A03_-_Redacted_Simplified_Acquisition_Sole_Source_Justification.pdf

J&A Control Number: JA‐Adel‐17‐698 TCAD Sentaurus TSL Licenses from Synopsys Inc

MAPAPP Version – November 2015 Last adjusted by Adelphi on 1/10/2017

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Supply/Service:

One (1) Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) Sentaurus Workbench

Three (3) Year Technology Subscription License (TSL) for Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

Amount: $318,086.00

Prepared by: Jonathan Schuster DSN: 394-0052 Electronics Engineer Date: 6/28/2017 Email: jonathan.schuster2.civ@mail.mil

Contracting Officer: Allison Murray DSN: 394-0754 Contracting Officer Date: 2/6/2018 Email: allison.s.murray.civ@mail.mil

Technical: Jonathan Schuster DSN: 394-0052 Electronics Engineer Date: 6/28/2017 Email: jonathan.schuster2.civ@mail.mil

Requirements: Gregory Brill DSN: 394-0192 Team Leader Date: 6/28/2017 Email: gregory.n.brill.civ@mail.mil

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

Program Manager:

Redacted Signature

Version – November 2015

Department of Army FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Sole Source Justification and Approval for

Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity:

U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground, Adelphi Contracting Division, (ACC-APG-CCAP-SCA), 2800 Powder Mill RD, Adelphi, MD 20783.

2. Description of Action:

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Electro-Optics & Photonics Division of the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate (SEDD) at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requests a firm-fixed price contract with Synopsys Inc., 690 E Middlefield Road, Mountain View, CA, 94043-4010. Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Mission funds will be utilized for this effort.

_X_ 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) and is not a cost reimbursement type contract (FAR 16.301- 3(a)(2)).

3. Description of Supplies:

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires the following TSL for Subscription Period:

22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021:

Material Number: 4347-0 One (1) TCAD Sentaurus Workbench Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4352-0 Two (2) TCAD Sentaurus Device Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4353-0 Two (2) TCAD Sentaurus Device Advanced Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4355-0 Two (2) TCAD Sentaurus Device Compound

Version – November 2015

Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4357-0 One (1) TCAD Sentaurus 3D Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4358-0 Four (4) TCAD Sentaurus Parallel Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4359-0 One (1) TCAD Sentaurus Device EMW Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4375-0 Two (2) TCAD Sentaurus Structure Editor Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 4376-0 Two (2) TCAD Sentaurus Structure Editor 3D Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Material Number: 9935-0 TCAD Sentaurus Visual Three (3) Year TSL License Continental WAN Subscription Period: 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021

Completion Date: 36 months after contract award Total Value: $318,086.00

4. Authority Cited:

41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

Version – November 2015

The Electro-Optics (EO) & Photonics Division Materials & Devices Branch within the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate (SEDD) and the ARL Center for Semiconductor Modeling (CSM) at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires the procurement of TCAD Sentaurus TSL from Synopsys Inc. The EO Materials & Devices Branch and the CSM are involved in the design, fabrication, processing, and testing of a wide variety of opto-electronic devices. The TCAD Sentaurus software will be used for the design and simulation of infrared (IR) materials & devices for Army strategic and tactical applications. This software will enable the Government to design, simulate, and optimize the performance of IR detectors for next-generation disruptive IR technologies.

Providing a priori information on focal plane array (FPA) performance will enable the optimization of the FPA to occur in the virtual performance space, rather than the resource intensive fabrication and testing space.

In order to meet mission requirements, the TCAD Software must meet the following minimum requirements:

1) Operate in a Linux (not Windows) operating system

2) Simulating in three-dimensions (3D) the electro-magnetic characteristics of the

FPA using the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD). The FDTD implementation must have the capability to illuminate the simulated device both uniformly (i.e. plane waves) as well as provide robust localized excitations (i.e.

Gaussian-shaped beams).

3) Simulating in 3D the electrical performance of the FPA using the finite element method (FEM). The implementation must include models for all of the appropriate physical mechanisms applicable to compound semiconductors.

4) Scalability to extremely large structures (meshes), i.e. utilize algorithms and solvers developed and optimized specifically for 3D simulations/problems and be capable of simulating an extensive number of mesh cells/points (greater than 700 million FDTD cells and approximately up to five (5) million FEM mesh points).

5) Provide geometrically-based structure generation.

6) Extensive system scalability to multi-core architectures/clusters enabling increased functionality and simulation through-put incorporating a wide range of available numerical solvers fully optimized for large 3D problems.

The methods above are required in order to fully simulate IR FPA performance following a fitting parameter free approach that will allow the Government to accurately predict FPA device performance directly benefitting current and future Army programs. It is important that the TCAD software is capable of simulating greater than 700 million FDTD cells and up to five (5) million FEM mesh points because the Government will be performing 3D simulations of very large structures (imaging arrays) that will have extremely large meshes. Due to the nature of the simulations, they cannot be reduced in size without compromising the integrity or accuracy of the results. The Government will be simulating less mature material systems including but not limited to mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe), indium arsenide antimonide (InAsSb), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), InAs/InAsSb strained layer super lattices, and indium gallium nitride (InGaN).

Such simulations require geometrically-based structure generation capabilities. The TCAD software requires a 3D fitting parameter free approach to advance the next-generation IR FPA for mission critical applications. A comprehensive search (reference

Version – November 2015 section 8 below) was performed and showed three (3) companies that provide three-dimensional TCAD software: Synopsys TCAD, Silvaco Victory, and Crosslight Apsys.

However, of the three companies identified Synopsys, Inc. is the only company capable of providing a system that meets all of the Government’s minimum requirements, as listed above. Synopsys Inc. is the sole source capable of providing 3D simulation as required above. Synopsys Inc. also provides scalability to extremely large structures while providing geometrically-based structure generation to multi-core architectures/clusters, which is not available from other companies. Therefore, Synopsys Inc. is the only company able to fulfil this requirement.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

A Fed Biz Ops notice was posted (see section 9) but provided no interested sources.

Based on the market research performed by the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) (See Section eight (8)), Dr. Jonathan Schuster. Two (2) other companies, Silvaco and Crosslight, are able to meet some of the specifications for this requirement, but they do not provide software that has all of the required capabilities. Below is a summary of the what those contractors are able to provide:

Silvaco Victory software is:

(a) compatible with Linux (not Windows) operating system.

(b) principally designed for semiconductor device simulation, incorporating relevant physical models.

(c) able to simulate the optical and electrical performance of devices.

(d) a fully 3D code.

(e) scalable to multi-core computer systems.

Crosslight Apsys software is:

(a) principally designed for semiconductor device simulation, incorporating relevant physical models.

(b) able to simulate the optical and electrical performance of devices.

Synopsys Inc. software is:

(a) compatible with Linux (not Windows) operating system.

(b) prinicipally designed for semiconductor device simulation, incorporating relevant physical models.

(c) able to simulate the optical and electrical performance of devices.

(d) able to provide point-like (not uniform) sources in optical simulator.

(e) able to allow device to be constructed using computer aided design (CAD) software.

(f) fully 3D code.

(g) optimized for extremely large and complex devices.

(h) scalable to multi-core computer systems.

Version – November 2015

Based on the above findings, Synopsys Inc. is the only known company which can provide the necessary software capable of meeting all of the Government’s minimum requirements.

The commercial market will continue to be surveyed for competitors and this action will be conducted competitively. Should an alternate commercial source be identified, they would have to prove that they are capable of providing the correct licenses needed as required in this procurement. Until that time, this will be a sole source action with no, effective competition applicable. The total requirement is under $700,000.00, so a subcontract plan is not required.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

The Government will continue to perform market research as well as pursue web searches and hold discussions among the engineering community to help locate other sources that can supply the required software. The Government will continue to explore related technology efforts throughout the field as research in IR materials and devices continues. Actions taken to increase competition for future acquisitions of similar software by the Government will include but not be limited to drafting of detailed requirements for the proposed acquisitions, comprehensive market research to identify potential offerors, and when applicable, attendance at vendor equipment demonstrations at technical seminars and trade shows. Before future acquisitions, the market will be continually surveyed to determine whether another manufacturer has emerged that could meet Government requirements, thus justifying the need for full and open competition. If the Government becomes aware of other sources with the capability to meet Government requirements, then a determination will be made for suitable competition. If and when another source is discovered, the Government will technically evaluate the response against current systems, and if the new source is deemed superior, then the Government will seek a competitive action. Any known sources that can provide the Synopsys software will be sought after for competitive interest in the future.

8. Market Research:

Market research was conducted between May 2017 and June 2017 by Dr. Jonathan Schuster, Electronics Engineer with the Electro-Optics & Photonics Division of the SEDD Directorate at ARL with seven (7) years of experience in device modeling. The market research techniques used consisted of internet searches of all companies providing 3D TCAD software for integrated electromagnetic and electrical semiconductor device simulation and reviewing market research efforts from contract W911QX-15-P-0455.

Based on this investigation, a number of companies were found to provide software packages that provide 3D based simulations. These companies include:

1) SYNOPSYS TCAD SENTAURUS

2) SILVACO VICTORY

3) CROSSLIGHT APSYS

Version – November 2015

Based on the Government’s minimum requirements, Crosslight APSYS was immediately dismissed based on three (3) fundamental limitations:

1) APSYS is meant to be used with Microsoft Windows. A Linux version is available at additional cost, but it is limited to the "simulation kernel", and the Windows-based user interface is required in order to define/edit the structure, view the results, etc.

Additionally, APSYS was developed for small/medium sized projects to be performed at a desktop computer (one simulation at a time), not large-scale ones to be run on powerful workstations/clusters.

2) APSYS is available in a 32-bit and a 64-bit versions - but even with the 64-bit code the number of layers/regions/mesh point points possible is underpowered for the government’s needs.

3) Only Cartesian grids can be used - which, coupled with the previous limitations, makes 3D simulations impractical.

The SILVACO VICTORY software lacks the ability to provide advanced geometrically-based structure generation. Additionally, per SILVACO’s Vice President, Government Business Division from Mark Maurer, it is only able to run device simulations consisting of only several hundred thousand FEM mesh points which falls well short of the required five (5) million FEM mesh points. Finally, the SILVACO FDTD implementation does not provide Gaussian-shaped beams as an excitation source.

Only one company was found, Synopsys Inc., which offers software capable of satisfying all of the Government’s requirements and meeting mission demands. To date, no other sources have been found that can provide the required software system that meets the Government’s minimum requirements. Therefore, market research concluded that Synopsys Inc. is the only sole source manufacturer that is compatible and capable to provide the Government’s requirement.

9. Interested Sources:

A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted to FedBizOpps on 17 August 2017, notifying the commercial market place of the Government’s intent to solicit and negotiate with Synopsys Inc. The synopsis response period closed on 23 August 2017. No vendors responded to the notice to either challenge the sole source or to show interest in competing for this requirement.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history.

(1) Contract numbers and dates of the last several contracts for these same requirements.

The required software was also purchased from Synopsys, Inc under contract W911QX-15-P-0455 on 24 September 2015.

(2) The competitive status of these actions.

The prior contract was solicited as a Sole Source.

(3) Authority previously cited if less than full and open competition was used.

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

(4) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, a summary of the contents of paragraph 7 of the justification for that procurement and an explanation of the results.

It was important that the TCAD software was capable of simulating greater than 700 million FDTD cells and up to 5 million FEM mesh points because the Government would be performing 3D simulations of very large structures (imaging arrays) that would have extremely large meshes. Due to the nature of the simulations, they could not be reduced in size without compromising the integrity or accuracy of the results. The Government would have been simulating less mature material systems such as mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe), indium arsenide antimonide (InAsSb), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), and indium gallium nitride (InGaN). Such simulations required geometrically-based structure generation capabilities. The TCAD software required a 3D fitting parameter free approach to advance the next-generation IR FPA for mission critical applications.

Consequentially, Synopsis Inc. was the only manufacturer that would meet the Government’s requirements. There were no identified actions to increase competition, as Synopsys TCAD Sentaurus is the only company that provides software meeting the minimum requirements.

(5) If any prior contract for this requirement was accomplished using full and open competition, include a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances causing this action to now limit the sources.

N/A

(6) An explanation of any unusual patterns that may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive, urgent buys.

None

(7) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the procurement and whether there have been any significant changes.

The rationale justifying the previous sole source was the same as that identified in this document. While other companies offer similar products, only Synopsys TCAD Sentaurus can meet the minimum technical requirements of this procurement.

b. Acquisition Data Availability.

Version – November 2015

The required software as listed in section three (3) is a commercial off the shelf (COTS) product. As such, manufacturer product specifications are available from the vendor. Interested sources may compare their own system specifications to those Synopsys Inc. To date, the Government has determined that only Synopsys Inc. is capable of meeting the Government’s minimum requirements.

c. Unusual and Compelling Urgency.

Not Applicable.

d. Subcontracting Competition.

Not Applicable.

e. Follow-on Contracts.

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: Electronics Engineer

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: Branch Chief

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:

__ Cost analysis _X_ Price analysis __ Should-cost

__ 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.

_X_ 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).

__ 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 One (1) Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) Sentaurus Workbench with a three (3) year Technology Subscription License (TSL) for a subscription period of 22-OCT-2018 to 21-OCT-2021 on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

(End of Justification)