80NSSC21P1444 Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC).pdf

JOFOC-2021-004

Rev.:01/2021

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For 80NSSC21Q0048 Agency-Wide Thermal Desktop Renewal

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 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Shared Services Center (NSSC):

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is 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 a sole-source purchase order to 80NSSC21P1444 with Cullimore and Ring Technologies, Inc.

This requirement is for the procurement of agency-wide software licenses and software license maintenance for Thermal Desktop software modules to include: Thermal Desktop;

SINDA/FLUINT; RadCAD; FloCAD; SinapsPlus; and Thermal Adaptor for SpaceClaim and Mesh Generation for Space Claim. Cullimore and Ring Technologies is the only known source that can meet this Agency requirement.

Cullimore and Ring Technologies is the producer and sole source for Thermal Desktop;

SINDA/FLUINT; RadCAD; FloCAD; and SinapsPlus. See attached, Cullimore and Ring Technologies’ sole producer/provider letter. Also, Cullimore and Ring Technologies is the only authorized reseller for SpaceClaim, which offers a bundled product Thermal Adaptor for SpaceClaim and Mesh Generation for Space Claim (referred to as TD Direct).

This requirement will include software maintenance support for the existing Cullimore and Ring Technologies software modules, as well as additional Agency-wide software licenses for Thermal Adaptor for SpaceClaim, and Mesh Generation for Space Claim.

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):

Cullimore and Ring Technologies provides products and services in the areas of heat transfer and fluid system design and analysis. SINDA/FLUINT began with funding from Johnson Space Center, through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. Through SBIR funding from Marshall Space Flight Center, Cullimore and Ring Technologies also created software codes that were the genesis for two of the company’s current front-end

Rev.:01/2021 products: Thermal Desktop and RadCAD. Cullimore and Ring Technologies offers products and solutions that allow thermal engineers to satisfy the niche of radiation analysis that this program provides.

Product Overview Describing Product Functionality:

• SINDA/FLUINT - The software is primarily used for thermal hydraulic analysis, specifically targeting the demand for the design and analysis of thermal control and liquid propulsion systems.

• Thermal Desktop is a geometric, graphical-user interface (GUI) that enables concurrent engineering for thermal analysis by providing full access to CAD-based geometry, as well as data exchange to and from structural codes without compromising traditional thermal modeling practices.

• RadCAD is a CAD-based program which computes radiation exchange factors, view factors, for radiation-dominated systems such as cryogenic dewars and calculates terrestrial and extraterrestrial solar and infrared heat rates.

• Sinaps® is a graphical user interface for developing SINDA/FLUINT models and for viewing and reporting the results. Sinaps® provides a 2D sketch environment for thermal and flow modeling analysis allowing abstraction and simplification of complex systems.

• FloCAD is a graphical user interface for SINDA/FLUINT. With FloCAD, the mechanics of building fluid sub models is very similar to that of building thermal sub models, with many of the commands working on components of both types of sub models.

• SpaceClaim® enables Thermal Desktop users to import CAD parts and assemblies from virtually any CAD format simplify and heal the geometry, then send it to Thermal Desktop for meshing. New geometry can also be added using sketch like Direct Modeling CAD technology, and the parts can be modified easily if the design changes.

• Mesh Generation for SpaceClaim provides more modeling power, including advanced meshing (e.g., quad elements, local mesh density controls, non-manifold geometry, merging and matching of multi-body assemblies) and thermal analysis preparations (including properties, radiation groupings, contact or heater regions, and post-mesh Thermal Desktop editing) that are automatically updated if the geometry changes.

The continued product offering, and software maintenance support have a total estimated contract value of for the procurement with a one (1) year of performance, consisting of a single twelve (12) month base period commencing on May 1, 2021.

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).

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) when only one source will satisfy agency requirements as described below.

This is the annual software and support renewal for new and existing products in the areas of heat transfer and fluid system design and analysis.

Thermal engineers at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) selected this software for use at LaRC approximately 20 years ago, based on the fact that many other NASA Centers were utilizing the product and that NASA originally contracted with Cullimore and Ring Technologies to develop the product. As the only thermal software that is standard across all the major NASA Centers, it offers a unique capability for sharing information between Centers and affords Centers’ the ability to make thermal work more compatible.

Cullimore and Ring Technologies developed the Thermal Desktop software which includes SpaceClaim software. Cullimore and Ring Technologies and SpaceClaim agreed to bundle the software module that links the two products. As such Cullimore and Ring Technologies is the only company that offers the module with the enhanced functionality that links Thermal Desktop and SpaceClaim. Although SpaceClaim is available for purchase through multiple vendors, the ability to integrate SpaceClaim with Cullimore and Ring Technologies Thermal Desktop software is only available through the Cullimore and Ring Technologies SpaceClaim module.

NASA requires the integration between SpaceClaim and Thermal Desktop because SpaceClaim allows the thermal engineer to import CAD geometry directly into Thermal Desktop, remove defects, simplify it, mesh it, and manipulate it directly in the thermal model. The thermal engineer saves time by not having to remove defects (i.e., healing), and the geometry. Furthermore, due to embedded functionality, thermal engineers do not have to contend with interconnecting the functionality to an external tool, or snap thermal surfaces manually onto an existing geometry. Another advantage of using SpaceClaim with Thermal Desktop is that if geometry changes, the thermal analyst can simply update the portion of the file in SpaceClaim and all of the healing, simplifying and meshing operations are recalculated automatically, so the new portion of the geometry appears in the model with no manual work by the thermal engineer. This is the only software of this type that is able to integrate with Thermal Desktop in this seamless manner.

There are other companies that develop software to perform thermal analysis, but there are no other companies authorized to maintain and support the change to Cullimore and Ring Technologies’ Thermal Desktop software and its associated modules sold by Cullimore and Ring Technologies. This software is embedded in the infrastructure of many NASA mission a few being the International Space Station (ISS), Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III on ISS, Mars Exploration Rover System it would be unrealistic and extremely cost prohibitive to make modifications to these systems with a new software.

In the event that the Agency is to select an alternative source for thermal modeling software for the Agency, the change in publishers and software products would adversely impact NASA’s ability to meet its mission. NASA would have to redesign multiple systems, some of which are currently in space. The risk to those programs currently deployed is too great and it’s unrealistic to modify these systems when they are not presently accessible. The cost to redesign and test those systems that are currently accessible would cost as the entire infrastructure is built out from this modeling software.

Additionally, the entire thermal engineer workforce would have to be retrained throughout the Agency thus impacting their ability to meet mission milestones and support needs. This would contribute to the effect on cost for the following mission projects if the Agency transition to a Cullimore and Ring Technologies alternative tool: NASA Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, NASA Launch Abort System (LAS), International Space Station (ISS), Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III on ISS, Mars Exploration Rover System, NASA Cloud- Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), NASA Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS), NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), Navigational Doppler Lidar (NDL), Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID), and the NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

The consequences of implementing an alternative software solution would negatively impact the NASA mission. The cost of procuring and deploying an alternate solution would be cost prohibitive. Additionally, scientists and engineers throughout NASA would require retraining to use the alternative software that could lead to program delays impacting the Agency’s ability to meet critical 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 notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (beta.sam.gov) was published on April 27, 2021, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source purchase order to Cullimore and Ring Technologies, 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 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 the contract action is fair and reasonable.

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 Cullimore and Ring Technologies for software licenses and maintenance. 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:

A review of GSA Advantage was performed, and the requisite products and software maintenance are not available via GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts. A review of NASA SEWP V was conducted as well, and no other NASA SEWP vendor has the ability to provide NASA with a consolidated contract to provision new licenses or associated maintenance support. Additionally, Cullimore and Ring Technologies was contacted directly and confirmed that there are no authorized resellers capable of entering into an agreement with NASA to support our software requirements for this agreement (see attached letter).

9. FAR 6.303-2(b)(9) – Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

N/A

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 (beta.sam.gov) per FAR Subpart 5.2 (See Section 6 above) on April 27, 2021 and closed April 29,2021. No responses were received.

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:

The Agency will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions before executing any subsequent contract action for the requirement herein. Due to the nature of the expressed requirement, there are no known actions which the Agency may take to give consider.

For 80NSSC21Q0048 Agency-Wide Thermal Desktop Renewal

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.

Lead Contracting Officer

Date: 5/3/21

Re: Cullimore and Ring Technologies, Inc - Sole Source Letter

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is written to confirm that Cullimore and Ring Technologies, Inc

(CRTech is the sole source provider of the following products and maintenance thereof in the United States:

SINDA/FLUINT

Thermal Desktop

RadCAD

FloCAD

TD Direct

Perpetual OEM autoCAD

Additionally, these CRTech Products are protected by copyrights, trademarks and service marks.

There are no other items or product practically available that offers the same purpose or function, and Cullimore and Ring Technologies, Inc determines the prices for above-named products because of exclusive distribution and marketing rights (in certain Non-US territories there are additional non-exclusive resellers appointed by Cullimore and Ring Technologies, Inc that are subject to its pricing).

For further information, please feel free to contact us at 303-971-0292 or at sales@crtech.com

Sincerely, Cindy Beer

Director of Sales