FINAL JOFOC - Fully Executed.pdf

Rev.:7/2022

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (GSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For Solicitation Number 80GSFC23CA023 Fortaleza Geodetic Observatory (FGO) 12m Antenna Delivery 80GSFC23CA022

FORTALEZA GEODETIC OBSERVATORY (FGO) 12m ANTENNA SHIPMENT, INSTALLATION, TESTING and PRODUCT SUPPORT

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 contract to Intertronic Solutions Inc. (ISI), under contract number 80GSFC23CA022 for the delivery and installation of the second Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Antenna. This antenna will be part of the NASA Space Geodesy Network (NSGN) and the VLBI2010 Global Observing System (VGOS).

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 purpose of this acquisition is to provide for the deployment, installation, and testing of the VGOS antenna being developed under NASA contract NNG17HS01C at FGO in Eusébio, Brazil. This contract provides for the shipment, installation, integration, testing, possible storage, and technical support for the 12m antenna. The antenna was procured under NASA contract NNG17HS01C and is nearly identical to the existing antennas at NASA’s Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory (KPGO) located at Kauai, Hawaii and at the McDonald Geodetic Observatory (MGO) located near Fort Davis, Texas. The Contractor (ISI) built the MGO Antenna under the NNG17HS01C contract and also built the KPGO Antenna under a Navy contract. The VGOS radio antenna being developed under NASA contract NNG17HS01C consists of a main reflector, a secondary reflector, feed tube, counterweights, a turning head, a pedestal, antenna drives and a control system. The antenna interfaces with several related VGOS elements that includes the site foundation, electrical power, signal chain, field system, monitoring and archival system, timing, networks, and human interfaces. The estimated period of performance for the delivery and installation is March 1,2024 through July 31, 2025.

The estimated cost for this effort is $477,163.

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 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements as described below.

Fast slewing VLBI antennas capable of mostly unattended operations are required, in order to perform VGOS science. The contractor has previously demonstrated the ability to perform this highly specialized work on two other antenna systems at NASA stations, KPGO and MGO. As the antenna manufacturer, ISI has the extensive specific knowledge which is necessary for all of the antenna components to produce a fully operational VGOS station. After the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), the antenna will be disassembled and shipped to FGO, where it will then be reassembled, and performance tested.

If an entity other than ISI were to perform this work, NASA would assume a high level of risk that the performance would be degraded from that established at the FAT. In addition, subsequent to antenna testing at FGO other VLBI elements will be integrated with the station. As this integration is performed, questions or problems often arise with respect to the antenna interfaces with other VLBI elements. These situations require having someone available to respond and advise on appropriate solutions that do not jeopardize the antenna integrity or performance. Having successfully conducted extensive amounts of similar work at KPGO and MGO, the contractor possesses unmatched experience relating to the successful integration of the antenna to the external interfaces. NASA would assume a significant level of risk (including technical, cost, and schedule) if a different entity were to perform technical support as other VLBI components are integrated at the FGO station.

The services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency. The contractor has extensive experience in constructing radio antennas. The supporting information and qualifications include their past performance, the quality of the antennas at these stations, the unique experience, and the expertise necessary to deliver this requirement.

Based on the above rationale, NASA’s GSFC has determined that Intertronic Solutions, Inc.

has the unique skillset and capabilities to perform this effort and is the only responsible source.

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, 2022, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to Intertronic Solutions 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 compare the direct labor, other direct costs, and indirect rates with historical rates as well as contracts for similar services to determine fair and reasonableness.

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:

This procurement is for the deployment, installation, and testing of the VGOS antenna being developed under NASA contract NNG17HS01C at FGO in Eusébio, Brazil. The previous contract included a RFP which resulted in ISI obtaining the award. ISI has the experience necessary to deliver this antenna. As the antenna manufacturer, ISI has the extensive specific knowledge which is necessary for all of the antenna components to produce a fully operational VGOS station. The antenna will be disassembled and shipped to FGO, after the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), where it will then be reassembled, and performance tested.

If an entity other than ISI were to perform this work, NASA would assume a high level of risk that the performance would be degraded from that established at the FAT. In addition, subsequent to antenna testing at FGO other VLBI elements will be integrated with the station.

Although, market research was not conducted a Sole Source Synopsis for this procurement was synopsized on GPE website (Sam.gov). This included a link to the Statement of Work (SOW) and was posted on November 16, 2022, with a response deadline of December 1, 2022. The synopsis outlined specific constraints and capabilities requirements that offerors should be aware of when formulating their response. No responses were received.

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 synopsis was posted on November 16, 2022 and closed on December 1, 2022. No questions or 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.