2022 ODME JOFOC.pdf

Rev.:01/2021

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For the Development of On-Demand Manufacturing of Electronics (ODME) Flight System

1. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.303-2(b)(1) – Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Justification for other than full and open competition.”

This document is a justification for other than full and open competition prepared by

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center

(MSFC).

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the contracting activity is MSFC, Alabama.

2. FAR 6.303-2(b)(2) – The nature and/or description of the action being approved: This justification provides the rationale for contracting by other than full and open competition to award a sole source contract with Sciperio, Inc. (Sciperio) for the development of a Ground On-Demand Manufacturing of Electronics (ODME) System. The primary objective for ODME is to fabricate a range of multi-material on-demand printed electronics devices in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS). To achieve that objective, a fabrication system is required that will utilize multiple materials and multiple fabrication processes to produce a wide range of on-demand electronics. The Period of Performance (PoP) for this effort is twelve (12) months.

3. FAR 6.303-2(b)(3) – A description of the supplies or services required, to meet the Agency’s needs (including the estimated value):

The estimated value of the supplies is $750,000. The supplies required to meet NASA

MSFC’s needs are fulfillment of the following fourteen (14) tasks that are focused on the process requirements for ODME in terms of adding, subtracting, and post processing of material and circuits:

Task 1: Process Requirements (Process Apps): An evaluation of the processes needed to automatically manufacture a fully functional circuit shall be performed. The processes for manufacturing circuits include adding materials, subtracting materials, and several in situ processes such as smoothing and heating, as well. The processing shall be layer by layer to ensure that each layer is fully functional. Additionally, it will be necessary to electrically connect the layers and characterize each layer.

Task 2: Enclosure: The enclosure shall be designed around the requirements given by the ISS quad locker specifications. The electrical and mechanical requirements should meet the maximum size and shape constraints to accommodate integration in the ISS.

Task 3: Electronics: The ISS has restrictions and additional requirements for electronics to enhance safety.

Task 4: XYZ Motion: This task shall include the development and verification of a precision 3D gantry motion system.

Task 5: Tool Plate: The tool plate shall be mounted to the gantry motion system shall hold the heads and process devices. A requirement of this new system is the capability to include 8-10 different tools for multiple materials and processes.

Task 6: Viewing: A process viewing camera is required on the tool head. The viewing camera shall have a high mag lens to allow the operator a close look at the deposition tip where the process is occurring. This camera shall provide the accuracy to calibrate each pen tip location to an accuracy of less than five (5) microns.

Task 7: Vision: The vision camera shall include a downward looking digital camera or equivalent with a high mag lens and then using software to analyze contrast. All of this shall be performed with computer control and completely automated.

Task 8: Z Scanner: Z height scanning shall be utilized to accurately scan a substrate surface and to determine the gap between the pen tip and the substrate. The Z height scanners shall also be used to post evaluate a print to detect defects.

Task 9: Pick and Place: A pick and place capability shall be developed for precisely placing electronic components. This capability should provide for a wide range of active and passive electronic components and shall be designed to be easy to load and calibrate as needed.

Task 10: Direct write extrusion head: The direct write extrusion head shall be reduced in size.

This shall be accomplished without changing any of the current flow path or operation; the extrusion head shall be identical in performance to current direct write heads but shall be physically smaller. The new direct write extrusion head shall be a minimum of 25% smaller in size/volume that the current direct write extrusion head.

Task 11: Laser: The laser shall be a dual purpose, pulsed, and CW laser. The pulsed laser is down to five (5) nanoseconds which is a safe laser and effective for trimming and drilling small holes. The CW portion shall be a minimum of thirty (30) watts of power which is adequate for heating and annealing localized areas. The laser shall be fiber coupled and direct down on the platform. The laser shall not operate unless the door is closed and sealed.

Task 12: Micro-milling: The micro-mill shall include a vacuum with a directed hose at the point of removal and pulls the debris away and into a filter for collection. A report showing the level of material removed/filtered shall be provided with the system. This report shall include the particle sizes, composition, and amount of the particulate filtered by the system.

Task 13: Integration: Each of the individual heads and processes shall be built and tested separately to confirm proper operation. Once each part is working, all parts shall be integrated into the enclosure. Wiring and mechanical assembly shall provide a secure and ruggedized fit.

Task 14: Testing: Testing of the integrated system shall include the standard Post Assembly Test (PAT) routine that is performed on every tool. Once the system has passed all testing requirements, the system shall begin printing circuits to demonstrate the functional features of the system.

4. FAR 6.303-2(b)(4) – An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. FAR 6.303-2(b)(5) – A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited:

The rationale supporting the use of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) is the property and/or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of property and/or service will satisfy the needs of the agency as described below.

1. Sciperio has been the working partner for the print module of the In Space Manufacturing

(ISM) FabLab since the beginning of that project in 2018 through their affiliate company nScrypt. This print module is being developed for the demonstration of ISM portfolio projects for On Demand Manufacturing of Metals (ODMM) and ODME. This system is being developed for an ISS flight demonstration of on-demand metals manufacturing and on-demand electronics manufacturing in FY24. This Sciperio procurement is a ground-based development system for the parallel development of the Advanced Toolplate and the development of ODME materials and processes that will be required for the ISS flight demonstration. This Sciperio system is a ground-based development system that will contain the same capabilities and hardware as the FabLab print module for ISS demo.

2. ODME has been developing on-demand electronics printing processes and materials with a Sciperio/nScrypt system that was purchased over four (4) years ago. This system is located at MSFC and has been critical to the ODME project technology development.

This system is also completely compatible with the new Sciperio system being procured and all of the ODME development is directly tied to the Sciperio hardware. If a different system is procured instead of the Sciperio system, all of the last four (4) years of ODME development would have to be reproduced on the new hardware which would result in approximately $1.25 million of duplicated cost to the Government.

3. The Sciperio hardware utilizes proprietary sub-systems that are not available on other systems. Their 3D movement gantry is supplied by Aerotech, Inc. and the Sciperio implementation is unique in the way that it is tied to their tooling plate and individual “gizmos” or manufacturing tools. This system is accurate to 0.01 microns, which is an industry best. If another system were procured, accuracy in positioning system would be sacrificed, resulting in less potential deposition resolution for printed electronics and sensors.

6. FAR 6.303-2(b)(6) – A description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies:

A notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) was published on November 16, 2021, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to Sciperio, Inc. The results of this synopsis are summarized in Section 10 below.

7. FAR 6.303-2(b)(7) – A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

The Contracting Officer’s signature on this document indicates that the Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable. The Contractor shall be required to submit a proposal to be evaluated and negotiated by the Government. Prior to execution of the contractual instrument, a proposal analysis will be performed. The proposal analysis will ensure that the final agreed-to price for the contract action is fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will assess the Contractor’s proposal utilizing cost and/or price analysis techniques in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.404-1 to determine a fair and reasonable price. Assistance from the MSFC Pricing Team, the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), and other independent auditors may be utilized as appropriate to analyze, evaluate, and negotiate based on detailed cost or pricing data.

8. FAR 6.303-2(b)(8) – Description of the market research conducted, and the results, or a statement of the reasons a market research was not conducted:

A presolicitation noticed synopsis was published on November 16, 2021 and a response was received from one (1) company – Tomco Service Group (Tomco). The response was reviewed and assessed by the Government technical team and the evaluation criteria was based on the requirements of the synopsis (See Section 10 below).

The ODME project group also previously conducted market research to search for other potential companies that could provide a similar or equivalent system. ODME currently utilizes a wide range of deposition equipment at the MSFC laboratories, including systems from Optomec Inc., Fujifilm Diamatix, and Harry Manufacturing Company (HMC). These are stand-alone systems for specific deposition methods such as aerosol deposition, inkjet deposition, and screen-printing deposition. None of these existing systems are multi-material or multi-tool capable nor could they be altered to fit the needs of this requirement.

Through contacting knowledgeable individuals in the Government and industry, the ODME project group was able to locate MGI Digital Technology (MGI), Ceradrop Brand, located in Limoges, France, that has a multi-deposition capability which could possibly be utilized for this requirement. Discussions were held with MGI between November 19-20, 2019 where the Government provided information on the multi-material deposition requirements and plans for an eventual flight test unit. After these discussions, MGI declined to provide any further information and multiple attempts to contact them were unanswered.

Additional market research was conducted by contacting Andy Kurk, who currently serves as the Program Manager for In-Space 3D Print Fabrication at Techshot, a Redwire Company.

As Program Manager overseeing the BioFabrication Facility (BFF) and NASA FabLab projects, Mr. Kurk has the requisite knowledge to advise on in-space 3D printing to meet NASA’s requirements. He has twenty-three (23) years of payload development and fabrication experience in Industry.

Sciperio has been an extremely important subcontractor for NASA’s Bioprinter program with Prime Contractor Techshot. They have developed relevant printing technologies and hardware for this program which has been critical to the program’s overall success. While NASA feels strongly that Techshot needs to continue to lead the spaceflight design and build of this hardware, we believe that Sciperio is the only capable source to build the ground unit for the ODME project. They have both the necessary human resources and technology to develop and fabricate such an electronics printing unit. Furthermore, we believe that they are the only entity in the position to be able to successfully complete this task since they have the experience of working with Techshot on this technology for the NASA FabLab program. To make this development effort successful, it is imperative that both the ground based ODME unit and the NASA FabLab ODME space-based facility be identical in form, fit and function to best develop print protocols from like hardware, utilizing identical tools with the same capabilities. Since Sciperio is developing the printer and protocols for the NASA FabLab based ODME effort, it is essential that they be the source for the ground based ODME facility. In addition, the knowledge gained by Sciperio, during development and fabrication of the printer for the ISS based BFF, will be invaluable in development of both ODME printer systems.

9. FAR 6.303-2(b)(9) – Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

None.

10. FAR 6.303-2(b)(10) – A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in writing in the acquisition:

A notice of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source action was synopsized on the GPE website (Sam.gov) per FAR Subpart 5.2 (See Section 6 above).

The presolicitation notice synopsis was posted on November 16, 2021 and closed on December 01, 2021. Only one response was received from Tomco Service Group (Tomco).

The Tomco capabilities statement was evaluated by the Government technical team and did not demonstrate relevant experience and expertise in the ODME requirements. Tomco does not indicate they have any additive manufacturing experience or capabilities, nor do they indicate knowledge of fabrication of multi-material on-demand printed electronic devices in a microgravity environment. The Government’s evaluation concluded that Tomco was not able to demonstrate the breadth and depth of knowledge required to fulfill the requirements of this effort.

11. FAR 6.303-2(b)(11) – A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

The Agency will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.

Ground On-Demand Manufacturing of Electronics (ODME) System

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

I certify that the facts presented in this justification are accurate and complete.

Leigh Elrod Technical Representative

I hereby certify that the above justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Belinda F. Triplett Contracting Officer