80NSSC21DA001_Redacted JOFOC.pdf

JOFOC-2021-007

Rev.:01/2021

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC) -

BRAND NAME

For 80NSSC21Q0026 National Instrument Ordering Contract

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), NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) for an Agency-Wide Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) for Brand Name National Instruments products and services to Federal Authorized Resellers. The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the contracting activity is the NSSC Enterprise License Management Team (ELMT).

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 an IDIQ contract for Brand Name National Instruments products and services. This will be a NASA Agency-Wide contract to purchase new National Instruments software licenses, new hardware, software and hardware maintenance for existing products, and products for training and consulting services. NASA plans to award an IDIQ contract for National Instruments products and services to an approved Federal Authorized Reseller.

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):

National Instruments products include programming environments: LabVIEW, LabWindows™/CVI and Measurement Studio. TestStand, VeriStand, Vision Builder, Switch Executive, Diadem and Multisim are National Instruments’ application software solutions.

Hardware products comprise Data Acquisition, Instruments, All-in-One Instruments and Instrument Control.

National Instruments’ LabVIEW software provides integration with National Instruments or third-party data acquisition hardware, signal processing libraries, and user interface controls built for measurement data visualization. LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment that facilitates control and acquisition of data from any instrument over any bus. It automates measurements from several devices so data can be analyzed as it is acquired and used for custom reports. LabVIEW is used to design, prototype, and deploy embedded monitoring and control applications. National Instruments hardware delivers modular and easy-to-use solutions for a variety of applications ranging from simple data logging to high performance automated test, industrial control, and advanced embedded control and monitoring.

This IDIQ would provide NASA a vehicle for recurring National Instruments products and services, including training / consulting requirements for all NASA Centers. The establishment of an IDIQ would also offer an excellent option for NASA to conveniently and efficiently procure National Instruments products and services at a reduced cost.

Furthermore, an IDIQ would provide NASA with the ability to negotiate improved discounts, satisfy new and recurring customer requirements, reduce NASA’s administrative costs by eliminating redundant acquisition efforts, and greatly reduce procurement lead time thus allowing the NSSC, as the sole procuring agent, the ability to be more responsive to the Agency’s needs.

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 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and FAR 6.302-1(c).

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 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302- 1(a)(2) and FAR 6.302-1(c) when one or only a limited number of responsible sources will satisfy agency requirements and when the acquisition specifies a brand name is described below.

NASA engineers and scientists use this platform from design to production to support multiple programs and projects throughout the Agency. There is a significant installed base of National Instruments software and hardware products in use. Only National Instruments’ platform of graphical system design and modular hardware satisfies NASA engineering and scientific test and measurement requirements for nonhardware-centric user interfaces while providing the ability to create customized, flexible and scalable solutions for their applications.

Most National Instruments’ lab hardware will only integrate with LabVIEW software.

Although some National Instruments hardware has the ability to integrate with other software, reprogramming lab equipment already in use would lead to increased costs to acquire and integrate differing software. One example, the would be impacted significantly if renewal of existing software licenses and maintenance were not acquired from National Instruments. Extensive time and resources have been invested in training personnel on LabVIEW software. There would be significant costs incurred for the missions to acquire, deploy, integrate, and train personnel on other than LabVIEW software, making the transition cost prohibitive to replicate. There are many labs across NASA that are configured with National Instruments hardware and software. Any change to the existing environment would adversely impact NASA’s ability to meet various mission requirements in terms of cost and schedule. It is missions critical that NASA have the ongoing ability to continue to access the data that exists across the agency.

There were other possible alternative solutions that were identified for specific operations. It was determined that these alternate solutions have some but not all the features and functionality that National Instruments products provide. Features that are exclusive to National Instruments software and hardware products include:

1. LabVIEW graphical programming language is intuitive, requiring less time addressing text-based syntax, and more time to solve complex test challenges. National Instruments TestStand™, test management software, sequences code, generates reports and logs results to databases. It integrates with LabVIEW to debug code, create code templates to develop tests faster, and increases execution performance through low-level control of the LabVIEW run-time engine. LabVIEW helps integrate with standard software engineering process systems such as requirements management and source code control. LabVIEW tools can be used for validation and software quality assurance.

2. National Instruments software-defined architecture allows user-defined measurements and analysis in real time. Deploying algorithms to an onboard Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) increases instrument performance. Commercial off-the-shelf technology powering the latest Devices Under Test (DUT) can power test systems in the same way – optimizing test architecture for years.

3. National Instruments has redefined the traditional testing approach with an architecture that combines Peripheral Component Interconnect eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) hardware and National Instruments LabVIEW system design software. This approach facilitates the use of technologies such as multicore microprocessors, user-programmable FPGAs, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express hardware and system design software to meet flexibility and scalability demand for future test and measurement applications.

The consequences of implementing alternative software and hardware products would negatively impact Agency programs, missions and initiatives. Acquiring alternatives to National Instruments software and hardware would involve the purchase and installation of several products from different vendors to achieve the same capability. The integration of these tools would require data import/export utilities and result in a much less productive workflow. Integration of National Instruments software and hardware in NASA-designed systems require compatible software and hardware be procured when expanding or enhancing the systems. Using identical components ensures compatible procedures, the integrity of performance standards, and minimizes risk. Design, research and analysis, both within and outside of NASA would be negatively impacted. The cost would be considerable, time consuming, and unreasonable. Additionally, NASA scientists and engineers would require training on new hardware, lab equipment, and coding/integrating software. This training is an added impact to the Agency’s ability to meet mission milestones.

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 Request for Information was published to Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (beta.sam.gov) in effort to ensure that we reach as many potential sources as practicable.

The results of this Request for Information are summarized in Section 10 below.

This justification will be posted with the solicitation, in accordance with FAR 6.305(c).

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 proposal to be evaluated and negotiated by the Government. Prior to execution of the contractual instrument, a proposal analysis will be performed. The proposal analysis will ensure that the final agreed-to price for future orders is fair and reasonable for the life of the IDIQ.

This procurement is for a commercial item, which the price can be determined fair and reasonable based on a comparison of the established market price. NASA also has historical contract information from previous awards with National Instruments for hardware, software, maintenance, and professional services. There are no anticipated issues that would circumvent a fair and reasonableness price determination.

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 conducted through GSA Advantage, and one small business can provide only some of the requisite software, hardware, maintenance, and support for National Instruments. There are no GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts with all the required National Instrument products.

A review of the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) contracts was conducted as well, and even though some vendors are listed that offer some National

JOFOC-2021-007

For 80NSSC21Q0016 National Instrument Ordering Contract

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Technical Representative

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

Contracting Officer

APPROVAL:

Head of Contracting Activity