80ARC025D0007 JOFOC.pdf

Rev.:5/2024

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Ames Research Center (ARC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

For Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Sensors 80ARC025D0007

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 JOFOC prepared by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ARC to support a sole-source contract for SAR integration and data services critical to Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) remote sensing missions, in coordination with United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).

The procuring agency is NASA, and the contracting activity is ARC. This JOFOC is recorded in the ARC JOFOC/JEFO/LSJ Log as JA-FY25-J06.

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 (80ARC025DA009) with Aloft Sensing, Inc. for instrument integration and data services to support AFRL’s remote sensing and sensor validation missions. The action involves technical and operational support for the integration, testing, and flight operations of X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payloads on High- Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) platforms, specifically the Prismatic PHASA-35. The contract enables AFRL-funded projects to acquire high-resolution SAR data for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and sensor validation, with NASA providing oversight under an Interagency Agreement (IAA). The period of performance is July 9, 2025, to April 17, 2030, per the Statement of Work (SOW) dated May 5, 2025.

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):

This procurement acquires specialized services and supplies from Aloft Sensing, Inc. to support AFRL’s remote sensing missions. Services include integration of an X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload into the PHASA-35’s modular payload pod, ground and flight testing, flight operations support for multi-day demonstrations, real-time telemetry, and delivery of high-resolution Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) data to AFRL-designated repositories. Supplies include SAR sensors and aerospace-compliant hardware (e.g., mounts, fasteners) designed to meet the PHASA-35’s size, weight, and power (SWAP) constraints, specifically a maximum payload weight of 30 pounds and power consumption of 200 watts (200W). These capabilities enable AFRL to achieve high-resolution ISR data and sensor validation critical for operational concept development, leveraging the PHASA-35’s stratospheric flight capabilities at SpacePort America. The contract ensures compliance with NASA airworthiness standards (e.g., NPR 7900.3, NASA-STD-7919.1) and Department of Defense (DoD) standards, including Air Force Policy

Regulation (APR) 1740.1 for airworthiness, MIL-STD-882E for system safety, and MIL- HDBK-516C for airworthiness certification, as well as logistics and maintenance support.

The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, from July 9, 2025, to April 17, 2030, has an estimated value of $5 million.

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.

3204(a)(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. 3204(a)(1) is that Aloft Sensing, Inc. is the only responsible source capable of providing the specialized X-Band SAR payload integration and data services required for AFRL’s remote sensing missions on the Prismatic PHASA-35 HALE Block 20 High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) platform, pursuant to an interagency agreement between NASA Ames Research Center and AFRL. AFRL’s mission demands a SAR system tailored to the PHASA-35’s proprietary modular payload pod and avionics to deliver high-resolution Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) data and rapid sensor validation at SpacePort America, New Mexico, with unique requirements that only Aloft’s proprietary technology can meet, as described below.

• Exclusive PHASA-35 Payload Integration: AFRL requires a SAR payload that integrates seamlessly with the PHASA-35 Block 20’s patented modular payload pod, enabling rapid sensor swapping without airframe modifications to support iterative validation of ISR sensors within a constrained testing schedule. Aloft’s X-Band SAR system incorporates proprietary mounting hardware and firmware, exclusively designed for the PHASA-35’s unique electrical and data interfaces, meeting the platform’s size, weight, and power (SWAP) constraints of 30 pounds and 200 watts, as validated through integration tests in 2023–2024. Market research indicates that alternative SAR systems, whether spaceborne or airborne, lack compatible interfaces for the PHASA-35’s pod, requiring redesigns estimated to cost approximately $2 million and take 12–18 months, based on industry-standard aerospace payload integration costs, rendering them unfeasible for AFRL’s summer 2025, timeline.

• Sub-Meter Interferometric SAR Resolution: The mission necessitates sub-meter resolution interferometric SAR data collection at 55,000–65,000 feet to support high-precision terrain mapping and change detection for time-sensitive ISR applications, requiring precise integration with the PHASA-35’s proprietary avionics for navigation accuracy.

Aloft’s SAR system features proprietary waveform generation and signal processing algorithms, specifically engineered to leverage the PHASA-35’s navigation system, achieving sub-meter resolution and phase coherence, as demonstrated in 2023–2024 trials.

Other SAR systems, designed for spaceborne platforms or larger aircraft, do not readily integrate with the PHASA-35’s avionics.

• Low Footprint Operations: AFRL’s mission requires the SAR payload to operate within the PHASA-35’s compact airframe (150 kilograms, 35-meter wingspan) and SpacePort America’s constrained infrastructure, minimizing weight, power, and ground support to ensure rapid deployment. Aloft’s SAR system, with its proprietary lightweight antenna and low-power electronics, fits within the 30-pound, 200-watt SWAP limits, preserving the PHASA-35’s low footprint performance. Alternative SAR systems, designed for platforms with larger payloads or satellites, typically weigh 100–120 pounds and require 300–1,000 watts, necessitating additional infrastructure estimated to increase costs by approximately several US $M and extend setup by several years, based on aerospace facility upgrade costs, technology maturation, and miniaturization conflicting with AFRL’s operational requirements.

• Operational Readiness by Summer 2025: AFRL requires the SAR system to be fully operational by Summer, 2025, to conduct multi-day flight demonstrations within a short flight window in late summer/early fall 2025, constrained by favorable weather conditions at SpacePort America (e.g., low wind, clear skies) and time-sensitive operational concept development deadlines. Missing this window would delay testing to 2026, incurring additional costs estimated at $1 million for extended development, infrastructure, and mission rescheduling, based on typical aerospace project overruns. Aloft’s SAR team has validated the system accommodations for their payload to include, mechanical, thermal, and electrical interfaces, and with trials planned for summer 2025. Alternative systems, requiring adaptation to the PHASA-35’s proprietary pod and avionics, face technical barriers estimated to delay readiness by 12–18 months and incur costs exceeding $2 million, based on aerospace development cycles, making them incompatible with AFRL’s schedule.

No other source can meet AFRL’s requirements, as alternative SAR systems lack the proprietary interfaces for the PHASA-35’s modular payload pod, sub-meter interferometric SAR capabilities tailored to its avionics, or readiness within the short flight window of late summer/early fall 2025. Adaptation of other systems would require significant redesign, costing an estimated $2–3 million and delaying deployment by 12–18 months, exceeding the mission’s $5 million budget and schedule, rendering them unfeasible. Aloft’s proprietary X- Band SAR technology and exclusive compatibility with the PHASA-35 justify the sole-source award under FAR 6.302-1.

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 March 11, 2025, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to Aloft Sensing, Inc. The synopsis closed 15 days from posting, per FAR 5.203(c). 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. For the AFRL remote sensing missions using Aloft Sensing, Inc.’s X-Band SAR on the PHASA-35 HALE platform, pursuant to an IAA between NASA ARC and AFRL, the proposal analysis will be conducted per FAR 15.404-1, using price analysis (FAR 15.404-1(b)) to compare proposed prices to historical data for SAR integration and operations (e.g., 2023–2024 trials) and market rates for HALE services, and cost analysis (FAR 15.404-1(c)) to evaluate labor, materials, equipment, and overhead costs. The fee structure will be assessed per FAR 15.404-4 to ensure profit aligns with the work’s complexity. Negotiations for the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a $5 million ceiling will establish a fixed price list at the IDIQ level for standardized SAR integration and data services where feasible, with variable costs negotiated at the Task Order level for mission-specific requirements to ensure pricing aligns with Aloft’s unique qualifications.

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

Market research was conducted by NASA Ames Research Center, in coordination with AFRL, per FAR Part 10, to validate that Aloft Sensing, Inc. is the only responsible source for X-Band SAR payload integration and data services on the PHASA-35 Block 20 HALE platform. The research included: (1) reviewing providers of SAR systems for HALE platforms, finding their systems designed for platforms with payload capacities around 10 pounds or significantly heavier payloads exceeding 100 pounds, insufficient or incompatible with the PHASA-35’s 30-pound payload weight capacity requirement; (2) analyzing technical journals, reviewing NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) data, and participating in technical trade conferences (UNDSOARS 2025), confirming Aloft’s unique maturity in developing X-Band SAR systems tailored for the PHASA-35’s proprietary modular payload pod; (3) conducting internet searches identifying SAR providers, which primarily focus on satellite-based services or manufacturing for larger aircraft, not integration with compact HALE platforms; and (4) evaluating providers of SAR imaging services, which lack hardware integration for the PHASA-35.

Aloft’s X-Band SAR system is uniquely engineered with proprietary mounting hardware and firmware to integrate seamlessly with the PHASA-35’s patented payload pod, achieving sub-meter resolution through custom waveform generation and signal processing algorithms, as validated in integration tests. Its lightweight antenna and low-power electronics ensure compliance with the 30-pound, 200-watt limits, and its custom software will enable real-time data delivery in GeoTIFF, critical for AFRL’s mission.

Market research indicated that other SAR providers were not able to meet the SWAP requirements without significant redesign. Adapting such systems to the PHASA-35’s SWAP constraints would require redesigns costing approximately $2 million and taking 12–18 months, missing the timeline. Satellite-based SAR services, while offering sub-meter resolution, lack hardware and firmware integration with the PHASA-35’s pod, requiring development estimated at $1 million and 12–18 months, and rely on ground-based processing incompatible with AFRL’s real-time GeoTIFF data needs. Other providers identified through journals and internet searches focus on SAR manufacturing or satellite services, not HALE-specific integration, and cannot meet the PHASA-35’s requirements by summer 2025.

Results confirmed that Aloft’s proprietary technology, exclusive compatibility with the PHASA-35, and operational readiness at SpacePort America are unique, making it the only vendor capable of meeting AFRL’s requirements within the mission’s timeline and $5 million IDIQ contract ceiling.

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

None. All facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition under FAR 6.302-1 are fully addressed in Sections 3, 5, 7, and 8 of this justification.

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). As of May 5, 2025, one contractor responded to the notice. The technical monitor reviewed the submitted materials and determined that, while the contractor’s past work is technically impressive, the proposed components do not meet the requirements for fielding an operational X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar on the planned test platforms. The design work, systems integration, testing, software development, and demonstrations necessary to field an operational system from the proposed components could not be completed within the project’s budget and schedule constraints. Additionally, the resulting system would likely not meet the program’s requirements, including PHASA-35 compatibility. No other companies expressed interest in writing, consistent with the Statement of Work’s recent issuance and market research findings. Based on Section 8, no viable alternatives are anticipated.

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:

NASA Ames Research Center, in coordination with AFRL, will promote competition for future acquisitions of SAR integration and data services for HALE platforms. During the contract period (July 7, 2025, to April 17, 2030), NASA will monitor advancements in SAR and HALE technologies through industry publications and engagements, issue periodic

Requests for Information (RFIs) to identify new vendors, and leverage AFRL’s industry partnerships to foster alternative sources. These efforts aim to enable competition for procurements post-2030. The Agency will continue to examine the market for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.

For Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Sensors 80ARC025D0007

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Technical Representative

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

Contracting Officer

APPROVED:

Competition Advocate Ames Research Center

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