BH4-19-001_MC-ICPMS__JOFOC_80JSC019P0007_.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA)

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

Pursuant to 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1901 and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, for the Multiple

Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS)

1. 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 with Cameca Instruments, Inc. for the acquisition of a commercially available large geometry MC-ICPMS, developed by Nu Instruments, with a dual path collision cell for operating in either high energy standard MC-ICPMS mode or low energy collision/reaction cell mode for investigation of astromaterials in support of the Astromaterials Research Office.

2. 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 Center for Isotope Cosmochemistry and Geochronology (CICG) within the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division’s research laboratory suite analyzes isotopic ratios and elemental abundances found in meteorites and other astromaterial samples. The ARES lab seeks to expand its analytical capabilities to elements with low ionization potentials affording precise isotope ratio measurements in both chemically purified solutions and solid targets via laser ablation for a vast majority of elements across the periodic table. In order to meet this capability, the ARES lab requires a high dispersion and large geometry MC-ICPMS instrument that can be used for small sample (i.e., sample return) analysis and can routinely achieve isotope ratio measurements with uncertainties of <0.01 percent. The instrument ARES seeks to procure, the Nu Instruments 1700 Sapphire, is currently the only available instrument that meets the ARES requirements.

The unique features of this MC-ICPMS are: (1) Magnet size (radius of 750 mm) that allows mass stability of better than ±25 ppm/hr. and mass resolution of >30,000 edge resolving power (5, 95 percent) at >1 percent transmission while maintaining peak flats; (2) Source collision cell with dual path optics for operating the instrument in either high energy mode (Normal MC-ICPMS mode) or low energy mode (Collision/Reaction cell mode); and (3) Fully adjustable slit mechanisms (X, Y) on entrance (alpha) and detector slits, where each has independently adjustable slit resolution. The 1700 Sapphire purchase includes onsite installation, training, 1-year standard warranty, and 2-years’ Service & Maintenance. The total estimated value of this acquisition is $1,500,000.

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

The statutory authority is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), which permits other than full and open competition “when the property or 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.”

BH4-19-001 MC-ICPMS JOFOC 2

4. FAR 6.303-2(b)(5)&(9) – A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited and any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition such as:

The primary unique features of the Nu Instruments mass spectrometer and how they meet the Government’s requirement are described in points 1-3 of the above paragraph 2. There are mass spectrometers available that include some of the features described above. However, the Nu Instruments mass spectrometer is unique in that all of the features are available in a single instrument. Additionally, only the Nu Instruments 1700 Sapphire instrument can perform coordinated, mass interference-free, isotope-based geochronological measurements and precise stable isotope measurements on small samples (ex. sample return).

5. 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:

Pursuant to FAR 5.201(b)(1), this action was synopsized on the Government Wide Point of Entry, located at www.FedBizOpps.gov. The synopsis was posted on October 2, 2018, requesting interested organizations to submit their capabilities and qualifications to meet NASA’s minimum requirements. The deadline for submitting a response to the synopsis was October 12, 2018.

6. 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 Nu Instruments 1700 Sapphire instrument is a commercial item. The contractor’s proposed price will be evaluated and determined fair and reasonable in accordance with the techniques detailed in FAR 15.404-1. Such techniques include comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid for the same or similar items and comparison of proposed prices with prices obtained through market research for the same or similar items.

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

In addition to the market research described in the above paragraph 5, the CICG Laboratory Manager, who has extensive experience in analyzing isotopic ratios and element abundances of astromaterial samples, tested all of the available instruments in their ideal factory settings.

These evaluations involved vendor site visits for the following instruments: 1) Nu Instruments (now owned by CAMECA Instruments, Inc.) to test the high dispersion and large geometry 1700 Sapphire MC-ICPMS in France; 2) Neptune Plus mid-sized Thermo Scientific Series High Resolution MC-ICPMS instrument in Germany; and (3) the latest mid-sized Nu Instruments MC-ICPMS platform in the United Kingdom. His comprehensive experience of mass spectrometers and a review of other laboratory equipment concluded that neither of the mid-sized instruments could meet NASA’s requirements. Additionally, there are no other sources of a high dispersion and large geometry MC-ICPMS available on the market.

http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

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

Thermo Scientific submitted an email expressing interest in the acquisition. Upon receipt of the email from Thermo Scientific, the Contracting Officer requested a capability statement from Thermo Scientific in accordance with the synopsis posted on www.FedBizOpps.gov. However, Thermo Scientific chose not to submit the required documentation as requested. No additional sources expressed interest in writing with a capability statement for this acquisition.

9. 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 will continue to monitor industry publications, communicate with manufacturers employing large geometry multiple collector inductively coupled mass spectrometer technology, and attend manufacturing trade shows in an effort to identify sources for future acquisitions.

http://www.fedbizopps.gov/