Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) PR 841622 nmh signed 8.2.23 prt_Redacted.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Langley Research Center (LaRC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For EXTEC LABCUT RTR PRECISION COMPOSITE ROUTER SYSTEM

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.”

Description of the action being approved: This document is a justification for other than full and open competition prepared by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC)

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is Langley Research Center (LaRC).

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 contract to Excel Technologies, Inc. for Customized 55252 EXTEC Labcut RTR/CompCut Precision Composite Router (PCR) 600 System

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):

This Purchase Request is for the procurement of a customized 55252 EXTEC Labcut RTR/CompCut Precision Composite Router (PCR) 600 System. The requirements are deliverable to NASA LaRC for a total estimated cost of . Requirements are outlined below.

Item Qty Part No. Description

1 1 55252

EXTEC LABCUT RTR PRECISION COMPOSITE ROUTER SYSTEM

[includes items 1-19]

2 1 Tool length probe for auto tool probing

3 1 X, Y, Z Probe for setting Jigs and tooling, with auto probing software routines

4 1 Wet & Dry Vacuum bed system

5 1 Self-contained coolant mist removal system fitted to the machine

6 4 Vacuum bed tooling plates, blank with 10 m of foam cord, and 25x

7 8 High precision tool holder, 25X16 Mini

8 2 High-precision collet 4mm 9 2 High Precision collet 6mm

10 2 High Precision collet 8mm 11 10 Roughing tool (4mm Electroplated parallel router)

Rev.:1/2023

12 10 Finishing tool (4mm Metal bonded parallel router) 13 10 V Notch tool (2.5 mm Electroplated parallel router - fine) 14 2 Roughing surface planer/grinder (25mm Electroplated Surface Planner) 15 1 Finishing Surface Planer/grinder (35mm Metal Bonded Surface Planer) 16 4 Vacuum bed tooling plates - machined to customer geometry 17 1 EXperTEC training and installation 18 1 Package in a custom crate and make it ready for transportation 19 1 Transportation (best estimate provided…will formalize at time of shipment)

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 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(1) The property or services needed by the agency are available from Only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy agency requirements. As well as 6.302-1 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Also, 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(a)(1) Issuance of Orders- the following actions are (a) Issuance of orders. The following actions are not required for the issuance of a task or delivery order under a task or delivery order contract: (1) A separate notice for such orders under sections 1708 of Title 41 or section 8(e) of the small business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(e) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. The following statutory authorities (including applications and Limitations) permit contracting without providing for full and open competition.

This justification is based on Oxford Instruments America, Inc being the only source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This JOFOC complies with the special documentation requirements of FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii).

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 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) is the property or service needed by The agency is available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or service will satisfy the needs of the agency as described below.

Excel Technologies has provided existing machines to NASA Langley’s 1237A Laboratory.

Excel Technologies has customized this machine to meet NASA’s needs to support the machining of research test specimens for projects to meet Agency goals. In the past, Excel

Technologies has been very responsive to resolve any technical issues or questions regarding equipment and software.

At NASA Langley Research Center, the Manufacturing Applications Branch, precision composites machining capability has a need for an enclosed high-speed computer numerical control (CNC) machine for composites to produce test specimens quickly and accurately for use in acquiring critical data to understand Aero materials performance characteristics, as well as provide a level of safety to the machine operators. The precision composites machining capability currently has an Excel Technologies LabCut saw that has been in use for over seven years. The equipment is quality manufactured with the ability to program and repeat accurate, straight, parallel cuts for composite panels using a simple-to-use, electronic programmable controller. The saw is fully enclosed and provides a measure of protection for the operator from the saw blade and debris generated during cutting activities.

This equipment is maintained under an annual maintenance contract. The organization is pleased with the technical support from the vendor, keeping it operational and in good working order. Of note, the Labcut saw, and the CNC CompCut machine use the same cooling fluid, providing efficiency by not needing to maintain and dispose of two separate waste streams through the Center Environmental Office. A further efficiency gained through the purchase of the Excel Technologies CNC CompCut machine is the ability for the service vendor to make one trip to service both machines, thus reducing time and travel costs associated with setting up separate trips from multiple vendors. The LabCut saw and CNC CompCut machine provides the opportunity to establish a synergistic workflow in the composites machining lab so that large panels are cut on the saw and transferred to the CNC machine for final specimen cutting.

NASA would incur substantial duplication of costs, resources, and time if a brand other than Excel Technologies, Inc. was procured due to the effort necessary to evaluate and source compatible hardware, commit training to a new brand, migrate data information from current infrastructure to new vendor solution and conduct parallel operations of current and new systems until migration to the new system. If other systems result in incompatibility issues with the current environment, this will result in further substantial duplication of costs to completely replace the existing systems.

Other Facts:

The CNC machine must have a high (18,000-20,000) RPM, and low torque spindle to reach optimal chip load so composite machining is efficient reducing cycle time, lengthening tool life, and improving overall spindle reliability. It must have both a wet and dry vacuum bed system to accommodate varying machining requirements needed by the engineers. The machine must have dust containment and collection to improve employee safety and machine longevity. The machine must have sufficient dust collection, with properly sealed and covered components and a full enclosure for safely handling abrasive materials. The machine shall be built with rigidity for speed, tool life to reduce vibrations, and tool deflection at top acceleration/deceleration speeds. Machining capability such that specimens and coupons cut with the machine produce quality edges that require no post-machining (ex. grinding, milling, planning, or polishing) sometimes needed to produce the smooth/acceptable edges.

Cuts with superior surface finishes, accuracy, and repeatability to include perpendicularity, parallelism, and size. The equipment is specially designed to machine tensile coupons (dog bone shaped) with defined dimensions according to ASTM, ISO, DIN, EN, and other industry standards from a library that comes with the equipment. Simple setup with minimal operator attachment to the milling process. This allows the operator to perform alternative tasks while the automated machine does its job while churning out perfect specimens.

Equipped with full machining capabilities beyond tensile test specimens.

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:

Notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) will be published as a combined synopsis solicitation in accordance with FAR 12.603. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to Excel Technologies, Inc. The results of this synopsis are summarized in section 10 below. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will continue to look for opportunities to open competition for this requirement and will monitor the marketplace for potential competition in the future.

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:

It is 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 the 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.

The customized 55252 EXTEC Labcut RTR/CompCut Precision Composite Router (PCR) 600 System will compete as a brand name, combined synopsis/solicitation. ITPO anticipates one vendor (Excel Technologies, Inc.) to provide a competitive price on The customized 55252 EXTEC Labcut RTR/CompCut Precision Composite Router (PCR) 600 System brand name request for a quote.

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:

Excel Technologies, Inc. has provided existing machines at NASA Langley Research Center’s 1237A Laboratory providing a history of responsiveness, customized products, and support. NASA’s Fabrication Alliance Team collaborated on the research of this product and we attended the 2023 International Manufacturing Technology Show where discussions took place about other existing CNC machines and capabilities. Additional research was performed with other vendors which determined that other CNC machines were not compatible with the existing machines in the Laboratory.

A Request for Information (RFI) was posted to SEWP on 07/20/2023 and closed on 07/28/2023 which resulted in zero (0) responses. Excel Technologies, Inc. does not have a SEWP contract or a reseller on SEWP that can provide these products.

An RFI was also posted to the General Service Administration (GSA) on 07/28/2023 and closed on 08/02/2023 which resulted in zero (0) responses.

An email was sent to Excel Tech, the Manufacturer of the customized solution, querying for authorized small business distributors through SEWP and GSA. They replied this is a customized solution that they configure, program, install, and perform operational training

on. They also provide ongoing maintenance, parts, service, updates, and modifications.

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

None

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 will be synopsized on the GPE website (Sam.gov) per FAR 12.603 (See Section 6 above). There are no other sources of providers for listed products/services.

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 for opportunities to open competition for This requirement for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will monitor the marketplace for potential competition in the future.

NASA Langley Research Center - EXTEC LABCUT RTR PRECISION COMPOSITE

ROUTER SYSTEM

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Nancy Holloway Technical Representative

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

Dennis A. Ross Contracting Officer

N H ll

Dennis Ross Digitally signed by Dennis Ross Date: 2023.08.02 09:42:44 -04'00'