SOLICITATION NOTICE
34 -- One (1) TekSphero-15 - A03 - Simplified Acquisition Sole Source Justification over $150K (FAR 13.5) REDACTED
- Notice Date
- 7/17/2018
- Notice Type
- Justification and Approval (J&A)
- NAICS
- 332811
— Metal Heat Treating
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command, ACC - APG (W911QX) Adelphi, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Building 601, Adelphi, Maryland, 20783-1197, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20783-1197
- Solicitation Number
- W911QX-18-Q-0010
- Archive Date
- 8/16/2018
- Point of Contact
- Ashley Eaker, Phone: 301-394-4229
- E-Mail Address
-
ashley.e.eaker2.civ@mail.mil
(ashley.e.eaker2.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Award Number
- W911QX-18-P-0110
- Award Date
- 7/17/2018
- Description
- Simplified Acquisition Sole Source Justification over $150K (FAR 13.5) REDACTED JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Supply/Service: One (1) TekSphero-15 - 15kW Plasma Equipment for Powder Treatment Apparatus 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] Material ScientistDate: 04/20/2018 Email: [REDACTED] Contracting Officer:James O'KeefeDSN: 290-2135 Contracting OfficerDate: 05/01/2018 Email: james.g.okeefe3.civ@mail.mil Technical:[REDACTED]DSN: [REDACTED] Material ScientistDate: 04/20/2018 Email: [REDACTED] Requirements:[REDACTED]DSN: [REDACTED] Team Leader Date: 04/20/2018 Email: [REDACTED] Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition. Department of Army FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Sole Source Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition 1. Contracting Activity: Adelphi Contracting Division, U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), 2800 Powder Mill RD, Adelphi, MD 20783-1138. 2. Description of Action: The United States Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requests a Firm Fixed Price (FPP) contract with Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc., 2935, Blvd Industriel, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1L 2T9 CANADA. The estimated value of this contract totals $[REDACTED] for the purchase of one (1) Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc., TEK-15 - 15kW Plasma Equipment for Powder Treatment Apparatus, also known as a spheroidizer. The Government anticipates award in May 2018, and Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds will be used. X_ An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B) and is not a cost reimbursement type contract (FAR 16.301-3(a)(2)). 3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Government requires quantity (qty.) one (1) Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc., TekSphero-15 - 15kW Plasma Equipment for Powder Treatment Apparatus. The overall apparatus includes the base unit, which consists of: an induction plasma torch, radio frequency (rf) generator, safety interlocks, gas control panel, vacuum pump, cyclone, and filter. Additional equipment to be included will be a full nanopowder reaction system; airless collection modules; a powder feeder (model PFV-100); an online collection system for the spheroidization reactor; a disk feeder with support platform and access stairs; a chiller and interconnections; and commissioning, which is anticipated to take three (3) days. Delivery Date: Four (4) months after receipt of award (ARO); estimated October 2018 Total Value: $[REDACTED] 4. 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. 5. Reason for Authority Cited: The U.S. Army Research Laboratory's (ARL) Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD), Lightweight and Specialty Metals Branch (LSMB) is engaged in lightweight metal and alloy research that involves Plasma spheroidization. This is a widely accepted application of induction plasma technology that can produce spherical powders from irregularly-shaped, mechanically-alloyed powders which still have their nanocrystalline grain structures in tact after processing. Through LSMB's ongoing research efforts and experiments, it has been shown that the reduction of a materials' grain size to the nanoscale is beneficial in dramatically increasing its strength without compromising its other properties. In turn, the increase in strength translates into greater flexibility in the utilization of parts made from nanostructure metals or alloys, which is critically beneficial to the LSMB's lightweight metal and alloy research mission. In order to support this mission, it is important to be able to generate volumes of nanostructure powders which can then be consolidated into bulk parts. The Government requires a powder treatment apparatus that has three (3) different collection ports that allow the collection of nanoscale powder (1-100 nanometers), submicron powder (100 nm - 5 microns), and unprocessed, or improperly processed powder (greater than 10 microns). The Tekna design incorporates three (3) collection ports: one (1) at the reactor where particles that have not been completely processed can be collected; one (1) at the cyclone to collect particles that have not been fully processed; and one (1) at the filter for fully processed particles. Any particles collected from the first two (2) collection ports are recycled back through the process, thus reducing the amount of waste and producing a higher quality end product. Another possible source, Jeol of Japan, manufactures a plasma spheroidization system in which the processed powder accumulates downstream at the bottom of the main reactor, where it is collected and subsequently removed. This design produces an undesirable mixture of non-evaporated (incompletely processed) and nano-powder (correctly processed) particles. Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc. is currently the only vendor that has the aforementioned unique three (3) collection ports spheroidization process. Due to the aforementioned, Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc. is the sole vendor capable of satisfying the Government's minimum requirements. 6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Based on the market research performed via General Supply Schedule and online searches, along with contacting [REDACTED] a subject matter expert within LSMB of ARL, and a formal Synopsis posting (see section 9 below), there are currently only two (2) sources that manufacture the type of niche equipment the Government requires; however, only one (1) of these sources is capable of meeting the Government's minimum requirements. However, if LSMB discovers that another manufacturer could provide a reliable alternative, ARL will not hesitate to procure the supply competitively. 7. Actions to Increase Competition: For future competition to procure plasma systems like Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc. produces, the Government will continue to survey the market place to see if new developments have been made in the spheroidization process. To date, there is only two (2) sources that are capable of manufacturing radio frequency plasma powder processing equipment for industrial use. The TekSphero-15 is the only system with the unique three (3) collection ports spheroidization process. The other source, Jeol of Japan, manufactures a plasma spheroidization system that is critically inadequate because its reactor design is incapable of providing different classifications of processed powders that can be accommodated with a spheroidization system such as the one the Government requires. While nanopowder synthesis is a critical function of the machine, spheroidization is the primary task that the machine must perform. If another system is produced similar to the TekSphero-15 system and is capable of producing nanopowders and spheroidized powders at a usable quality level, then the government would consider full and open competition to compare features and technically analyze the best performing system for future use. 8. Market Research: Extensive market research for this acquisition was performed by Material Scientist, [REDACTED] from September through October of 2017. Market research included extensive internet searches using keywords such as "RF plasma," "powder spheroidization," "RF plasma powder treatment," "RF plasma equipment/manufacturers," etc. In addition, [REDACTED] reviewed market research efforts conducted by [REDACTED], Senior Metallurgist at the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC), in which [REDACTED] purchased an identical piece of equipment for the research laboratory at ARDEC. This comprehensive search yielded only two (2) vendors that produce radio frequency plasma powder processing equipment for industrial use: Jeol and Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc. Further research concerning powder spheroidization using radio frequency plasma technology was completed by reviewing published, peer-reviewed articles, including reviews of U.S. Patent Numbers 9,516,734 and 8,013,269. This research yielded Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc. as the only manufacturer of this type of equipment for industrial use. While reviewing these articles, it was revealed that other radio frequency plasma systems are in use by other institutions, however, those systems were custom-designed by those institutions for their own research purposes. 9. Interested Sources: In accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 205.205-71, DFARS 206.302-1(d), and DFARS Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI) 206.302-1(d), a Synopsis was posted to FBO.gov for 10 calendar days from 10 April 2018 with a closing date of 20 April 2018. This Synopsis posting resulted in one (1) interested vendor response (Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc.). To date, no other sources have written to express interest in this acquisition. Based on the aforementioned, Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc. continues to be the only responsible source capable of providing radio frequency plasma powder processing equipment for industrial use that meet the Government's minimum requirements. 10. Other Facts: This is a new requirement for the procurement radio frequency plasma powder processing equipment for industrial use and there is no procurement history since this is a first time buy. 11. 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. 12. 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. 13. 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. Upon solicitation, Tekna Systemes Plasma Inc., will be required to provide a Most Favorable Statement and Price Reasonableness, either in the form of a published priced list or an invoice from a similar sell within the previous 18 months, to ensure the Government is receiving the most favorable price available for this procurement. Certified cost or pricing is not required for this action based on the fact a commercial item is being acquired. This determination will be made using the following: __ Cost analysis _X_ Price analysis __ Should-cost __ IGCE __ Audit: _X_ Other: Certified cost or pricing data is not required per FAR 51.403-4(a)(1); a Most Favorable Statement and Price Reasonableness will be obtained from the Contractor upon solicitation. 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. 14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.   Approval Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of qty. one (1) TEKSPHERO-15: 15 KW Plasma Equipment for Powder Treatment Applications 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)
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/1b17784b7035979e7824c66498dd3b02)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 2935 INDUSTRIEL BLVD, Sherbrooke, PQ, J1L2T9, Sherbrooke, Non-U.S., Canada
- Record
- SN04995854-W 20180719/180717231406-1b17784b7035979e7824c66498dd3b02 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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