SATPC0042855 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf

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 AconityUS, Inc. only for AconityMINI Laser Beam Melting System. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 9/30/2026.

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.

AconityUS is the only known source that can provide equipment with the open-source control software API required by the NASA Langley Research Center Durability, Damage Tolerance, & Reliability Branch to support the target research activities and enable integration with bespoke hardware additions to be developed or procured by the NASA research team. The equipment’s open architecture and compatibility with customized hardware provide unique capabilities necessary to meet the Government’s specific research and development requirements that are not known to be available from other manufacturers. Additionally, AconityUS has a pre-manufactured unit in its possession that was originally produced for another customer whose order was cancelled, allowing the Government to acquire the machine at a 30% discount from its standard cost. This existing-unit pricing provides significant cost savings compared to purchasing a new system. This specific unit is only available through AconityUS, Inc. directly and is not available through resellers.

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

Using another vendor could result in equipment that is incompatible with the NASA research team’s required open-source control software API and ability to integrate bespoke hardware additions. A different system could require additional engineering, modifications, or development of alternative interfaces, resulting in increased costs and schedule delays. The milestones presently being formulated to begin in FY27 for the Transformational Tools and Technologies subproject will not be possible without this equipment, making timely acquisition essential to planned research activities. Additionally, selecting another vendor would eliminate the opportunity to acquire the existing pre-manufactured AconityUS unit at a 30% discount, resulting in higher acquisition costs for a newly manufactured machine.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: