A03_-_Redacted_J&A.pdf

CONTROL NUMBER: NCD-18-70

Bertec Corporation; Supply

Version – March 2017 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR SUBPART 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS – SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Program/Equipment: The Government requires quantity one (1) split belt instrumented treadmill ITC-11-20L-7 and associated equipment from Bertec Corporation to support clinical and research activity for the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Physical Therapy program at the Army Medical Department of the U.S Army (AMEDD) Center and School.

Authority: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5.

Amount: $ 153,450

Prepared by: MAJ Mark E. Lester DSN: 210-221-7218 Associate Professor

Army-Baylor University Doctoral Physical Therapy Program Date: 28 June 2018

Email: mark.e.lester4.mil@mail.mil

Contracting Officer: Lee A. Hess DSN: 343-8532 Contracting Officer Date: 11 July 2018 Email: lee.a.hess.civ@mail.mil

Technical: MAJ Mark E. Lester DSN: 210-221-7218 Associate Professor

Army-Baylor University Doctoral

Email: mark.e.lester4.mil@mail.mil

Requirements: LTC (P)Theodore Croy DSN: 210.221.7566 Program Director Associate Professor Army-Baylor University Doctoral

Email: theodore.w.croy2.mil@mail.mil

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support sole source.

Program Manager:

LTC (P)Theodore Croy

DSN: 210.221.7566

FAR Subpart 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items – Sole Source Justification and Approval

Version – March 2017 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

1. Contracting Activity:

Natick Contracting Division Frederick Branch

ATTN: CCAP-SCN

110 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 240 Frederick, MD 21702

2. Description of Action: The Government requires a firm fixed price contract for purchase and installation of a split belt instrumented treadmill with Bertec Corporation.

The Government projects award for August 2018 and fiscal year 2018, Operations and Management (O&M) funds awarded through the AMEDD Advanced Technology Innovation award program will be used.

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).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Government Requires procurement of a research grade split belt instrumented treadmill. Specifically, the requirement is for a treadmill that allows independent and synchronized speed adjustment of each belt, independent force plates beneath each belt, and independent motors to control the treadmill deck and the treadmill incline / decline functions. Additional parameters for the treadmill are included below in section five (5).

Delivery Date: No Later than Six (6) Months After Received Order (ARO) Total Value: $ 153,450

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. 1901 (or 41 U.S.C. 1903 for Special Emergency Procurement) as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5:

Unusual and compelling urgency Exclusive licensing agreements Industrial mobilization X Other: The acquisition will be treated as an acquisition of commercial items in accordance with 12.102(f)(1) where only one responsible source can provide the requirement.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

This treadmill must allow independent and synchronized speed adjustment of each belt, independent force plates beneath each belt, and independent motors to control the treadmill deck and the treadmill incline / decline functions. Speed range of the treadmill must be at least 0-24km/h and have variable acceleration with a range of no less than 0- 25m/s2. Speed adjustment must be able to occur in at least 0.01m/s increments and incline must be able to be adjusted in at least 1/4 degree increments. Most importantly, the treadmill must be able to be mounted to the floor / subsurface and the incline apparatus must provide an independent locking platform to minimize equipment

Version – March 2017 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY vibration. Additionally, the treadmill controls / motors and amplifiers must demonstrate the ability to minimize belt drag with foot contact (e.g. slowing of the belt when loaded) and to minimize acquisition error by implementing high frequency transducers and minimizing transducer cross talk through robust digital signal amplification.

The Bertec Corporation is the only manufacturer that provides a side-by-side treadmill belt configuration and is manufactured with research grade componentry and meets all aspects of the requirements specified by the conditions of this action. Specifically, the Bertec treadmill demonstrates the following unique qualifications for fulfilling the contract requirements as stated in paragraph one (1):

The Bertec treadmill provides a walking area of 0.5m by 1.75m per belt which is adequate to use the belts independently or synchronously.

The Bertec treadmill is built with industrial grade motors, controls, and drives which produce very precise speed control with low inertia and high torque. These elements, combined with the treadmill deck stiffness minimizes force measurement errors that occur with initial foot contact during walking and running gait in many force-sensing treadmills.

The Bertec treadmill provides a speed range of 0-24km/h with allowance for variable acceleration between 0-25m/s2 for each belt and provides full reversibility (e.g. acceleration and speed range are the same operating forward of backward)

The Bertec treadmill is mounted on mounting plates to eliminate vibration.

The Bertec treadmill provides eight patented six component transducers located in each corner of the two belt treads. Each transducer is calibrated as an independent 6 DOF sensor. The signals from these 8 independent transducers are then summed (4 for each tread) to provide research grade quality data that is the most accurate and robust measurements possible.

The Bertec treadmill eliminates transducer cross-talk between the electrical channels via the included pre-amplification and amplifier processors.

The Bertec treadmill minimizes signal noise during data acquisition through high frequency force transducers (natural frequency over 100hz) and digitally amplified output Digital pre-amplifiers are configured / located very close to the transducer elements to convert signals into the digital domain to ensure a high quality signal to noise ratio.

The Bertec treadmill provides a 15-degree incline/decline with sensitivity of 1/10 degree increments. This feature uses a separate robust platform that the treadmill sits on and includes a lock in mechanism that creates additional stiffness for quality data during incline / decline. Given the full reversibility of the belts mentioned above allows for testing of incline / decline without changing subject position on the treadmill.

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A market research analysis was conducted and concluded that there are only three (3) companies that manufacture split belt force sensing treadmills. Bertec was the only company that manufactures a treadmill that meets all requirements. Of the two (2) other companies that manufacture a split belt treadmill, the first company is AMTI. The AMTI split belt treadmill does not have a side by side configuration, so independent (left and right) gait characteristics cannot be ascertained with adequate fidelity and therefore does not meet the requirement. The second company is Motek, their instrumented treadmill, the M-Gait does have a side-by-side configuration, but is manufactured specifically for clinical gait assessment and lacks the research grade componentry (motor torque capacity, acceleration / deceleration responsiveness, an independent incline / decline platform) which will degrade and/or preclude accurate and precise assessment of gait characteristics and therefore does not meet the requirement.

If this action is not realized the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Physical Therapy program, AMEDD Center and School JBSA-FSH will be unable to conduct multiple planned research projects which will jeopardize credentialing requirements for our program and jeopardize student graduation rates as these projects are curricular requirements for students. Inability to realize this action will have a direct deleterious effect on force readiness across the Army as it will jeopardize the ability to field qualified physical therapy professionals at the clinical and operational unit level to perform injury screening and surveillance and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injury – the leading cause of medical non-readiness and disability related discharges in the military.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer shall publish the notices required by FAR 5.201 at which point any interested vendor will have the opportunity to respond.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Because this is a sole source action, adequate competition is not available. However, the Government will continue to perform market research in effort to locate a split belt force sensing treadmill capable of satisfying all of the Government requirements.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted on 1 May 2018 by MAJ Mark Lester at the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Physical Therapy program, AMEDD Center and School JBSA-FSH using internet searches and discussions with biomechanics laboratory managers at academic institutions. From the Market research it was determined that there are only three companies that manufacture split belt force sensing treadmills. The first company is AMTI, their split belt treadmill not have a side by side configuration, so independent (left and right) gait characteristics cannot be ascertained with adequate fidelity and therefore does not meet the requirement. The second company is Motek, their instrumented treadmill, the M-Gait does have a side-by-side configuration, but is manufactured specifically for clinical gait assessment and lacks the research grade componentry (motor torque capacity, acceleration / deceleration responsiveness, an independent incline / decline platform) which will degrade and/or preclude accurate and precise assessment of gait characteristics and therefore does not meet the requirement. The third company is Bertec, their split belt treadmill provides a side-by-side configuration and is manufactured with research grade componentry and meets all aspects of the requirements specified by the conditions of this action.

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9. Interested Sources: “See Paragraph 6 for the synopsis information. To date, no other sources have written to express interest in the acquisition.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History: Not applicable as this is a new requirement

(End of page)

Version – March 2017 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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.

Typed Name: Mark Lester Date: 12 Jul 18 Title: Associate Professor

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.

Typed Name: LTC (P)Theodore Croy Date:

Title: Program Manager

Version – March 2017 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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: price analysis cost analysis IGCE audit: other:

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data is not required because the item and/or services being acquired are considered commercial.

Typed Name: Lee A. Hess Date: 12 July 18 Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

X Right-Click "Signature Setup"

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

Typed Name: Lee A. Hess Date: 12 July 18 Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

Version – March 2017 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Approval Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of split belt force sensing treadmills on a sole source basis pursuant to the authority of the Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. 1901as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Lee A Hess Date: 12 Jul 18 Contracting Officer Signature: