SBIR Phase III Topic N121-044 entitled " Making Airborne Radome Structural Members"

 

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE III JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

 

1.  Contracting Activity. 

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Lakehurst, NJ

 

2.  Nature/Description of the Action Being Approved. 

This is a justification to award a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III contract to SensorMetrix (SMX), San Diego, CA.

SMX and NanoSonic, Inc. were awarded SBIR Phase I contract numbers N68936-12-C-0147 on 29 May 2012 and N68936-12-C-0146 on 7 May 2012 respectively; resulting from Solicitation 12.1, Topic N121-044.  Topic N121-044 was entitled "Making Airborne Radome Structural Members."  SMX was subsequently awarded SBIR Phase II contract number N68335-13-C-0387 on 27 August 2013.  SMX was awarded SBIR Phase III contract number N68335-16-C-0081 on 25 April 2016.

Topic N121-044 sought the development and fabrication of one or more prototype structural members for the Hawkeye Rotodome, which would minimize structural members' effect on Radio Frequency (RF) propagation.  The Hawkeye rotodome is fabricated with fiberglass structural reinforcements that refract RF energy.  This increases sidelobes and distorts antenna patterns.  Substances that have negative refractive indices in the B and L Bands, as part of the rotodome structural reinforcements, have the potential of reducing sidelobes and distortions.

Phase I sought to design and determine the feasibility of fabricating prototype structural members for the Hawkeye Rotodome which would minimize structural members' effect on RF propagation.

Phase II sought to develop a prototype(s) for ground electrical and structural testing.

 

3.  Description of Supplies/Services. 

 

This Phase III effort derives from the Phase I, II, and III efforts described in paragraph 2, and is to design, integrate, and test a candidate next generation E-2 High Gain Ultra High Frequency Electronically Steered Antenna system which includes multi-band operation.  This effort is a natural follow on to SBIR Topic N121-044 Phase I and Phase II work previously performed for PMA 231 to overcome radome support structure perturbations on IFF field of view in the E-2 rotodome.  The goal is to optimize multiband RF performance in the presence of physical support structures which would otherwise perturb and degrade multi-band performance.  This effort will provide significant risk reduction for PMA 231 multi-band RDT&E efforts. 

 

The deliverables of this project are data on numerical modeling and characterization of the effect of rib structures on beam patterns, developing S-band optimized homogenous metamaterial design and issuing technical reports.  Other optional deliverables are metamaterial functionality test appliques, generating non-homogenous metamaterial designs and fabrication of test material as well as issuing technical reports. 

 

This effort will be under contract number N68335-17-C-0260.

 

4.  Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition. 

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5), as implemented by FAR 6.302-5: Authorized or Required by Statute.

15 U.S.C. 638(r)(1) states:

"In the case of a small business concern that is awarded a funding agreement for Phase II of an SBIR or STTR program, a Federal agency may enter into a Phase III agreement with that business concern for additional work to be performed during or after the Phase II period."

Furthermore, 15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4) states:

"To the greatest extent practicable, Federal agencies and Federal prime contractors shall issue Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology."

 

5. Demonstration that Proposed Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of Acquisition Requires Use of Authority Cited.

The nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited.  The SBIR/STTR Programs are structured in three phases.  Phase I (project feasibility) determines the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of the ideas submitted.  Phase II (project development to prototype) is the major research and development effort, funding the prototyping and demonstration of the most promising Phase I projects.  Phase III (commercialization) is the ultimate goal of the SBIR/STTR Programs. Because the Phase III work derives from, extends, or completes efforts performed under Phase I, II, and III, use of the authority cited is required.

 

6.   Description of Efforts Made to Ensure Offerors Were Solicited From as Many Potential Sources as Practicable/Public Notification through Government Point of Entry (GPE).

The topic for this effort was included in the Department of Defense Program Competitive Solicitation issued under the SBIR Program.  As described above, only SMX is being considered for Phase III award due to the nature of the acquisition.  In accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(7), this proposed contract action does not require public notification to the GPE.

 

7.  Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. 

The Contracting Officer will determine prior to award that the negotiated price of the contract executed under this justification is fair and reasonable pursuant to FAR Subpart 15.4.  This determination will be documented in a Business Clearance Memorandum, which will be included in the contract file.

 

8. Description of Market Research or Statement of the Reason Market Research was not Conducted.

FAR 10.001(a)(2) indicates that market research appropriate to the circumstances must be conducted.  SBIR Phase III procurements are such that traditional market research to identify alternative sources is generally unnecessary.  As described above, the Phase III work derives from, extends, or completes efforts performed under Phase I and Phase II.

 

9.  Any Other Supporting Facts.

Not Applicable.

 

 

10.  Listing of Interested Sources.

Not Applicable.

 

11.  Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

The Contracting Officer anticipates that competitors will enter the market once the product is commercialized.  It is likely that future acquisitions will be competed using full and open competition and commercial item acquisition procedures.  The Contracting Officer is not aware of any specific actions that would further remove barriers to competition.

 

12.  Period of Performance.

Base:  7 months

Option(s):  17 months

 

 

13.  Total Estimated Dollar Value of the Acquisition Covered by this Justification, with Funding Specified by Year and Appropriation:

 

 

 

 

14.  Actions Attempted to Make Immediate Acquisition Competitive and Cost/Benefit Analysis.

No actions were attempted to make the immediate acquisition competitive; no cost/benefit analysis was performed.  As described above, only SMX is being considered for Phase III award due to the nature of the acquisition.