SBIR Phase III Topics N08-023 Precision High Altitude Sonobuoy Emplacement and N151-013 Deep Long Life Passive Sonobuoy Sensor System

   

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

 

 

1.  Agency and Contracting Activity.

 

Department of the Navy, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Lakehurst, NJ

 

2.  Nature/Description of Action(s) Being Approved.

 

This is a justification to award a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III Basic Ordering Agreement order to NAVMAR Applied Sciences Corporation, hereafter referred to as NASC.     

 

NASC was awarded Phase I SBIR contract number N68335-15-C-0208 on 26 May 2015 resulting from Solicitation 15.1, Topic N151-013.  Topic N151-013 was entitled "Deep Long Life Passive Sonobuoy Sensor System." 

 

Topic N151-013 sought the development of a deep, long life, passive sonobuoy sensor system that can be deployed by aircraft and used for undersea surveillance. The Navy is becoming increasingly interested in deploying acoustic sensing systems below critical depth in the ocean, close to, or on the ocean bottom in convergent zone type environments. At these depths, the ambient noise structure and sound propagation physics are unique and have the potential to be exploited by future undersea surveillance systems. 

 

NASC was awarded Phase I SBIR contract N68335-08-C-0261 on 30 April 2008 resulting from Solicitation 8.1, Topic N08-023.  Topic N08-023 was entitled, "Precision High Altitude Sonobuoy Emplacement (PHASE)."

 

Topic N08-023 sought the development of a technique for accurate placement of sonobuoy sensors deployed from Marine Patrol Aircraft from high altitudes. Techniques could be modification and/or augmentation of the current sonobuoy parachute assembly, replacing the parachute assembly with another decelerator, active or passive guidance based on local wind conditions, and/or the development of an improved prediction algorithm.

 

This Phase III effort is for the advanced development of a prototype of the Extended Life Sonobuoy (ELS), Automated ELS, Next Generation Airborne Passive System, Advanced Processing Builds, Fleet Performance Analysis, Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Intelligence, Navy Underwater Active Multiple Ping, High Altitude ASW systems, as well as, Advanced Sensors Application Programs.

 

 

3. Description of Supplies/Services

 

This Phase III effort derives from the Phase I and II efforts described in paragraph 2 and is for continued advanced research and development and engineering services for the Deep Long Life Passive Sonobuoy Sensor System and PHASE.  The plan is to transfer these advanced technologies into airborne ASW systems for fleet use. 

 

This effort is for research and development and engineering services that include systems engineering; modeling and analyses; measurement of target and environmental data; architecture; fabrication; installation; test; maintenance; and aircrew training.  System verification will be performed in various acoustic environments through the collection, modeling, processing, and measurement of target and environmental data, which will improve aircrew ASW training.  Specifically, the contractor will conduct studies and analysis for ongoing and new Air ASW systems and sensor concepts that will provide additional performance capability; provide a software requirement specification; provide a design for the Deep Long Life Passive Sonobuoy Sensor System and PHASE systems architecture; provide software and hardware development capabilities; develop or mature Deep Long Life Passive Sonobuoy Sensor System and PHASE signal processing; perform laboratory and field testing, replay analysis, and integration, and conduct in-water experimentation.  The contractor will transition the Deep Long Life Passive Sonobuoy Sensor System technology such as array, telemetry, packaging, deployment and self-noise remediation to the Navy's Extended Life Sonobuoy program.

 

4.  Identification of Statutory Authority.

 

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, 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 topics for this effort were included in the Department of Defense Program Competitive Solicitation issued under the SBIR Program.   As described above, only NASC 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 order 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 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:  36 months        

Option(s):  None

 

13. Total Estimated Dollar Value of the Acquisition Covered by this J&A, 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 NASC is being considered for Phase III award due to the nature of the acquisition.