FINAL UTA Redacted JOFOC posting 5.10.pdf

Rev.:01/2021

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For 80GSFC22R0006 – University of Texas at Austin (UTA)

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) Goddard Space Flight Center

(GSFC).

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

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 follow-on contract to contract number NNG17VI05C with the University of Texas at Austin (UTA) for the implementation, operation, and maintenance of NASA geodetic stations at the McDonald Geodetic Observatory (MGO) in Fort Davis, Texas as part of the NASA Space Geodesy Network (NSGN).

The NSGN will comprise integrated, multi-technique next generation space geodetic observing systems, as the core NASA contribution to a global network designed to produce the higher quality data required to maintain the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) and provide information essential for fully realizing the measurement potential of the current and coming generation of Earth Observing spacecraft. It is anticipated that to achieve the desired level of accuracy and stability the geodetic sites will co-locate and use in unison several key techniques of observation, including Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS).

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 contract is for the implementation, operation, and maintenance of NASA geodetic stations at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas as part of the NSGN. The contractor shall support the installation, operation, and maintenance of the next-generation NSGN stations at the McDonald Geodetic Observatory (MGO), including: one VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS) station, one Space Geodesy Satellite Laser Ranging (SGSLR) station, several GNSS stations, and a Vector Tie System (VTS).

This procurement will also provide for data analysis, data assurance and quality control of SLR data products in support of the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS), the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS), and the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS). These activities will include updating geo-center time series estimates; evaluation of new and returning SLR stations as part of normal acceptance testing; resolution of specific station coordinate problems; re-examination of the SLR estimates of the Earth’s gravitational coefficient and the impact on scale within the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF); precision orbit determination and verification; and participation in ILRS, GGOS, and IERS committee and study group meetings.

The estimated value of this cost-no-fee procurement is $4,369,313. The proposed contract will have a five-year period of performance beginning on April 3, 2022.

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.”

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 that the University of Texas Austin is the only source that has the combined training, expertise, experience, and site location to provide an uninterrupted continuation of services at the MGO as described below.

The University of Texas owns the land on which the geodetic instruments have operated over the past several decades. The University of Texas has the trained and experienced personnel to operate a geodetic site, with the present staff representing decades of experience. The University of Texas MGO location ensures continuity of the existing geodetic data sets that support the ITRF. Geodetic measurements have been taken from the McDonald Geodetic Observatory of the University of Texas at Austin since the late 1960’s, and have included Lunar and Satellite Laser Ranging, GNSS, and VLBI. The global location is strategic to scientific studies and the site has year-round good weather, clear skies, and low radio frequency interference, allowing the station better measurement opportunities than at most other sites around the world.

The staffing of the observatory for its multi-disciplined operations is an independent function within the Center for Space Research and the McDonald Geodetic Observatory, University of Texas at Austin, a State of Texas entity. The satellite tracking support to be provided by the University of Texas is a continuation of services currently being performed under contract NNG17VI05C and formerly under contracts NNG12VI01C, NNG06DA07C, NAS5-01096, NAS5-32997, NAS5-30942, NAS5-29404, and NAS5-25948.

The geometric location of MGO is critical to the Space Geodesy Program. The exact location of the reference point at MGO is known to about one centimeter of uncertainty and was developed with over 30 years of observations contributing to the global data solution. The MGO reference point provides a critical reference point for this region of the United States for the ITRF as well as the regional and national Datums maintained by the National Geodetic Survey. Changing this reference point would require nearly a decade of additional observations to produce a global solution with the same quality as the one that exists today.

The University of Texas staff that currently operates the NASA VLBI station at MGO are uniquely qualified to operate and maintain the system. They participated in the installation of the system and have developed the maintenance procedures for this unique system. No other organization has the detailed knowledge associated with operating and maintaining the VLBI station. The University of Texas staff also has unique expertise in the format, analysis, and quality control of SLR data. The University of Texas and NASA have developed a unique geodetic facility at the MGO, and the University of Texas has highly trained and extensively experienced staff to continue uninterrupted support at the MGO.

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 22, 2021, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to the University of Texas at Austin. 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 use cost analysis to determine that the proposed costs to the Government are fair and reasonable. The determination will be made using information such as verification of labor and indirect rates by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, a technical evaluation of the proposed hours and skill mix, and the historical cost data for this effort. All actual incurred costs will be subject to final audit.

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:

Other potential sources were not considered for providing the specified geodetic support because no other comparable facility has the critical aspects available at the MGO. A combination of the geodetic systems’ exact geographic location, which is crucial to the necessary data being collected, and the fact that this location is owned and operated by the University of Texas allows this procurement to be conducted as a sole-source effort. No other comparable facility in the general geographic area, or the United States, has been identified which has similar geographic characteristics, trained staff, and appropriate scientific instrumentation. The University of Texas has demonstrated their unique expertise in space geodesy through their performance on past contracts, through presentations at international workshops, and through journal articles in the field of space geodesy.

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

The University of Texas not only owns the land where the MGO is located, but it also provides overall site maintenance and operations for other non-NASA activities at the McDonald Observatory. This includes maintaining the utilities, roads, network, housing, and other facilities at the site. This gives the University of Texas the unique ability to leverage the non-NASA support for the general site in its support to NASA systems. No other organization would be able to utilize these on-site resources and would either need to duplicate them at great cost to the Government or subcontract with the University of Texas.

By contracting directly with the University of Texas, the Government gains direct access to the on-site University of Texas facility resources.

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 Synopsis was posted on November 22, 2021 and closed on December 6, 2021. No responses were received.

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.

MARY

STEVENS

Digitally signed by

MARY STEVENS

Date: 2022.01.15 14:09:03 -05'00'

University of Texas McDonald Geodetic Observatory (MGO) – Solicitation

80GSFC22R0006

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.

Stephen Merkowitz Technical Representative

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

Alexis Harris Contracting Officer

CONCURRENCE:

Michael E. McGrath Procurement Officer

APPROVED:

Raymond J. Rubilotta GSFC Competition Advocate

Digitally signed by ALEXIS

ALEXIS HARRIS HARRIS

Date: 2021.12.07 13:38:58 -05'00'

Raymond Rubilotta

Digitally signed by Raymond Rubilotta Date: 2022.01.20 11:02:29 -05'00'