NorbitBrandNameDetermination_Redacted.pdf

Control No. NWP-R-0031 v4, 5 Jan 2015; previous version obsolete

BRAND NAME DETERMINATION

(Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Part 13)

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Corp of Engineer, Portland District, 333 SW 1st Ave #200, Portland, OR 97204

2. Description of Action: Acquisition of two Norbit iWBMSh STX High-end Turnkey Multibeam Sonar System for USACE Portland District Surveys Section field operations

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement Mod to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time & Materials Funds: OMA Other Funds:

Name of Proposed Contractor(s):

Street Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone:

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

The total estimated value of the proposed action is

The Hydrosurvey Section within NWP needs to purchase two new hydrographic survey sonars to maintain currency and extend capability for surveys in support of other districts with an unmanned survey vessel or vessel of opportunity in remote locations as well as current district survey vessels.

The sonar systems require an integrated high resolution (Applanix Ocean Master) motion sensor (IMU) and integrated sound velocity probe (AML SVP) at the head for channel condition surveys, site monitoring and dredge payment surveys on USACE projects as well as work for others. The system must meet USACE New Work or Rock Cuts standard as described in the USACE Hydrographic Surveying (EM 1110-2-1003 Table 3-1) engineering manual for hydrographic, site monitoring and underwater structural surveying. In order to provide the increasing demands of the USACE projects for increased efficiency and resolution, the system must produce high density and high resolution data. It must be a compact, portable, light weight integrated multibeam sonar with embedded inertial navigation system with mounting bracket and fairings for installation on survey platform of choice including a small unmanned surface vessel (USV). The need is for systems that are easily deployed, easily configured, easily handled by one person (light weight) used for shallow water wide swath mapping (single head with greater than 180 degree swath) data collection efficiency and forgiving of surface sound speed mis-measurements (curved array/sound speed issues). System must provide pitch stabilization (critical for small USV’s in small sea states to maintain full bottom search specification) as well as roll stabilization. System must be capable of generating full 3D point clouds even from behind structures that are passed. In addition to the total system less than 40lb weight requirement the system must meet the low power consumption requirement of 85 Watts Max for the entire system especially when used on an unmanned survey vessel. The system must also be completely compatible with current USV hardware owned by the Portland District Survey Section.

4. Authority:

Action using simplified acquisition procedures (select one):

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g. urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization)

FAR 13.501(a)(1): For actions for commercial supplies or services greater than the SAT but not exceeding $6.5M, the requirements of FAR 13.501(a) apply to sole-source acquisitions conducted pursuant to Subpart 13.5 (Reference: FAR 13.106-1(b)(2)). Subpart 13.5 is the Test Program for Certain Commercial Items (see 41 USC 1901; or for contingencies see 41 USC 1903)

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

Justification: No other manufacturer meets all of the requirements of capability, integration, weight, and power consumption. The District owns two Unmanned Survey Vessels that have been integrated with the Norbit sonars by the manufacturer/supplier and proven to be compatible due to weight and power requirements. Work performed by NWP Survey Section for other Districts typically requires the shipping of equipment to small islands in Hawaii and Japan as an example. The newer technology equipment results in a smaller lower weight packages for shipping with improved capabilities for data collection. The more compact size also allows for use of a smaller support vessels at those locations.

Only Norbit has a wide swath (210°) that covers surface to surface on each side of the vessel this is necessary to image jetties, docks, and pile dikes from either side of a vessel to as near the surface as possible without repositioning the sonar head and recalibrating. The Norbit STX is the only system that utilizes a sweeping transmit ping that facilitates mapping behind structures and obtaining best incidence angles on structure faces. The sweeping transmit allows Norbit STX to be a Forward Looking Sonar and may be switched on-the-fly for obstacle avoidance. Other manufacturers offer Pitch stabilization of the sonar, however, it is not available in the same small form factor as the Norbit STX. Norbit’s overall tight integration of IMU, SVP, and Sonar allow single cable connection configuration from wet end sonar head to topside sonar controller. Norbit STX is the only system that can fulfill the District sonar equipment need in a form factor that also meets the less than 40lb system weight and total system power of less than 85 watts requirements. Purchase of a larger heavier equipment kit would not be compatible with the weight limitation of our USVs. It would increase the shipping cost and even the availability due to weight restriction of a timely airline carrier to some of the remote islands where this equipment is used.

Impact: The equipment needs to be portable and collect high resolution sonar survey data on USACE projects in or out of the District. Portability is key to providing support for Hawaii District with projects in Guam, Japan, and American Samoa. Without this equipment we would not be able to collect the necessary data to meet the requirements of our projects or those of our customers.

Alternatives: Market research has shown this survey system is proprietary to Norbit no other manufacturer has equivalent capability of swath width, pitch stabilization, transmit beam sweeping and meets the weight and power requirements. Purchasing equipment made by another manufacturer would be unfeasible.

6. Actions to Increase Competition:

7. Market Research:

8. Procurement History:

Previous Purchase Order(s) or Contract(s): Yes No

If "Yes", for each purchase order or contract provide:

Purchase order or contract number: W9127N18P0175 Was action competed? Yes No If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale:

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)

Additional Facts and/or Information to support the justification.

10. Technical / Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which is included in this abbreviated J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Prepared By: Michael Littell Position Title: Assistant Chief Survey Section Email address: Michael.B.Littell@usace.army.mil

Signature:____________________________ DATE: 12 December 2018

The multibeam sonar market is constrained to a few survey grade manufacturers which makes the selection of systems limited, especially in areas of emerging new uses of these systems such as Unmanned Survey Vessels. However, because of the innovation and competition that exists in the market, manufacturers are constantly improving their sonar systems trying to meet the current needs of the customer. NWP has purchased sonars from various vendors in the past RESON and KONGSBERG to mention two. At this time the Norbit-iWBMS-STX is the only product that meets our needs. It is very likely other vendors will produce a similar product if they determine they can make a more competitive system. There is continuous development in capability and features in the multibeam market. These systems have a useful life span of six to eight years, when it is time to purchase another sonar of this type there will be more to choose from and evaluate against any future requirements.

Sonars produced by other manufacturers have been researched and do not meet USACE requirements. Only Norbit has a wide swath (210°) that covers surface to surface on each side of the vessel. The Norbit STX is the only system that utilizes a sweeping transmit ping that facilitates mapping behind structures and obtaining best incidence angles on structure faces. The sweeping transmit allows Norbit STX to be a Forward Looking Sonar that may be switched on-the-fly for obstacle avoidance.

Other manufacturers offer Pitch stabilization of the sonar, however, it is not available in the same small form factor as the Norbit STX. Norbit’s overall tight integration of IMU, SVP, and Sonar allow single cable connection configuration from wet end sonar head to topside sonar controller. Norbit STX is the only system that can fulfill the District sonar equipment need in a form factor that also meets the weight and power requirements.

Submitted By: Gregory Speer Position Title: Operations Director Channels and Harbors Email address: Gregory.A.Speer@usace.army.mil

Signature:____________________________ DATE:

Submitted By: Brandon Lasich Position Title: Contract Specialist Email address: Brandon.M.Lasich@usace.army.mil

Signature:____________________________ DATE:

11. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: As contracting officer, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. Basis for the determination is as follows:

There is no competition given the proprietary nature. However costs are verified and the price is expected to be fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii) and FAR 13.106- 3(a)(2)(vi), the Government will compare the proposal to the Independent Government Estimate to ensure price reasonableness.

12. Contracting Officer’s Approval (actions less than $650K): I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on the foregoing, I approve this brand name justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

SIGNATURE: __________________________ DATE: ________

NAME: David L. Dvorak TITLE: Procuring Contracting Officer