Justification_and_Approval_for_Sole_Source.docx

JA-Ten-16-278

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) 6.302-1

1. Requiring Activity/ Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATC)/ Army Contract Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC- APG) Tenant Division

2. Description of Action:

Funds: |_| Operations and Maintenance, Army (OMA) |X| Other Funds: 2040 (2 Year funding) Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) funding for the Army

Fiscal Year of Funds: FY16/FY17

Name of Proposed Contractor(s): Syntronics, LLC.

Street Address: 3500 Shannon Park Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22408-2375 Telephone Number: (540) 374-1000

3. Description of Supplies:

Syntronics, LLC. shall build fifteen (15) Data Acquisition for Anthropomorphic Test Devices, Generation 2 D4DG2 Data Acquisition Systems (DAS) with modifications. Each D4DG2 is a custom built solution made up of 1 INST-44 Slice Data Control Module, 3 INST-45 Slice LSA Data Acquisition Modules, and 1 INST-47 Slice Base Unit. The manufacturer custom built the D4DG2 Specially for ATC which integrates with current ATC software routines. ATC is currently utilizing nine (9) D4DG2 Systems. Fifteen (15) additional units are required in order to keep up with their growing mission requirements.

4. Authority:

Actions other than simplified acquisition procedures:

FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, 10 USC 2304(c)(1)

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

a. Syntronics is the only contractor that can provide the require D4DG2 data acquisition units. ATC’s current Ballistic Test Site Terminal version X (BTSX) software has been written to control this device. Syntronics owns the Intellectual Property (IP) to the D4D product line and is the only manufacturer that makes the D4D product. The proprietary software developed to control this specific instrument took thousands of man hours to develop and implement. Substitution of another similar instrument at this time will render the present controlling software useless, therefore, nullifying any cost savings. For the Government to develop and test new software with another unit, it would cost the Government approximately $1.2M. Syntronics has the proven experience to provide a device that is durable enough to survive the underbody blast test environment that they are exposed to. ATC’s software is currently invested in the functionality of the D4DG2 units and was written to work with Syntronics firmware of the D4DG2 units. Syntronics offers a unique D4D product line in that the size, low noise, 16DB resolution, number of channels, sampling rate of 40,000, rugged design, ability to store data internally, Ethernet compatible, ability to be operated on internal power or with external power sources, and GPS time interface offered are of high standards and this combination of key features make up a unique D4D product line unlike anything else offered on today’s commercial market.

b. Currently ATC has nine (9) D4D G2 units on hand. These units are going through a Verification, Validation and Accreditation (VV&A) plan that is required by ATEC Regulation 73-21. All new instrumentation must go through VV&A prior to implementation at any ATEC test center. Contracting through another vendor would delay the implementation of these units as well as create work that would not be funded through this solicitation. The current VV&A process takes approximately six (6) months’ time to develop, staff, and conduct the VV&A. To conduct a VV&A on any new device presented by another contractor would cost approximately $70,000 on top of the additional funding that would have to be spent re-writing ATC’s current BTSX software package.

c. These units are required for a test series that is due to start in August of 2016. Without these units, ATC will not be able to conduct these tests. This would create a delay in testing and ultimately cost the customer and the Army additional funding. A typical test event at ATC costs approximately $150,000.00 dollars. Therefore, delaying award is not advantageous to the Government at this time.

6. Actions to Increase Competition:

This action is to procure additional units that match what is already owned by ATC.

Currently ATC has a project that is ongoing to research what other data acquisition systems are available on the market. This project is in the beginning phases and the end goal is to identify other manufacturers that meet our strict array of requirements for a data acquisition system. If another vendor is discovered which can provide the strict array of requirements ATC requires, competition will be conducted in the future.

7. Market Research:

ATC has conducted market research through web searches, attending meetings, and design reviews for projects that are unrelated to this. ATC has evaluated data acquisition systems by Diversified Technology Systems and did not find their system to satisfactorily meet all of the requirements that are outlined in the PWS. Other companies such as Precision Filters expressed interest in this project as well, but ultimately did not pursue this project nor show any sort of evidence of capability to fulfill ATC’s requirement.

8. Procurement History:

Previous Purchase Order(s) or Contract(s): |X| Yes |_| No

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

Purchase order or contract number: W91CRB-06-D-0054 Was action competed? |X|Yes |_| No Purchase order or contract number: W91ZLK-13-P-0670 Was action competed? |_|Yes |X| No

The original contract award (W91RCB-06-D-0054), was competed because no existing equipment was owned by ATC. Once awarded, Syntronics representatives worked with ATC to develop the D4D G2 units. After receiving the D4DG2 units, ATC determined that they required a few modification in order to meet the need of their mission. Modifications to the original D4DG2 units were made under contract W91ZLK-13-P-0670. The modifications included a triggering modification, IEEE 1588 Timing modification and an autobalance modification. This action is to procure additional units which the contractor, Syntronics has custom built specifically for ATC. The additional units will collaborate with the existing units and with ATC’s software. If another brand-name were utilized, it would not function with ATC’s existing software.