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JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Programs/Equipment: One (1) Xradia 810 Ultra N... JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Programs/Equipment: One (1) Xradia 810 Ultra Nanoscale 3D X-ray Microscope (XRM), with accompanying software and analysis workstation, installation, calibration and one (1) premium protection preventative maintenance option. Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Amount: [REDACTED] Prepared by: [REDACTED] DSN: [REDACTED] Materials Engineer Date: 28 August 2020 Email: [REDACTED] Contracting Officer: Cristina Watkins DSN: 290-3385 Contracting Officer Date: 28 August 2020 Email: cristina.m.watkins.civ@mail.mil Technical: [REDACTED] DSN: [REDACTED] Materials Engineer Date: 28 August 2020 Email: [REDACTED] Requirements: [REDACTED] DSN: [REDACTED] Branch Chief Date: 28 August 2020 Email: [REDACTED] Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition. Program Manager: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Legal Counsel: 9/28/2020 [REDACTED] [REDACTED] FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG CCAP-SCA) 2800 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783. Description of Action: The Materials Response and Design Branch (MRDB) of the Materials and Manufactruing Science Division within the Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD) requests a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract with Carl Zeiss Microscopy, White Plains, NY to acquire The Government anticipates award for October 2020 utilizing Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Army Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds. _X_ An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement either does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i), or is an R&D acquisition and does not meet the definition of services in 10 U.S.C. 2330(c)(2). Description of Supplies/Services: The MRDB requires one (1) XRM, associated software, analysis workstation, one (1) premium protection preventive maintenance option, installation, calibration and shipping to Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005- 5066. The system components are required as follows: Base Quantity Description Price One (1) Xradia 810 Ultra nanoscale 3D XRM including installation and on-site calibration/verification [REDACTED] One (1) Software Bundle for Analysis [REDACTED] One (1) DragonFly Pro Software $[REDACTED] One (1) Analysis Workstation $[REDACTED] One (1) Shipping $[REDACTED] Base Total Value $[REDACTED] Option One (1) Premium protection preventative maintenance $[REDACTED] Option Total Value $[REDACTED] Total Contract Price $[REDACTED] Base Completion Date: Sixteen (16) weeks After Contract Award(ACA) Option: One (1) year from date of exercise of option Total Value: $[REDACTED] The preventive maintenance option is necessary because the instrument is highly precise and requires regular calibration to maintain operation at the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standard for the accuracy of analysis results. Additionally, the preventative maintenance option provides for instrument warranty, repairs and/or replacement parts which long term, provides for a controlled cost environment as well as minimizes major halts in [REDACTED]should repairs be required and/or parts fail due to unforeseen circumstances. Subject to availability of funds, the intent is to exercise the option. Authority Cited: 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Reason for Authority Cited: Carl Zeiss Microscopy (White Plains, NY) is the only source capable of providing a nano-Computed Tomography (CT) with 50 nanometer (nm) feature detectability that provides a 10 times increase in current X-ray CT spatial resolution. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) currently owns [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Based on the aforementioned, MRDB requires an X-ray nano-CT scanner that can acheive a 50 nm resolution for detail detectability and conduct scans at 5.4 kiloelectron Volt (keV) energy. This resolution is required for [REDACTED] In order to obtain the 50 nm resolution, a voxel size of less than 20 nm is a requirement for the system. The system must employ magnifying objective lenses to achieve the desired high spatial resolution of 50 nm. Based from the company analysis below, it was determined that only one (1) company is able to provide a system with the aforementioned resolution, and that system is the Zeiss 810 Ultra nano-CT XRM. Unlike other companies that manufacture nano-CT scanners, the Zeiss model utilizes proprietary X-ray optics including a capillary condensing lens to increase X-ray flux to the sample and objective zone plate to focus x-rays to the detector. This technology, in addition to optical magnification, allows higher spatial resolution compared to techniques relying on geometric magnification or an increased number of pixels on the detector. The result of this proprietary technique, is as much as 10 times higher spatial resolution despite using an identical x-ray source compared with competing nano-CT manufactures. This unique feature significantly improves the image signal-to-noise ratio and the edge sharpness of features and is the reason the Zeiss 810 Ultra is the only system that can achieve the required spatial resolution of 50 nm. Failure to procure the proposed nano-CT [REDACTED] Based on the aforementioned, the Xradia 810 Ultra Nanoscale 3D XRM’s technical capabilities to meet the Government’s 50 nm resolution for detail detectability and 5.4 keV energy requirement is [REDACTED] Market research (see Section 8) has confirmed that while there are alternative nano-CT systems in the market, none can meet the current technical needs of the agency. As such, Carl Zeiss Microscopy is the original equipment manufacturer, has the required proprietary technology to support the mission work of WMRD, and is therefore the only vendor capable of meeting the Government’s requirement. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 5.201, the Contracting Officer published a Notice of Intent to Sole Source to the BetaSam.gov website on 13 August 2020 with a response date of 27 August 2020. Only the intended sole source Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC responded. No other responses were received. Based on the aforementioned, effective competition is not applicable. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to perform market research to locate other sources with the capability to provide a nano-CT with 50 nm detail detectability. If the Government becomes aware of other sources with the capability to meet the Government’s requirements of 50 nm detail detectability at 5.4 keV energy and less than a 20 nm voxel size, then a determination will be made for suitable competition. When another source is discovered, the Government will technically evaluate the response against the current system, and if the new source is deemed acceptable, then the Government will seek a competitive action. Market Research: Market research was conducted by [REDACTED] (a Research Scientist in the Materials Division at the Air Force Research Laboratory), during the period of January 2020 to April 2020. Market research included speaking with knowledgeable Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), internet searches, and a conference call with a potential offeror. Additionally, conference calls were made to knowledgeable Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on March 25, 2020 with [REDACTED]from ARL and Zeiss personnel: [REDACTED]This call confirmed that the Zeiss 810 Ultra system will meet research needs and will provide sufficient resolution for our materials of interest. Lastly, internet searches confirmed that alternative nano-CT systems do not meet the technical requirements for 50 nm detail detectability: [REDACTED] None of these systems meet the resolution requirements. The Zeiss 810 Ultra system can achieve a 16 nm minimum voxel size and a 50 nm detail detectability resolution, which is an order of magnitude greater than the other nano-CT systems. Market research determined that none of these systems can currently meet the resolution requirements of the Government and only one (1) company is able to provide a system with the aforementioned resolution, and that system is the Zeiss 810 Ultra nano-CT XRM. As such, Carl Zeiss Microscopy is the only capable source of meeting the Government’s minimum requirements. Interested Sources: A notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted on 13 August 2020 with a response date of 27 August 2020 (See Section 6). To date, no responses to challenge the intent to sole source were received, and no other sources have written to express interest in the acquisition. Other Facts: a. Procurement History Solicitation Number: FA8601-16-R-0300 Contract Number: FA8601-16-C-0008 Contractor: Carl Zeiss Microscopy Award Date: October 29, 2015 Delivery Date: December 04, 2015 Dollar Value: $2,612,533.30 Competitive Status: Non-competitive Authority: 10 USC 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signer’s Title: Materials Engineer [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signer’s Title: Branch Chief, Materials Response and Design Branch [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. This determination will be made using the following: Cost analysis _X_ Price analysis Should-cost IGE Audit: Other: As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data: will be required. _X_ will not be required and the following exception applies (FAR 15.403): Prices that will be agreed upon are based on adequate price competition. Prices that will be agreed upon are based on prices set by law or regulation. _X_ A commercial item is being acquired. A waiver has been granted by the head of the contracting activity (HCA) in accordance with DFARS PGI 215.403-1. The contract action is a modification to a contract or subcontract for commercial item(s). The estimated cost of the contract action is less than the threshold for certified cost or pricing data. 9/29/2020 X Cristina M. Watkins Contracting Officer (KO) Signed by: WATKINS.CRISTINA.MUSSE. [REDACTED] Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. 9/29/2020 X Cristina M. Watkins Contracting Officer (KO) Signed by: WATKINS.CRISTINA.MUSSE[REDACTED] Approval Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of one (1) Xradia 810 Ultra Nanoscale 3D X-ray Microscope (XRM), with accompanying software and analysis workstation, installation, calibration and one (1) premium protection preventative maintenance option, for an estimate of [REDACTED], which is comprised of a base with a delivery of 16 weeks ACA and a 12 month option period upon exercise, on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition. (End of Justification)