JOFOC Redacted.pdf

Rev.:5/2024

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For Goddard’s Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal (G-LiHT) Airborne Imager

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) GSFC.

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is 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 Dynamic Aviation for the installation, testing, and operational science flights in Virginia and interior Alaska.

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 primary purpose of this contract is airborne data acquisitions in the Upper and Lower Yukon Forest Inventory Units of Alaska. Local flights in Virginia, near NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), will be used to calibrate instruments and perform functional science test flights before deployment to Alaska. NASA Goddard’s Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal (G-LiHT) multi-sensor airborne imager (https://gliht.gsfc.nasa.gov/) will be flown on a twin-turbine fixed wing aircraft, A90 King Air or equivalent, maintained and operated by contractor. In Alaska, flights will be conducted at a nominal altitude of 335m (1100’) AGL and 130 kts over ground plots along parallel survey transects spaced about 9 km apart (~27,000 km total).

The estimated value of this contract is $ but is subject to change due to weather, aircraft or instrument problems.

The estimated period of performance is 83 weeks.

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 a sole-source award to Dynamic Aviation is necessary due to the nature of the services, as described below.

The use of the authority at 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, is justified on the basis that Dynamic Aviation is the only responsible source capable of meeting NASA Goddard’s technical, safety, and schedule requirements for the deployment of the Lidar, Hyperspectral, and Thermal (G-LiHT) airborne remote sensing system. The G- LiHT system has been specifically designed, integrated, and approved for use on Dynamic Aviation’s A90 King Air platform. NASA airworthiness and flight safety approvals— essential for mission execution in both Virginia and Alaska—are directly tied to this aircraft and its unique configuration. These requirements cannot be replicated by any other provider without incurring significant delays and costs.

Dynamic Aviation's aircraft have been structurally and electronically modified to support NASA’s remote sensing missions. The Beechcraft King Air 200 and A90 King Air platforms are equipped with nadir ports, modified nosecones, externally mounted antennas, window fixtures, and equipment racks designed for sensor integration. This includes mechanical, electrical, and IT infrastructure specifically tailored to accommodate NASA's specialized instrumentation—such as 28V DC power systems and internal 19-inch racks for securing computers and inertial navigation systems. These modifications reduce risks associated with non-recurring engineering and eliminate the need for time-consuming re-integration work.

The A90 King Air offers a twin-engine platform with the required payload capacity of up to 4,000 pounds and a range of 1,000 nautical miles—both of which are critical for safe and efficient operations in remote, mountainous terrain such as Alaska. The aircraft features a nadir-looking camera port measuring 23 by 25 inches to accommodate the G-LiHT system’s optical field of view. A custom-mounted GPS antenna and cosine diffuser, used to measure downwelling solar irradiance spectra, has already been installed. The platform also supplies up to 800 watts of auxiliary power to support G-LiHT’s instruments and data acquisition systems.

All integration hardware, airworthiness approvals, and test flights—including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Forms 337 and 8110-3, as well as NASA Flight Readiness Review documentation—have been completed specifically for this aircraft and provider.

Attempting to transition to another aircraft platform would require the design and fabrication of new mounting hardware, updated engineering stress analyses, and renewed approvals from both the FAA and NASA. This process is estimated to significantly increase the program costs and would result in delays of six to twelve months—jeopardizing the critical seasonal data acquisition window in Alaska beginning mid-June 2025.

Dynamic Aviation is certified under FAA Part 135, as required by NASA Procedural Requirements for Aircraft Operations and Management (NPR 7900.3D). The company operates approximately 80 actively mission-ready aircraft and maintains one of the world’s largest inventories of King Air replacement parts. This operational capacity ensures timely deployment of aircraft for time-sensitive scientific operations and minimizes mission risk due to maintenance delays. Their network of 145 repair stations across various locations supports mission continuity and aligns with the geographical demands of NASA’s airborne campaigns.

The aircraft configurations also include space for one or more instrument operators, which is critical for real-time mission monitoring and data acquisition. Dynamic Aviation’s pilots are certified with Class 1 medicals and have experience executing high-precision flight line operations in support of remote sensing objectives. The company has also previously completed NASA’s qualification process, including on-site inspections, and has supported similar airborne campaigns, further demonstrating its readiness and reliability.

For all of the reasons outlined above, Dynamic Aviation is the only responsible source capable of meeting the Government’s technical, safety, and schedule requirements within the mission timeline.

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 April 17, 2025, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to Dynamic Aviation. 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.

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):

A Sole Source Synopsis and a draft Statement of Work (SOW) were posted on the Government Point of Entry (GPE) at SAM.gov on April 17, 2025. The posting included a request for technical capability statements from any interested potential offerors, with a response deadline of May 1, 2025, providing a two-week response period from the original posting date to ensure adequate time for industry engagement.

This notice served as both an invitation for feedback on the Government’s intent to award a sole source contract to Dynamic Aviation and an opportunity for industry stakeholders to assess the reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement. The objective was to foster transparency and promote competition in accordance with applicable procurement regulations. The notice did not yield any responses from industry.

Historical data from a similar effort—contract 80ARC024DA005 at Ames Research Center (ARC)—was reviewed as part of the market research process. The analysis indicated that, while other vendors demonstrated some capabilities in aircraft modification, none possessed the specific integration experience required for NASA’s sensor suite or the level of operational readiness needed to support mission timelines. The review further confirmed that alternative providers lacked the necessary custom configurations (e.g., nadir ports, payload integration) and supporting infrastructure to meet NASA’s mission requirements. Therefore, Dynamic Aviation was selected as the sole-source provider to perform these commercial aviation services, which are similar in scope to those provided under the G-LiHT.

Based on comprehensive market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 and FAR 6.303- 2(b)(8), it was determined that no other vendors were available who could provide instruments meeting the specified requirements outlined in the SOW. Additionally, the Government thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the nature of this requirement, along with standard industry practices for the instruments. This evaluation included input from requesters and other knowledgeable individuals with expertise in these instruments.

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 and 10 above). 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.