JOFOC 80JSC023DA010 - SST III.pdf

Rev.:4/2026

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For Simulation and Software Technology (SST) III Contract/80JSC023DA010

1. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.104-1(a)(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 NASA, and the contracting activity is JSC.

2. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 increase the ceiling value of the SST III sole‑source contract 80JSC023DA010 with CACI-Federal, Inc.

SST III is an Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity contract with Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee and Firm Fixed Price task orders. The Period of Performance (PoP) is from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2027. The current contract ceiling Not-To-Exceed value is $150M.

Due to unanticipated increases in programmatic demand for Orion, Gateway, Moon Base, Artemis, and other mission programs for SST III support and deliverables during the performance of the contract, the contract ceiling is estimated to be reached in October of 2026, which is ahead of the PoP end date of September 30, 2027. To prevent any disruption to mission-critical engineering, simulation, and software support services, the SST III ceiling must be increased by $75M, raising the contract ceiling from $150M to $225M to allow work to continue through the end of the PoP. This will allow enough time to conduct evaluation activities and prepare for the competitive follow-on contract to SSTIII, which will be the Virtual Engineering and Spacecraft Flight Applications (VESFA) contract.

3. FAR 6.104-1(a)(3) – A description of the supplies or services required, to meet the Agency’s needs (including the estimated value):

The SST III contract provides simulation and software technology capabilities to the JSC Engineering Directorate - Software, Robotics, and Simulation Division, NASA users, and external customers in:

Rev.: 4/2026

• Systems Engineering & Integration

• Trick Simulation Math Models & Applications

• Trick Simulation Environment

• Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics

• General-Use Nodal Network Solver

• TrickHLA

• Manipulator Analysis, Graphics, and Interactive Kinematics development

• Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality systems for human-in-the-loop spacecraft vehicle simulations

• Software engineering testbeds and Government Furnished Equipment software verification labs

• Guidance Navigation & Control software development and simulation analysis

• Vehicle systems management & robotics software

• Flight software development

These capabilities provide human-in-the-loop simulation and flight software spacecraft vehicle support for International Space Station, Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, Artemis, and advanced exploration programs.

The estimated value of this ceiling increase is $75M.

4. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 6.103 - 1(c)(2)(ii), “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements”.

5. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements as described below.

As permitted under FAR 6.103‑1(c)(2)(ii), this authority may be used when award to any source other than the incumbent would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling mission requirements. This justification demonstrates that CACI‑Federal, Inc. is the only responsible source immediately capable of providing the advanced simulation, modeling, software development, virtual reality, and integrated technology services required to meet the NASA’s critical needs under the SST III contract.

The continuation of these critical services is mission-essential due to the highly integrated nature of the systems architecture, models, and software tools that are developed and maintained under SST III. The contractor personnel supporting SST III are deeply embedded across multiple human‑spaceflight programs and technical divisions, including the Software, Robotics, and Simulation Division, Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division, Propulsion and Power Division, Avionics Systems Division, and other JSC organizations. These personnel possess knowledge of program‑unique simulation frameworks, mission‑critical software architectures, flight system interfaces, and safety‑critical verification approaches that cannot be rapidly transitioned to new personnel or acquired by any other contractor without significant schedule impact risk.

CACI‑Federal, Inc. develops, integrates, and maintains a suite of simulation and software tools that support multiple human‑spaceflight programs, including Trick simulation math models and applications, the Trick Simulation Environment, Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics, Game Engine‑based visualization applications, General-Use Nodal Network Solver, TrickHLA, Manipulator Analysis, Graphics, and Interactive Kinematics simulation products, Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality‑based crew training systems, and multiple Government Furnished Equipment software verification labs. These tools are not standalone commercial capabilities and require deep familiarity with model behaviors, interfaces, control logic, and the underlying legacy software baselines.

Transitioning critical services in the simulation and software environment to a different contractor at this time would require substantial knowledge transfer efforts that would cause major delays to human‑spaceflight program schedules, including those supporting the International Space Station, Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, Artemis missions, and advanced exploration programs. Given the length of time required to recompete a contract of this nature, no other contractor can cost-effectively perform the highly specialized services without compromising safety, performance, and schedule during the remaining PoP for this contract. In addition to the time required to competitively recompete a contract for these Government requirements, an adequate phase-in time would be required for knowledge transfer. Recompetition and phase-in efforts would consume most, if not all, of the remaining PoP. For these programs, the simulation environment interacts directly with flight‑critical and safety‑critical system designs; therefore, any interruption to the current support poses an unacceptable risk.

Since award of SST III, the demand for advanced software and simulation capabilities has expanded significantly across programs. CACI personnel are currently leading efforts involving sensor and vision‑based software for Exploration Extravehicular Activity Service and Human Landing System, flight software verification and validation, architecture development for data and simulation integration, real‑time crew support systems, and robotics and vehicle management modeling. The work under this contract is deeply intertwined with existing program baselines, flight certification processes, and operational readiness testing. Transitioning these efforts to a new contractor at this time would require a knowledge transfer, such as a new contract phase-in period. A transition to a new contractor would also require reverification and revalidation of a new contractor’s Data Requirements Descriptions documentation related to tools and models, and other phase-in activities, directly delaying program deliverables and mission objectives.

Transitioning these highly integrated and continuous support functions to a different contractor at this time would cause unacceptable delays and disruption to ongoing human spaceflight program activities. The ceiling increase is essential to maintain uninterrupted support until the competitively awarded VESFA contract is in place (Expected to start October 1, 2027). Without the increase, NASA would face mission-impacting schedule, technical, and integration risks.

6. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 5.1 and, if not, which exception under 5.101 applies:

A notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) was published on June 11, 2026, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.1. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source modification to CACI – Federal, Inc. The results of this synopsis are summarized in Section 10 below.

7. FAR 6.104-1(a)(7) – A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

The Contractor shall continue performing in accordance with the contract, being required to submit a proposal for each Task Order requirement. The Government team shall evaluate each proposal for price reasonableness prior to their execution. The analysis will include verifying the contractor’s use of the negotiated rates in Section B - Supplies Or Services And Price/Costs of the contract, comparing historic Task Order prices for similar work, incorporating Technical Evaluator, and Contracting Officer Representative input in the analysis, along with any other pertinent information that is available to the Government at the time of evaluating the Contractor’s proposal. The final cost to the Government shall be determined by the negotiated task orders under the contract. A Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data will be requested, as applicable.

The ceiling increase does not modify the contract’s existing rate structure.

8. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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):

Market research was not conducted due to the prioritization of ensuring continuity of ongoing human spaceflight program activities under SST III. Market research is being conducted under the follow-on competitive competition entitled Virtual Engineering and Spacecraft Flight Applications (VESFA).

9. FAR 6.104-1(a)(9) – Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

None

10. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 (see Section 6 above). An intent to issue a sole-source ceiling increase to the contract was posted on June 11, 2026, and closed on June 26, 2026.

NASA received three responses from industry that expressed interest in performing SST III requirements. These responses came from ARES, DreamCatchers, and J&F Alliance.

Based on the review of all responses received, none of the responding firms provided evidence that they could immediately meet the Government’s requirements without disruption.

11. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 purpose of this Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract ceiling increase is solely for addressing the higher programmatic demand through the end of the current SST III PoP, which ends on September 30, 2027. The increase is required based on a greater volume of the same services already competed and awarded under SST III. It does not introduce new requirements, does not alter the scope, and is only intended to bridge the Agency to the future follow-on competitive procurement entitled VESFA.