SATPC0041489 TAB 10 BNJ REDACTED.pdf

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER

RECOMMENDATION AND DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM ONE SOURCE

OR BRAND NAME

PICK ONE

Brand Name Justification:

I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate only with vendors who can provide the subject brand name from Exosens S.A for Exosens Ceres HR Thermal Camera. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 30 Days ARO .

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 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) requires procurement of the Xenics Ceres 1280 GigE thermal camera. Xenics is the only source capable of meeting the technical and operational requirements for the third-generation G-LiHT airborne imaging system while maintaining full compatibility with the existing G-LiHT Version 2 platform. The Ceres 1280 GigE possesses unique characteristics essential to mission continuity, including nearly identical size, weight, power, connectivity, data acquisition interface, software environment (Windows GUI and SDK), sensor response characteristics, and proprietary .xvi image file format used by the currently deployed Xenics Gobi-640 GigE camera. These features ensure instrument interchangeability between G-LiHT Versions 2 and 3, preserve data consistency across airborne campaigns, and enable seamless integration with the existing G-LiHT data processing system without costly redesign, software modification, or recalibration efforts. No alternative product was identified that simultaneously meets the stringent requirements for performance, size, weight, power consumption, interface compatibility, software integration, and proprietary file format compatibility with the existing Xenics-based architecture. The Ceres 1280 GigE additionally provides enhanced capability through doubled spatial resolution and expanded field of view while preserving operational compatibility, making Xenics the only source capable of satisfying the Government’s requirements.

2. What is the impact to the government if another vendor/brand is used? Include any dollar, schedule, or compatibility impacts if possible.

Use of a thermal camera from another vendor or brand would create significant compatibility risks with the existing G-LiHT Version 2 system and could compromise the ability to interchange instruments between G-LiHT Versions 2 and 3. Alternative cameras are unlikely to match the required size, weight, power, connectivity, control software, data acquisition interface, sensor response characteristics, and proprietary .xvi image file format currently used by the Xenics Gobi-640 GigE and Ceres 1280 GigE cameras. As a result, the Government would incur additional costs for hardware modifications, software

Page 2 V2.0 3-15-2017 redevelopment, data processing system updates, integration testing, and recalibration efforts necessary to accommodate a different camera platform. Use of a non-compatible camera would also introduce schedule delays associated with redesign, testing, and validation, potentially impacting planned airborne data collection missions and continuity of long-term datasets. Most importantly, differences in instrument performance and data formats could negatively affect consistency and comparability of G-LiHT data products, reducing the scientific value of measurements acquired across multiple system generations.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: