Redacted DnF for OTFOC.doc

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: The Materials Development & Transition Branch (MDTB) of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires the procurement of ANSYS GRANTA MI continued software license. The license is a custom database software package for material science currently in use by ARL.

Ansys GRANTA MI – User – TECS

Dates: 01/01/2025 - 12/31/2025

Ansys GRANTA Advanced Materials – Composites - TEC

Dates: 01/01/2025 - 12/31/2025

Ansys GRANTA Advanced Materials – Aero – TECS (Open Market)

Ansys GRANTA MI – Enterprise Server –TECS

Ansys GRANTA Advanced Materials – Additive Manufacturing – TECS

Ansys GRANTA MI – Additive Manufacturing Template – TECS

Ansys GRANTA Advanced Materials – Polymers - Lease

Ansys GRANTA Advanced Materials – Metals - Lease Dates: 01/01/2025 - 12/31/2025

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

ANSYS, Incorporated

2600 Ansys Drive

Canonsburg, PA, 15317-0404

United States

CAGE Code: 0U014

UEID: TY4MJLKVJJ27

Large Business

3. ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE: $[Redacted]

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: The statutory authority permitting sole source is 41 USC 1901(e), implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i):

_X__ Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

___ Unusual and Compelling Urgency

___ Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert Services

___ International Agreement

___ Authorized or Required by Statute

___ National Security

___ Public Interest

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE:

The item(s) listed in section one above is available from only one source and competition is precluded for reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.

_X__ Compatibility: The item(s) must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed. Describe the equipment you have now and how the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system:

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD) Materials Development and Transition Branch (FCDD-RLA-MC) requires the renewal (subscription) of one (1) ANSYS GRANTA MI Database Software Technical Enhancements and Customer Support (TECS) Package (see Section 1 above) that supports existing Ansys GRANTA software licenses used within ARL. Specifically, the Materials Development and Transition Branch (MDTB) within WMRD currently uses Ansys GRANTA software (previously procured under W911QX-19-P-0063, W911QX-22-P-0055, and W911QX-24-P-0022) in three (3) different ways:

First, the database provides real-time web-based linking between Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) references in Materials Safety Data Sheets and current and future pending environmental restriction legislation. This allows researchers and design engineers to “look into the future” to determine which chemicals and materials could be banned prior to designing a vehicle. The cost to replace a single adhesive on a single part in a vehicle design can quickly run into the millions of dollars. For example, in 2008, table tennis organization band the use of “speed glue” for use on the paddles. According to Table tennis Spot on-line Magazine (Jan 2021), manufactures are still struggling to find a suitable adhesive 12 years after the ban despite investing millions of dollars in testing of potential adhesive alternatives.

Second, over the course of eight (8) years, five (5) ARL researchers have tested, evaluated, and inputted experimental data into the Granta database. This has contributed to thousands of records to the current database related to destructive testing of adhesive samples and armor packages that would be extremely difficult to reproduce, if not impossible. To date, ARL has invested an estimated $[Redacted] into this research and switching to a different database would cost the Government millions of dollars in redesigning a new database as well as losing over eight (8) years of data collection.

_X__ Proprietary: A patent, copyright, or proprietary data limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows:

Third, Ansys GRANTA software also comes with a license to connect to ARL-required libraries of reference data in material science databases. No other company offers this application. A loss of access to this database would severely reduce ARL’s ability to continue to develop, test, and engineer, state-of-the-art armor packages for the Warfighter.

Ansys GRANTA software has been previously vetted for meeting Department of Defense (DoD) Information Technology (IT) security requirements and is supportable behind an air gap in classified environments. Based upon this, the GRANTA software is currently in use across the DoD, the Department of Energy (DoE), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and major DoD contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. The required ANSYS GRANTA MI Database Software TECS Package Renewal (Subscription) for the existing GRANTA database software licenses allow for continued consistency of results and experimental continuity between ARL and its research partners to develop, test and engineer state-of-the-art armor packages in support of the Warfighter.

As ANSYS, Inc. products and services are proprietary in nature, only ANSYS, Inc. (the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)) can provide the required ANSYS GRANTA MI Database Software TECS Package Renewal (Subscription). Due to the aforementioned, ANSYS, Inc. is the sole source for this brand name Government requirement.

Market research was conducted from 01 February 2024 through 17 August 2024 by [Redacted], a Lead Research Chemist within WMRD with over 24 years of experience. Market research techniques included searching Government required sources, GSA federal supply schedule, CHESS, conducting internet searches, and consulting with other subject matter experts (SMEs) at NASA and the U.S. Air Force. Additionally, [Redacted] reviewed numerous database packages for Material Science in an effort to identify systems that would be comparable to current GRANTA software. [Redacted] identified no viable alternatives at this time.

Due to the aforementioned, ANSYS, Inc. is the only source capable of meeting the Government’s brand name requirement. Additionally, ANSYS, Inc. is the sole authorized distributor of its products and services to the Government.

6. FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE DETERMINATION:

It has been determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable and that approval of this recommendation is in the best interest of the government. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Template last updated 4/23/2018