an addition to the APS facility.

[Redacted] This new capability is the DCS facility and is staffed and operated exclusively by WSU employees located at ANL. To date no other universities are allowed to operate the facility or possess the expertise to do so.

The DCS is a unique facility that subjects materials to extreme pressures and stresses.

The combination of the DCS with the APS synchrotron provides the only facility in the world that can record what occurs inside a material during ballistic impact as it is actually happening, a vital research area for ARL. In addition it is the only synchrotron in the world that couples single and two-stage light gas guns with the pulsating synchrotron beam. All other synchrotrons are configured for very slow events or for studying electron bombardment of materials, not for imaging the microstructural changes in materials during ballistic impact. This is the exact reason NNSA within the DoE invested [Redacted] at APS to create the DCS. These unique features render the DCS as the only facility in the entire world that has the capability to perform these types of experiments.

The DCS facility is solely operated by contractor staff from WSU. The NNSA is permitting ARL to have experiments performed at the DCS by WSU personnel but must pay for the efforts required to conduct experiments through a contract directly with WSU.

Due to the unique synchrotron capabilities of the APS coupled with the ballistic loading possible with the DCS, no other facility exists that can perform the ARL experiments.

Since WSU is the sole contractor authorized to operate the facility, WSU is the only source capable of providing the services required.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

Based on the Market Research performed by the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) [Redacted] for this requirement (See Section 8), there are no other facilities or authorized vendors to conduct the required experiments. All known available options were considered and a thorough analysis was conducted. No vendors were identified other than WSU, who is the only entity authorized to operate the DCS equipment located at the ANL and provide services which can fulfill the Government’s requirement for conducting dynamic compression experiments utilizing a high energy synchrotron to obtain x-ray images of the microstructural changes occurring inside a material during extremely fast deformation and failure.

Based on the lack of existing capabilities anywhere in the world other than the DCS at APS that can perform the required experiments, it is not possible to obtain competition.

WSU is the only vendor capable of meeting the Governments requirements.

In accordance with FAR 5.201 a synopsis was posted to FedBizOpps (FBO) with a closing date of 25 August 2016, all bids or proposals received shall be considered. To date no other vendors have written to express interest.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

ARL WMRD has conducted extensive market research to locate all possible sources and will continue to survey the market place to identify any new sources capable of providing the required services. Any future purchase requests for dynamic compression experiments being performed at a high energy synchrotron will include a new market research to identify if ballistic impact facilities have been recently installed at any existing synchrotron sites, which at this time there are none. Future market research efforts will determine all the elements necessary to increase the competition, in accordance with the current Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR). Additionally, the Government will continue to invite other sources to provide and/or demonstrate their competing services and hold discussions with other researchers performing similar work.

If and when a new source is identified, the Government will technically evaluate the vendor’s service, and if the new source is capable of meeting the Government’s requirement, the Government will compete the requirement for conducting dynamic compression experiments at a synchrotron facility.

8. Market Research:

Extensive market research was conducted during January to February 2016 by [Redacted] Impact Physics Branch (IPB) within WMRD at ARL, with 30 years of experience in the field, along with [Redacted] a physicist from the Armor Mechanics Branch in WMRD with six (6) years of experience using synchrotron imaging, and [Redacted], a physicist from the Energetic Materials Science Branch in WMRD with 15 years of experience in the field of high pressure behavior of condensed matter.

Market research was performed by consulting with knowledgeable experts, obtaining source lists of similar items from other contracting activities or agencies, and reviewing internet searches. Furthermore, ARL staff members participated in a long term working group from 2009 to 2014 chartered by the NNSA of the DoE with identifying offerors with the capability for performing dynamic compression experiments at a synchrotron facility.

After five (5) years of extensive research and deliberations, it was determined that no such capability exists anywhere in the world and the only way to achieve this capability was to build the DCS at the APS.

The following individuals were consulted to identify potential synchrotron facilities with existing dynamic loading devices (note: each of these individuals are subject matter experts with regards to synchrotron facilities):

[Redacted]

All subject matter experts concluded that the DCS located within APS at the ANL is not only the world’s brightest x-ray synchrotron for providing a pulsed “light” for imaging the microstructural changes that occur inside materials, but also the only synchrotron in the world with a dedicated collection of gas guns, laser shock facility, and dynamic loading Kolsky bars that can record what occurs inside a material during ballistic impact as it is actually happening.

ARL staff members consulted a recent edition of the journal Nature Photonics, Volume 9, page 281 (2015), that had an editorial titled “Synchrotron Sources Accelerate”. The article stated that there are now 47 synchrotron radiation research facilities based on electron storage rings in 23 countries currently in operation, under construction, or being planned. Of those, only nine (9) are based in the US that can perform security-sensitive research. Of these nine (9), the following five (5) synchrotrons had x-ray characteristics that could potentially meet the Government’s requirement:

• Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) at Cornell University

• National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory

• Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory

• Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

• Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) at Stanford University

After surveying the market place, the synchrotron facilities at CHESS, NSLS, ALS, and SLAC do not have the capability to simultaneously load a material in a highly dynamic manner and image the internal microstructure during deformation and failure and therefore, do not meet the Government’s requirement. Only the APS at ANL has a suite of gas guns, a laser shock hutch, and Kolsky bar loading devices permanently available for facility users. The facilities at CHESS, NSLS, ALS, and SLAC are configured for studies that load material specimens very slowly that renders them irrelevant to the needs of ARL. The only synchrotron facility with a dynamic loading capability that is suitable for imaging the microstructural realignments that occur within materials during dynamic loading conditions is the DCS at the APS of ANL, operated by WSU.

The below two (2) sites documents the decision and many of the findings regarding the needs of the defense and nuclear weapons communities for such a facility:

•http://dcs-aps.wsu.edu/assets/images/uploads/DCS_User_Workshop_Report.pdf •http://www.aps.anl.gov/About/Committees/APS_Users_Organization/Meetings/2012/20 120118_minutes.pdf

Due to the highly unique nature of the DCS at APS, the contractor operating the DCS (WSU) is the sole vendor capable of meeting the Government’s requirements and no other vendor is capable of providing the required services.

Furthermore, additional market research was conducted via a survey that was performed by [Redacted] of January and February 2016 to revisit the state of synchrotrons to determine if any facilities have implemented dynamic compression capabilities suitable for performing the ARL experiments. This survey consisted of reviewing the web site literature of known synchrotrons with light sources strong enough to achieve the type of imaging and x-ray diffraction required by ARL. It was determined that the DCS at APS remains the sole source for this capability in the world. The DCS is operated by WSU under a contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the DoE.

Market research determined that Washington State University is the sole operator of the facility.

9. Interested Sources:

A Sources Sought Synopsis was posted to FedBizOpps on 03 August 2016 and in accordance with FAR 5.201 a synopsis was posted to FedBizOpps (FBO) with a closing date of 25 August 2016 in which no other vendors have written to express interest.

10. Other Facts:

Not Applicable

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signer’s Title: COR, Protection Division http://dcs-aps.wsu.edu/assets/images/uploads/DCS_User_Workshop_Report.pdf http://www.aps.anl.gov/About/Committees/APS_Users_Organization/Meetings/2012/20120118_minutes.pdf http://www.aps.anl.gov/About/Committees/APS_Users_Organization/Meetings/2012/20120118_minutes.pdf

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signer’s Title: Chief, Impact Physics Branch

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following:

_X_ Cost analysis __ Price analysis __ Should cost

X_ IGCE

__ Audit:

__ Other:

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data:

__ Will be required.

X_ Will not be required and the following exception applies (FAR 15.403):

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on adequate price competition.

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on prices set by law or regulation.

__ A commercial item is being acquired.

__ A waiver has been granted by the head of the contracting activity (HCA) in accordance with DFARS PGI 215.403-1.

__ The contract action is a modification to a contract or subcontract for commercial item(s).

_X_ The estimated cost of the contract action is less than the threshold for certified cost or pricing data.

14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of X-Ray Diffraction and Imaging Experiments at the Dynamic Compression Sector (DCS) on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(3), subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

(End of J&A)