AS&M_Acoustic_Testing_JEFOP_-_Final.pdf

August 12, 2019

TO: Research and Development Contracting Branch, Office of Procurement

Attn: Mercer Hurst

FROM: 442/Siena Whiteside, Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch, Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate

SUBJECT: Justification for Exception to the Fair Opportunity Process (JEFOP) for

New Task Order entitled “Aerodynamic Performance and Acoustic

Experiments of Stacked Rotors” with Analytical Services & Materials, Inc. on

Contract NNL16AA01B, Total Estimated Cost $74,338.

In accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2), the following information is provided to support this justification:

I. Recommendation

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) intends to initiate a new cost-plus-fixed fee (CPFF) task order with Analytical Services & Materials, Inc. under the Basic and Applied Aerospace

Research and Technology (BAART) contract. The purpose of this new task order is to conduct experimental tests of stacked rotors in order to characterize their acoustic and performance characteristics. This is part of a wider Internal Research and Development

(IRAD) project funded by the NASA Langley Research Center Innovation Fund. The project seeks to characterize, and develop computational analysis tools to predict, the noise and efficiency benefits achievable using stacked propellers and rotors on vertical or short takeoff and landing aircraft. The experimental tests under this task order are required in order to validate our computational analysis tools and improve our understanding of the fundamental physics.

Award of this task order meets the BAART minimum guarantee for Analytical Services &

Materials, Inc. per clause:

B.3 LARC 52.216-90 MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM INDEFINITE DELIVERY,

INDEFINITE QUANTITY (IDIQ) CONTRACT VALUE (MAR 2012)

The Government will order through the issuance of task orders a minimum quantity of work of $10,000 per each individual contract. There will be no further obligation on the part of the

Government to issue additional task orders thereafter. The total maximum contract value for all awards is $402,000,000 over the 5 year period of performance.

(End of clause)

Purchase Request (PR) 4200705358 has been generated to provide funding in the amount of

$74,338 for this task order. The BAART contract period of performance is November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2020. All work under this task order will be completed by September 30, 2020.

II. Background

This project investigates a new technology, “stacked” rotors and propellers, which are proposed as a potential technology for application on Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles.

During prior investigations, stacked rotors and propellers have been found to provide both acoustic and performance improvements and thus may buy their way on to UAM aircraft, for which low noise and good performance are required for the envisaged UAM market to be successful. However, there is very little understanding of the fundamental physics that enable the improvements seen, and low-order conceptual design tools do not currently model stacked rotors or propellers correctly.

Under the current IRAD project, limited scope proof-of-concept experiments have been conducted in NASA Langley’s Small Hover Anechoic Chamber (SHAC). The purpose of this

Task Order is to fund further experiments that will be conducted in an equivalent facility external to NASA Langley. This will allow cross-validation between experimental facilities, and will also provide the project with necessary experimental results to validate computational analysis tools and improve understanding of the fundamental flow physics.

Such a level of effort internal to NASA Langley is not possible due to personnel and facility availability.

III. Nature and/or Description of Required Supplies/Services

This proposed new task order, entitled “Aerodynamic Performance and Acoustic Experiments of Stacked Rotors”, will be used for the conduct of experimental tests of stacked rotors to characterize the noise and performance of selected stacked rotor configurations. The Task

Order will be conducted in two phases. Initially, the Contractor shall emulate selected configurations from previous NASA experiments, and thus compare results between NASA and Contractor facilities. Subsequently, the Contractor shall perform experiments on new stacked configurations, which is the main focus of the task.

The total estimated value of this proposed new task order is $74,338. This new task order fits within the scope of the BAART contract Performance Work Statement under Technical Track

A.2 Aerodynamics, Aerothermodynamics, and Acoustics, including A.2.1 Configuration

Aerodynamics and A.2.6 Vehicle Noise Prediction. Furthermore, this proposed new task order falls within the BAART contract performance period and within the maximum contract value.

IV. Identification of the Exception to Fair Opportunity and Supporting Rationale

FAR 16.505(b)(1)(i) requires the Contracting Officer provide each awardee under a multiple award contract, a fair opportunity to be considered for each order exceeding $3,500 unless a statutory exception applies. Specifically, the exception that precludes the fair opportunity process for this acquisition is FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(D), which states that “It is necessary to place an order to satisfy a minimum guarantee.”

Award of this task order meets the BAART minimum guarantee for Analytical Services &

Materials, Inc. Considering that the BAART period of performance ends in approximately 15 months on September 30, 2020, this may be the only remaining opportunity to satisfy

Analytical Services & Materials, Inc.’s minimum guarantee.

V. Determination by the Contracting Officer That the Anticipated Cost to the

Government Will Be Fair and Reasonable

The CPFF amount for this acquisition will be determined fair and reasonable by the

Contracting Officer prior to award of this proposed new task order. Actions anticipated to ensure reasonableness will be accomplished using the procedures and criteria contained in the

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), NASA FAR Supplement (NFS), and other regulatory documents as applicable. Detailed documentation and justification of reasonableness will be disclosed in the Price Negotiation Memorandum (PNM), which will be prepared using the evaluation of the Analytical Services & Materials, Inc. quoted pricing, compared to the

Independent Government Estimate (IGE), and the pricing of previous similar efforts. In accordance with FAR 15.403-1(a), certified cost or pricing data will not be obtained.

However, the Government will obtain data other than certified cost and pricing data from the contractor and use it in determining a fair and reasonable cost.

VI. Other Facts Supporting the Justification

None.

VII. Actions the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers To

Increasing Fair Opportunity Before Any Subsequent Acquisition For the

Supplies or Services

LaRC may have future requirements that can only be met by Analytical Services & Materials, Inc.; however, the Contracting Officer will continue to scrutinize all SOWs received to ensure fair opportunity is appropriately given. LaRC typically looks for proactive steps that can be taken to eliminate barriers to competition for future requirements.

Technical Certification:

I certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the data furnished above is complete and accurate.

TPOC: Siena Whiteside Date

Aerospace Engineer

Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch

12 Aug 2019

Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the data furnished above is complete and accurate.

Concepcion Snapp signing for Mercer Hurst

Contracting Officer