SATPC0040286 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf
PDF 165 KB Posted
- Attached to
- FY26 Altair Hyperworks Renewal Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- 80NSSC26923809Q
About this file
This is a Sole Source Justification and Recommendation document submitted by NASA's Shared Services Center dated January 15, 2026. The document recommends that NASA negotiate exclusively with Siemens/Altair for 231 units of Mechanical Engineer services, Product Code AU-ME-STD-AN, with a performance period from March 3, 2026 to March 2, 2027. The total estimated cost is redacted in the document.
The justification for sole source procurement centers on the proprietary nature of the Altair Hyperworks software suite, a finite element pre/post processor, solver, and design optimization tool that has been in use at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) for over a decade. The document establishes that no second source vendors have been authorized by Altair's creator to develop this product, making the information necessary for full and open competition unavailable. The government would experience significant impacts if an alternative vendor were selected, including: required retraining of analysts (estimated at 1-3 months with potential complete work stoppage), loss of custom tools and optimization strategies developed within the Hypermesh environment, need for supplementary licenses such as SpaceClaim for advanced geometry cleanup, and risk of data loss or conversion issues for projects using native Hyperworks file formats across current, sustaining, and legacy programs. The document emphasizes that Hyperworks possesses a proven geometry cleanup capability and superior mesh performance for complicated topologies compared to other widely available pre-processors currently used at the center.
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Other files for this federal contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| SATPC0040286 Tab 07 Capability Statement SAM.gov.pdf | ||
| SATPC0040286 Tab 04 4 SOW..pdf |
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Text version
Page 1 V2.0 3-15-2017
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER
RECOMMENDATION AND DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM ONE SOURCE
OR BRAND NAME
PICK ONE
Sole Source:
☒I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate with Siemens/Altair only for 231 Altair units of Mechanical Engineer, Product Code AU-ME-STD-AN. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 3/3/2026- 3/2/2027.
OR
Brand Name Justification:
☐I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate only with vendors who can provide the subject brand name from Manufacture Name for Product being purchased. The total estimated cost of this effort is $Dollar Amount and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is Date .
This recommendation is for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source/only one manufacture. Competition is impractical for the following reasons (please answer the questions below):
1. What are the reasons for soliciting only the suggested source/suggested brand name? Please provide the unique characteristics of the items or services along with the supporting rationale and the market research performed to substantiate your reason for the suggested source/brand name.
The Altair Hyperworks code is proprietary and a source of the salient characteristics is not available to the government. No second source vendors have been authorized by thecreator of Altair Hyperworks to develop this item therefore the information to develop apackage for full and open competition is not available.
2. What is the impact to the government if another vendor/brand is used? Include any dollar, schedule, or compatibility impacts if possible.
The Altair Hyperworks Finite Element pre/post process, solver and design optimization suitehas been used for over a decade in several branches throughout MSFC. During this time ithas been used to develop analysis models supporting valves, propulsion, spacecraft,landers, ground support equipment and special test equipment. Because of its wide usage,a large number of models have been developed across a variety of different programs. Inaddition, several tools have been developed within the Hypermesh environment that areused for design optimization and analysis. Finally, the program has a track record for beingable to perform geometry cleanup and ability to mesh parts with complicated topologies,more efficiently than other comparable tools. For those who use it, it is a daily tool andcrucial to performing regular job duties: The following impacts are expected to thegovernment if another vendor is pursued: A large re-training effort would be required to train analysts in another, comparable tool.This training could take roughly 1-3 months and would likely mean a complete stop work onseveral programs. Current design, analysis optimization strategies and capabilities that have beendeveloped would have to be re-developed. Without knowing a replacement tool, it’s notpossible to understand if all capabilities could be reproduced or at what cost. Hyperworks has a proven geometry clean up engine within the program. Other widelyavailable pre-processors currently used on Center, require additional tools such asSpaceClaim for more advanced geometry cleanup. Therefore additional licenses ofunknown quantity and cost, would be required to supplement that capability. Finally, any data in native Hyperworks file formats, for projects currently in development,sustaining, or legacy would have
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