A02.14 Sole Source Justification X-Band_Signed_REDACTED.pdf

CUI ERDC Control No. 25-3347

CUI

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

(Under FAR Part 13)

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: Engineer Research and Development Center – Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (EDRC – CHL), ERDC Contracting, Champaign Branch

2. Description of Action: X-Band Radar System for the ERDC Field Research Facility

Nature: New Requirement Follow-On

Requirement Mod to Existing Purchase

Order/Contract Number

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time and Materials

Funds: OMA Other Funds: Revolving Funds

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

a. Description: This non-personal services contract for Oregon State University (OSU) to provide their custom Surfzone X-band Radar System for the ERDC Field Research

Facility (FRF) in Duck, NC for ERDC to conduct novel littoral research. ERDC requires a research-grade X-band radar system for fundamental science in radar signal processing, with proven success resolving surfzone waves, sand bars, and currents, which is not provided by any commercial radar system.

Additionally, existing ERDC tools such as bathymetry algorithms and current estimation have dependencies on the data outputs of the OSU system, in terms of data format, access to raw backscatter signals, and spatial/temporal configuration options. Utilizing this advanced radar system is efficient cost beneficial to ERDC due to the unique compatibility with ERDC tools and expertise.

The required surfzone radar system for was developed by OSU over the past decade, primarily under Office of Naval Research (ONR) programs. It is noted that ONR does not maintain any rights to this system. It has been deployed on over 10 field campaigns with demonstrable success in over a dozen research publications. The system consists of an open- source custom software, with hardware adaptations that enable retrieval of raw signals from the radar. This is unique from commercial off the shelf (COTS) systems which all contain proprietary onboard signal processing, as well as limitations in

Controlled By: ARMY

Controlled By: USACE ERDC

CUI Category: General Procurement and Acquisition

Distribution/Dissemination Control: FED ONLY

POC: Christine Wilson, Christine.L.Wilson@usace.army.mil mailto:Christine.L.Wilson@usace.army.mil configurations to sampling resolution (space, time) and coverage (azimuth, range).

Additionally, alternative systems are designed for deep-water oceanic research but are not well-vetted for surfzone use. The OSU system is demonstrated to provide high resolution bathymetry and wave spectra in littoral zones.

It is the only surfzone radar system to have been field-tested at multiple sites with academic publications on topics of bathymetric inversion. The bathymetric inversion algorithm was developed in-house at ERDC and continues to be a foundational tool in military technical work. This is the only radar bathymetry inversion approach that indicates successful resolution of nearshore sand bar features and dredge deposits.

Implementing the OSU surfzone radar will enable streamlined compatibility with presently used algorithm, enabling immediate efforts in tool advancement rather than backtracked reconfiguration. Additionally, the only published rip current detection paper from radar at the Field Research Facility was using the OSU surfzone radar, indicating high fidelity measurements needed for continued rip current studies. Finally, the OSU surfzone radar was demonstrated successful for the generation of a nearshore wave

“digital twin” (reconstruction of the surface wave field) which is the priority of current and upcoming military. Alternative COTS tools do not provide data in ingestible formats for existing ERDC processing tools and are not demonstrated to provide the data fidelity required of current R&D needs.

b. The estimated value of this Purchase Order to Oregon State University is $248,000.00.

This firm-fixed price purchase order will be awarded with a period of performance of 12 calendar months from the date of award. Options 1 and 2 shall extend 24 months following (12 months from the exercise of each option) the completion of the base period.

4. Authority:

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i)

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).

5. Reason for Authority Cited: A customized system designed to uniquely sense the ocean surface at the Field Research Facility is required for ongoing and future littoral research. The system designed by Oregon State University (OSU) is uniquely tuned to resolve surf-zone and inner shelf physical processes, including depth-induced wave breaking, surf-zone circulation, density fronts, and internal waves. Additionally, the sampling modifications that are enabled with the OSU software will allow for basic research on high-resolution surfzone processes, phase-resolved wave properties, and signal properties due to variable roughness and foam. While other COTS marine radar units exist on the market, none have such customizable and non-proprietary capabilities to conduct this research.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: Based on the knowledge of Subject Matter Experts and an internet search conducted to find other equipment capable of meeting the needs for this requirement, there is currently no known equipment which will provide the capabilities of the equipment in this justification without proprietary restriction. A notice of intent to sole source was posted to the SAM.gov website from 3 April 2025 through 21 April 2025 and no responses or capability statements were received.

7. Market Research: Market research was performed through reading literature, speaking to SSTMs and technical engineers working at the FRF, and referencing previous contracts.

The system developed by OSU is one-of-a-kind and ideally meets ERDC’s unique littoral research needs of the Field Research Facility.

8. NAICS Determination: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

9. Procurement History: None.

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

10. Commercial Item Determination: IAW FAR 10.002(b)(1)(i), the results of the market research have demonstrated that the Government's needs can be met by items of a type customarily available in the commercial marketplace that would meet the definition of a commercial item at FAR 2.1, to include commercial items with customary or minor modifications, or non-developmental items. Therefore, IAW

FAR 10.002(d)(1), the contracting officer shall solicit and award any resultant contract using the policies and procedures in FAR Part 12.

11. Additional information to support the justification: N/A

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

Digitally signed by

SIMPSON.ALEXANDRA.J.16295

44514

Date: 2025.04.23 09:02:09 -04'00'

Alex Simpson

Technical Reviewer

13. 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: price analysis techniques.

WILSON.CHRISTIN Digitally signed by

E.LUANNE.108617

WILSON.CHRISTINE.LUANNE.1

086172018

Date: 2025.04.28 14:15:24 -06'00'

Christine L. Wilson

Procuring Contracting Officer

SIMPSON.ALEXAN

DRA.J.1629544514

12. Contracting Officer’s Approval: 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 sole source justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition

WILSON.CHRISTIN Digitally signed by

E.LUANNE.108617

WILSON.CHRISTINE.LUANNE.1

086172018

Date: 2025.04.28 14:15:51 -06'00'

Christine L. Wilson

Procuring Contracting Officer