TTTech Switches JOFOC - Final 80JSC022PA006.pdf

Rev.:01/2021

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER (JSC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For 80JSC022PA006

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) Johnson Space Center (JSC).

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is JSC.

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 with TTTech North America Inc. for TTE Switch Lab Space and TTE-End System Lab Space that supports laboratory testing applications with Time-Triggered or Best-Effort Ethernet.

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 is being requested by the Autonomous Control Software & Simulation Laboratory (ACSSL) in support of the Gateway Program. This procurement will provide eight TTE-Switch Lab Space (rev.C) and twelve TTE End System Lab Space (PCIe), which will support laboratory testing efforts in Time-Triggered Ethernet (TTE) applications. The estimated value of this procurement is $326,256.00.

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 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. 2304(c)(1) is appropriate only when “the property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency,” as described below.

The hardware from TTTech North America will provide for continuity of services/systems for critical activities that are already in use, tested, and verified for the Gateway program.

The hardware in this procurement is a technology directly compatible with and required for previously procured hardware and software from TTTech. The avionics design, which is defined for Gateway network architecture, is utilizing Time-Triggered Ethernet (TTE) which leverages TTTech hardware and software to implement the Gateway command and data handling network. Additionally, the hardware must be able to withstand radiation and must be highly reliable in the harsh environment of space. The TTTech hardware is designed to operate efficiently in environments requiring radiation and latch-up tolerances for applications such as launch vehicles and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. To continue to leverage the previously procured hardware and software packages necessary for uninterrupted development and integration of the defined avionics architecture for gateway, these TTTech switches are required. This hardware will directly support development testing of the TTE Network for the Gateway Avionics System.

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 June 7, 2022, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole source to TTTech North America 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 quote to be evaluated and negotiated by the Government. Prior to execution of the contractual instrument, a price analysis will be performed. The price analysis will ensure that the final agreed-to price for the contract action is fair and reasonable. The price for the required TTTech ethernet applications were determined to be fair and reasonable based on comparison to historical prices. These are products available to the public and cost per unit is widely available and advertised.

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:

Market research was performed by accessing the Government databases GSA/FSS and the Small Business Administration Dynamic Small Business Search. Although these searches evidenced some companies that could provide similar hardware, none of the products would be able to seamlessly integrate with hardware that is already in use for the Gateway network.

The switches we require must also be able to be functional in a space environment. Due to its unique nature, it is known that TTTech is the sole provider of the TTE-Switch Lab Space and TTE End System Lab Space, which are designed to handle harsh environments requiring radiation and latch-up tolerance. The hardware continues build-up of the network integration lab and is directly compatible with previously procured hardware and software. If awarded to any other source, it would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. Any course of action other than awarding to TTTech would not fulfill the Agency's requirements, and therefore, is not in the best interest to the Government.

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).

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 is not currently aware of any other source that is capable of providing the specific hardware needed to meet Gateway requirements. However, NASA will continue to research and assess the marketplace for alternative sources. Additionally, NASA will continue to compare its requirements with the available capabilities to determine industry’s ability to competitively fulfill the requirements.