Underwater and Airborne Explosions

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD), intends to award a sole source contract to provide for scientific and technical services in support of Underwater Explosions (UNDEX) and Air Explosions (AIREX) analysis of undersea and surface vessels. The support will be provided in two primary areas 1) Specialized Software for which Weidlinger Associates, Incorporated (WAI) is the sole provider and 2) Specialized Airgun Technology (SAT) for which WAI holds an exclusive patent.  WAI shall provide several important and highly specialized software tools that are important to the US Navy.  The primary tool is Elastic-Plastic Shell Analysis (EPSA/PCEPSA).  This tool is the only qualified tool available to meet Navy specifications for the VIRGINIA class submarines and is specifically called out in VIRGINIA Class ship specifications section 100.  WAI shall also provide a variety of other software tools they developed and own including; Far-field Underwater Shock Environment (FUSE) Analysis, Design, Qualification UNDEX Event Selection (ADQUES), Nuclear Far-field Underwater Shock Environment (NUC_FUSE), and Model Checker (MODCHK).  Additionally, WAI shall provide technical and software experts supporting two software development efforts for NSWCCD which include Navy Enhanced Sierra Mechanics (NESM) and the Navy Energetic Modeling Oracle (NEMO).  NSWCCD provides research, development, testing, and evaluations (RDT&E) under the cognizance of the U.S. Navy.  Modeling and Simulation(M&S) and Test Evaluation (T&E) relating to UNDEX and AIREX events are a major part of NSWCCD's mission and requires unique, highly specialized expertise.  The period of performance will be for a total of five years. The intended source is Weidlinger Associates, Incorporated (WAI), of New York, NY under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) pursuant to FAR 6.302-1--Only one Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements. WAI is the only contractor capable of providing T&E expertise associated with the use of seismic air-guns for UNDEX shock testing as it holds a unique patent on this technology (US patent 666262 B1, entitled "Shock testing of naval vessels using seismic air-gun arrays."). The US Navy has studied several completing alternative energy source methods for simulating underwater shock. Based on the results of these studies, the patented seismic air-gun technology developed by WAI was found to be the most technically sound alternative energy approach. WAI develops and maintains several other software tools such as FUSE, NUC_FUSE, and MODCHK.  The US Navy utilizes these tools to support submarine shock design and qualification efforts.  Each of these WAI developed codes have become an essential element is NSWCCD's approach for fulfilling the following responsibilities: planning and executing UNDEX testing; reviewing, as the Designated Approval Authority, lead design yard shock qualification submittal for Technical Warrant Holder (TWH) approval; developing new shock testing methodologies resulting in cost savings; and employing M&S techniques to perform shock hardness assessments of naval vessels. WAI is the only provider capable of supplying a number unique software applications and expertise related to seismic airgun testing that support this requirement. The RFP will be issued on or about 30 November 2015 to Weidlinger Associates, Incorporated and due date for the proposal will be 30 days thereafter.  All responsible sources may submit a capabilities statement which will be considered by the agency.

Note:  Advance Notice & Source Sought under Solicitation N00167-15-R-0013 (error).  New number issued with this notice.