80KSC026P0014 JOFOC_Redacted.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

JOHN F. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

UNUSUAL AND COMPELLING URGENCY

For Space Flight Closeout Crew Vehicle (80KSC026P0011)

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).

The procuring agency is NASA, and the contracting activity is John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

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 pursuant to FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency, to acquire an existing mission-modified Ford F-59, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

. The vehicle supports Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Closeout Crew operations at KSC and is required to support Artemis .

The general purpose of this contract is to procure a specialty modified vehicle utilized by the Space Flight Closeout Crew. This requirement is critical to NASA’s Artemis campaign and its overall mission to safely land humans on the lunar surface.

The Artemis campaign’s timeline, and its included mission dates, are a vital component of the government’s need. For reasons discussed below, delays to mission execution as a result of developmental challenges are likely to result in mission failure. This acquisition is necessary to prevent disruption to the EGS Closeout Crew. The vehicle provides a unique capability that is already configured and operationally integrated into Artemis launch processing activities.

a. The Artemis Campaign and National Strategic Interests

The Artemis campaign consists of several interconnected NASA programs, encompassing multiple contracts and international efforts. Each component of the campaign is required to reach the agency’s end state of landing humans on the lunar surface. Among these programs are: the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s primary space launch capability; Orion, NASA’s solution for transport of crew from low-earth orbit to cis-lunar orbit; Extra- Vehicular Activity (EVA) suits and the Human Landing System (HLS). Each of these programs depends upon the timely development and success of the others to perform its role, and delays within one program have a cascading effect upon the others.

NASA’s Artemis campaign explores the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world in order prepare for human missions to Mars. The Artemis campaign collaborates with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. These efforts support several vital national strategic interests including national security, solidifying the United States’ leadership and influence in space, supporting scientific and technological development, and supporting space commercial development.

To support these interests and ensure continued American superiority in space exploration, it is critical that the United States return to the lunar surface before its global competitors. By completing a lunar landing mission in advance of our global competitors, the United States can shape rules, policy, priorities, and the overall geopolitical landscape of future space exploration. This will provide the United States with the initiative needed to best advance related national interests and maintain its role as the global leader in space exploration.

Falling behind our global competitors in this effort cedes this initiative, and our nation’s leadership in space exploration, to our global competitors. This will result in unacceptable impacts to the United States’ geopolitical position and its national security.

b. Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program, within the Artemis Program of NASA’s Human Space Exploration, is charged with ground processing for the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle. This includes launch operations at Launch Complex-39B.

One vehicle out of 94 was identified as unique and critical to retain. This procurement is necessary to retain an existing operational capability to ensure uninterrupted support of Artemis

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):

a. Procurement of an existing vehicle that is highly modified The vehicle is a Ford F-59 model with a delivery style body. It contains special modifications located in the back of the cargo area:

The vehicle has been utilized in direct support of EGS launch operations and contains specialized modifications specifically designed to support Closeout Crew mission requirements. Replicating these modifications on another vehicle would require significant time and increased financial burdens for procurement, fabrication, installation, testing, and operational validation. Such delays would adversely affect training schedules, launch preparations, and mission readiness activities.

They need this vehicle to complete their mission critical operations

It is not physically possible for EGS to procure or temporarily rent a vehicle that will meet these specialized modifications in the timeframe that the vehicle will be needed

b. The anticipated cost for this acquisition is expected to be approximately $70,000.

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)(2), as implemented by FAR 6.103-2, Unusual and compelling urgency.

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)(2) is as described below.

The Government's requirement is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured if normal competitive procedures were followed. The urgency results from the immediate operational need to maintain launch support capability without interruption.

The modified Ford F-59 vehicle is currently configured and operationally capable of supporting Closeout Crew mission requirements. The vehicle's unique modifications, mission familiarity, and immediate availability make it the only practical solution capable of meeting the Government's required schedule. Conducting a full and open competition would not provide sufficient time to acquire, modify, certify, and deploy an alternative vehicle before mission support activities must continue.

, this timeline ensures that the Agency is able to support the country’s space policy objectives and related national interests.

Allowing full and open competition would result in losing critical capabilities provided by the custom/modified Ford F-59 vehicle that EGS utilizes

Delays associated with conducting a competitive acquisition and subsequent modification of a replacement vehicle would create unacceptable risk to supporting Artemis missions.

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:

Due to the unusual and compelling urgency of this requirement, the Government considered available alternatives to satisfy the requirement within the required timeframe. Kennedy Space Center personnel consulted with GSA and reviewed potential commercial vehicle solutions to determine whether a suitable alternative source could provide a vehicle with equivalent mission-specific modifications and operational capability. No alternative source was identified that could provide a vehicle meeting the Government's requirements within the timeframe necessary to prevent disruption to EGS Closeout Crew operations.

The Government determined that the existing modified Ford F-59 vehicle currently leased through Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the only vehicle immediately available that possesses the required mission-specific modifications and operational configuration necessary to support ongoing Artemis activities.

The Contracting Officer has determined, in accordance with FAR 5.101(b)(1) and FAR 6.302-2, that publicizing this action and allowing the response periods normally required for full and open competition would unacceptably delay the acquisition and create a risk of interruption to critical launch support operations. Accordingly, this acquisition will be limited to the source capable of meeting the Government's urgent requirement within the required timeframe.

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 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 will be required to submit a proposal for evaluation and negotiation by the Government. Prior to execution of the contractual instrument, a proposal analysis will be performed to ensure that the final agreed-to price for this acquisition is fair and reasonable.

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):

Limited market research was conducted due to the urgent nature of the requirement. Kennedy Space Center personnel consulted with GSA and reviewed potential commercial vehicle alternatives. The market research determined that no alternative source could provide a vehicle possessing the required mission-specific modifications and operational capability within the timeframe necessary to support EGS operations.

The Government determined that acquisition of the existing modified vehicle currently leased through Enterprise Rent-A-Car represents the only solution capable of meeting mission schedules without operational disruption. Based on this review, Enterprise Rent-A- Car was determined to be the only source capable of satisfying the requirement within the required timeframe.

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

This acquisition supports continued execution of Artemis launch operations by preserving a critical operational capability used by the Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Closeout Crew. The modified Ford F-59 vehicle is specifically configured

Loss of this capability would create operational risk, disrupt mission readiness activities, and potentially impact Artemis launch schedules.

This action aligns with the objectives of Executive Order 14369, Ensuring American Space Superiority, which directs Federal efforts to advance United States leadership in space exploration and return American astronauts to the lunar surface no later than 2028. The Artemis campaign is NASA's primary program for achieving these national objectives.

Maintaining uninterrupted EGS launch support capabilities is necessary to support Artemis mission execution and help ensure NASA remains on schedule to meet Agency commitments and national policy objectives.

Accordingly, the Government has determined that acquiring the existing modified vehicle is necessary to avoid disruption to critical launch support operations and to maintain mission readiness in support of Artemis missions and associated national space exploration objectives.

10. FAR 6.104-1(a)(10) – A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in writing in the acquisition:

Based on the unusual and compelling urgency of NASA's requirement and the resulting use of authority under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(2), the Agency did not conduct public Requests for Information and therefore received no responses from interested sources.

NASA also did not receive any unsolicited proposals or other expressions of interest offering an alternative approach capable of satisfying the requirement within the required timeframe.

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:

This acquisition is intended to address an immediate operational requirement resulting from the need to retain an existing mission-critical capability without interruption. The Government is acquiring a vehicle that is already specially configured and operationally validated for Closeout Crew activities supporting Artemis launch operations.

Prior to any future acquisition for similar requirements, NASA will evaluate the marketplace to determine whether commercial vehicles or other available solutions can satisfy mission requirements without extensive modification. The Agency will continue to conduct market research and assess potential sources capable of providing equivalent capabilities to maximize competition to the extent practicable.

Additionally, NASA will evaluate opportunities to incorporate future vehicle requirements into longer-term acquisition planning to allow sufficient lead time for competitive procurement, vehicle modification, testing, and operational certification. These efforts are intended to minimize reliance on urgent acquisitions and promote full and open competition for any future requirements.

EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

UNUSUAL AND COMPELLING URGENCY

For Space Flight Closeout Crew Vehicle (80KSC026P0011)

SIGNATURE PAGE

I certify that the facts presented in this justification are accurate and complete.

Heather Bray Technical Representative Logistics Engineering Management Exploration Ground Systems, Program Logistics Branch heather.k.bray@nasa.gov

CONCURRENCE

Linda Dentmon COMET Contracting Officer Representative (Alternate) Exploration Ground Systems linda.c.dentmon@nasa.gov

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the above justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Anthony Islas Contracting Officer Mission Support Office Office of Procurement anthony.islas@nasa.gov