A03.22_Sole_Source_Justification_Redacted_(Silixa).pdf

ERDC Control No. 18-0210

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

(Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Part 13 Not Exceeding $150K)

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: Engineer Research and Development Center – Cold

Regions Research Engineering Laboratory (EDRC – CRREL)

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-On Requirement

Mod to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time and Materials

Funds: OMA Other Funds: RDT&E

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

ERDC-CRREL’s Office of Technical Directors has a requirement for one (1) highly sensitive fiber optic sensing system and associated peripherals (commercial items) for detection of airborne / near-surface signals, with requirements as follows:

a. bandwidth between 0.01 Hz to 50 kHz or greater

b. dynamic range of 120 dB or greater

c. minimum channel spacing of 1 m or less

d. capable of coherent processing

e. system (interrogator and fiber optic cable) must have a noise floor of 0.5 nm/Hz^(1/2) or lower

f. fiber-optic cable with a length of 200 m or greater which can function at these specified standards

g. as packaged in its shipping container, the system should be maneuverable by two people or less

h. available for lease for 5 months starting in July 2018

i. vendor needs to be US or 5-eyes

j. can be used to detect airborne signals

The total estimated dollar value of the proposed action is $182,369

4. Authority:

Action using Simplified Acquisition Procedures

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.)

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

This is a commercial item contract under the Simplified Acquisition threshold for commercial items of $7M; only one vendor has been identified who can meet the required specifications.

CRREL has surveyed the market place and discovered that Silixa is the only company currently offering a commercial item system that can meet the requisite specifications of this project.

Silixa’s tool system is called the Carina (interrogator unit) and Constellation (fiber optic cable).

It is a unique tool developed by Silixa and therefore only offered for lease / sale via Silixa. For this reason we are requesting sole source consideration for this contract.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: A notice of intent to sole source was posted to the

Government Point of Entry (fbo.gov) with no responses. Future requirements will be evaluated for competition and procured in a manner befitting the circumstances.

7. Market Research: Market research was conducted by the CRREL technical representatives to identify all possible companies that offer Fiber Optic Sensors that might meet the specialized requirements for this study. We found that the universe of vendors for this niche capability was very limited, thus we also extended our search for vendors to encompass the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and

Australia in order to capture the largest suit of possible 5-eyes vendors. Vendors were kept at the

5-eyes level because of the sensitivity of this study. The market research resulted in five (5) total vendors identified working in this niche field, though only one vendor has a commercial item able to meet the requirements; other vendors offered “similar” items that are not as advanced and thus unable to provide the specified capabilities required for this work. The five total vendors are: Optasense, Silixa, Senstar, Future Fibre Technologies, and Astro Technology. Silixa was the only vendor identified capable of providing a system meeting the above specified requirements, and Silixa is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the equipment.

8. Procurement History:

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

Was action competed? Yes No

If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale:

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

10. Technical/Requirements Certification (Branch Chief):

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which is included in this sole-source justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature:

11. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: As Contracting Officer, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will represent the best value to the Government in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a). Basis for the determination: cost and/or price analyses

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 supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Signature: