A02_-_Redacted_JA_over_150k_Redacted.pdf

Control No: JA-19-Adel-537

Contractor: Thermal Technology, LLC

Supply: Direct Current Sintering System

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Programs/Equipment: One (1) Direct Current Sintering System (DCS) to include system, training and installation.

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:

{Redacted}

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

Program Manager:

Legal Counsel:

Supply: Direct Current Sintering System

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FOR COMMERCIAL ITEM

FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity: Adelphi Contracting Division, Army Contracting Command

Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783.

2. Description of Action: The U.S. Army Research Laboratory’s (ARL), Weapons and

Materials Research Directorate (WMRD)’s Combat Capabilities Development Command

(CCDC) requests a new firm fixed price (FFP) contract to procure One (1) Direct Current

Sintering System (DCS), Training, and Installation manufactured by Thermal

Technologies, LLC, 1911 Airport Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The Government projects award for this requirement to be made in September 2019 and fiscal year 2019, Army

Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds will be used.

_X_ An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement either does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement

207.103(d)(i), or is an R&D acquisition and does not meet the definition of services in 10 U.S.C. 2330(c)(2).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Weapons and Materials Research

Directorate (WMRD)’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) has been tasked to create, integrate, and produce innovative operating procedures and materials for a variety of programs to elevate manufacturing readiness levels to provide Cutting

Edge Technology to the Warfighter {Redacted}.

{Redacted} Minimum required characteristics of the Direct Current Sintering System are listed below:

• Chamber Size: 24” wide x 24” deep x 32” high

• Maximum operating temperature: 2400°C (degrees centigrade)

• Pressing Capability: 2,000kN (kilonewtons)

• Ultimate Vacuum Level: 10-3 Torr

• Power Controllable (0 - 50,000) 50,000 amp (amperes), 0-12 VDC (volts direct current)Vacuum Rotary vane pump with roots blower, minimum 1,000 m³/hr

(meters cubed per hour) equivalently 615 cfm (cubic feet per minute) volumetric flow rate

• Controls & Main controls shall be centrally mounted in a control panel within arm’s length of the front of the chamber for tooling setup. Furnace controls shall be centralized for ease of operation.

• Temperature Monitoring & Controls: Temperature shall be monitored with a combination of an optical pyrometer and various thermocouples.

• Data acquisition: Equipment shall track, at a minimum o Force o Z-axis (ram) o Temperature (all channels simultaneously)

Supply: Direct Current Sintering System o Vacuum (chamber pressure) o Voltage o

Amperage

Estimated Cost is as follows:

Model DCS 200:

Custom Tool Loading Cart:

High Performance Vacuum Package:

Particle Vapor Trap:

Field Service Engineer:

Freight:

Total Value:

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: CCDC requires special and unique Direct Current

Sintering System, Training, and Installation equipment capability in order to maximize their research flexibility. The Army Futures Command (AFC) mandates rapid technology transition to the Soldier, which requires introducing prototyping early and often in the research and development cycle. . Prototypes which are required for high-fidelity testing can be quite large, often requiring sample sizes up to 10-12” in diameter. This requires a direct current sintering system (DCS) capable of applying a large force (approximately 200 tons) large amount of electrical current (up to 50,000 amperes), and able to accommodate large tooling (minimum chamber size of 24” x 24” x 32”). Thermal Technology, LLC’s direct current sintering system (DCS) 200 system is the only system manufactured end product “capable of meeting the requirement.

{Redacted}

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In an effort to promote competition, the

Government posted a sources sought on 08 August 2019 to announce to the public of the Government’s requirement for a DCS System meeting the required specifications listed in paragraph 3. In response to the sources sought we received two (2) responses.

One (1) from Thermal Technologies, LLC and one (1) from Materials Modifications Inc.

Technical evaluation determined that Materials Modifications, Inc. did not meet the technical requirements.

In accordance with FAR 5.201 a synopsis was posted to FBO with a closing date of 13

September 2019. The synopsis also functioned as a Request for Information (RFI) notifying potential offeror’s who believe they can meet the Government’s requirement may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered.

{Redacted}.

Supply: Direct Current Sintering System

7. Actions to Increase Competition: ARL will continue to survey the marketplace for potential Direct Current Sintering System manufacturers that can fulfill the

Governments requirement. Any identified sources will be sought after for competitive interest for a resulting follow-on requirement in the future. Small business will continue to be notified of requirements of this nature through email and phone inquiries based on searches of the Small Business Administration’s database. In the future, the

Government intends to continue to seek market research through Request for

Information (RFI) and sources sought that will publish salient characteristics of the Direct

Current Sintering System requirements. The market will be surveyed at that time to identify both small and large prospective offerors in the Direct Current Sintering System

United States market. In order to increase competition, Direct Current Sintering System would need to increase sintering technology applications for more domestic manufacturers in the United States.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted {Redacted} by contacting other subject matter experts in government and academia, reviewing papers in peer reviewed journals, and extensive online market research in February 2019. Market research determined Thermal Technology, LLC is the only known domestic sole source capable of meeting the Government's requirements, due to compatibility in all aspect of form, fit, and function of specific controls for the required equipment.

In addition, a sources sought was posted on FedBizOpps.gov 8 August 2019 and closed on 14 August 2019. In response to the sources sought, two (2) small businesses responded. Only one (1) business (Thermal Technology, LLC) was found capable of meeting ARL's new requirement. The second response received from Material

Modification Inc. was deemed technically unacceptable due to not meeting the required specifications in multiple areas such as the chamber size and the requirement of centralized furnace controls for tooling setup

List of potential Sources:

Thermal Technology, LLC – Santa Rosa, CA (USA)

Thermal Technology, LLC is the only Direct Current Sintering System equipment manufacturer that can fulfill all of the Government’s requirements. Due to the specialization and specificity of this subject matter experts requirement, the results of market research, and sole source posting which demonstrated that there is no other manufacturer that can comply with the Buy American Act,it is determined that it is in the best interest to limit this action to the manufacturer Thermal Technology, LLC. Market research demonstrates that there are no comparable products from other companies will satisfy the Government’s requirement because there is no other authorized Thermal

Technology, LLC manufacturer.

9. Interested Sources: {Redacted}

Supply: Direct Current Sintering System

10. Other Facts:

No previous procurement history is available as this is a first time buy.

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: Metallurgist

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

__ Price analysis

__ Should-cost

__ IGE

__ Audit:

_X_ Other: Most favorable price statement and pub priced lists.

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.

Supply: Direct Current Sintering System

__ 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) each

Thermal Technology, LLC manufactured Direct Current Sintering System, Training, and

Installation, at the price of $942,500.00, 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.

X

(End of Justification)