AWIN Subscription Services JOFOC Approved_Redacted.pdf

JOFOC-2025-001

Rev.:5/2024

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER (NSSC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For 80NSSC25Q7004/Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) Subscription

Renewal Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)

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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) NSSC.

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the contracting activity is the NSSC Procurement Operations Branch.

2. FAR 6.303-2(b)(2) – The nature and/or description of the action being approved:

This sole source justification provides the rationale for contracting by other than full and open competition to award a firm-fixed price purchase order to Informa Media, Inc. for agency-wide access to the AWIN Premium subscription services and one individual access to the Aviation Week Commercial Fleet, Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Forecast, and Fleet Discovery Civil subscription services.

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):

The AWIN platform provides data across key global markets of commercial, civil, military, space, and business aviation and allows users to identify market opportunities and deliver custom research. The services provide digital and printed access to Aviation Week and other publications including Aviation Week & Space Technology and Show News, personal alert systems, daily market briefings including Aerospace Daily & Defense Reports, updated databases containing program profiles, company and personnel databases, and an archive with fifteen plus years of research enabling trend analysis and report packages/analysis on top performing companies and airlines. The Commercial Fleet and MRO Forecasts provides unbiased views into the future for key fleet and MRO market areas necessary for leaders to strategize, plan, and develop business opportunities. Fleet Discovery Civil is a data intelligence tool that provides users access to in-depth commercial and corporate aircraft fleet, which allows them to identify new market opportunities and manage risks.

This purchase order would ensure that there is continuity of access across the Agency. This sole source requirement is a follow-on requirement to purchase order 80NSSC20P0375, in

Rev.:5/2024 which Informa Media, Inc. is currently providing the AWIN subscription services, and purchase order 80NSSC24PA101, in which Informa Media, Inc. is currently providing one user access to the Aviation Week Commercial Fleet, Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Forecast, and Fleet Discovery Civil subscription services.

The total Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) for this requirement is and is inclusive of all option periods. This encompasses unlimited access for all NASA personnel to AWIN Premium subscription services and one user access to Aviation Week Commercial Fleet, Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Forecast, and Fleet Discovery Civil subscription services. The estimate considers discounted pricing for the enterprise rather than an individual user price for the AWIN Premium subscription services. The escalation rate is based on historical pricing. The cost estimate is provided below:

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 for acquisitions using the procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. 1901. This justification is based on Informa Media, Inc. being the only responsible 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 AWIN subscription is based on a specific need to allow NASA personnel to have access to articles, publications, programs, organizations, and topics that have impact on their

Description Period of Performance Quantity Base Period: AWIN Subscription January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 12 months Base Period: Commercial Fleet, MRO Forecasts, and Fleet Discovery Civil Subscription

January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 12 months

Option Period 1: AWIN Subscription January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 12 months Option Period 1: Commercial Fleet, MRO Forecasts, and Fleet Discovery Civil Subscription

January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 12 months

Option Period 2: AWIN Subscription January 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027 12 months Option Period 2: Commercial Fleet, MRO Forecasts, and Fleet Discovery Civil Subscription

January 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027 12 months

Option Period 3: AWIN Subscription January 1, 2028 - December 31, 2028 12 months Option Period 3: Commercial Fleet, MRO Forecasts, and Fleet Discovery Civil Subscription

January 1, 2028 - December 31, 2028 12 months

Option Period 4: AWIN Subscription January 1, 2029 - December 31, 2029 12 months Option Period 4: Commercial Fleet, MRO Forecasts, and Fleet Discovery Civil Subscription

January 1, 2029 - December 31, 2029 12 months

Option to Extend Services January 1, 2030 - June 30, 2030 6 months Option to Extend Services January 1, 2030 - June 30, 2030 6 months

Total:

Rev.:5/2024 respective programs and projects. NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) is working to introduce transformative options in the areas of high-speed commercial flight, advanced air mobility, and ultra-efficient airliners. They contribute to projects that develop technologies, tools, and data solutions that are vital to the ability to advance the prediction of future aircraft performance. NASA is also working to transform aviation by reducing environmental impacts and testing technology advancements that will benefit the transportation sector. NASA leverages AWIN in their missions as it is designed to provide researchers and managers access to the latest information on all aspects of the aviation industry. Additionally, technical experts from other various directorates use the access as needed. AWIN provides NASA personnel with information on current trends, research, products, and systems that are being used in the space, aerospace, defense, and security fields within both industry and the government. Their tools provide specifications on aircrafts, engines, spacecrafts, and electronic systems. AWIN meets NASA’s needs by providing unique content solutions in the areas of market intelligence and insight, proprietary data, analytics, forecasting tools, and consulting services. Per the sole source letter provided, Informa Media, Inc. is the sole source provider of access to all of Aviation Week’s portfolio of in-depth articles, publications, reports, and databases on defense, space, aerospace, and security. There are no other vendors who have authority to distribute publications, maintain databases, provide news alerts, and support training and education to NASA employees that are proprietary to products that are sold by Informa Media, Inc.

Informa Media, Inc. is the only publisher of AWIN, which is the only platform that has all-encompassing coverage of intelligence across key global markets of commercial, civil, military, space, business aviation, and MRO. This was confirmed when a notice of intent to sole source resulted in no responses and through additional market research efforts, which are documented below. AWIN is a nationally and internationally trusted independent source of information, and their database is unique in its breadth of technically specific, historical, and forecasting information. Given the variety of aviation projects throughout NASA, AWIN’s unique coverage best meets the Government’s needs by providing information that provides the NASA workforce actionable knowledge and insight into the aeronautics industry and technologies.

A contractor other than AWIN would have to hire journalists and analysts worldwide to cover the aviation industry. In addition, a new contractor would need to compile the information in the back files of their searchable database. This would be a costly and time-consuming endeavor. AWIN is uniquely qualified to meet NASA’s needs for extensive data in the areas of aerospace and aviation in support of ongoing and future research efforts of the Agency. The comprehensiveness of the coverage is not available from another vendor.

AWIN’s publications provided by industry experts provides critical information and insight that expands NASA’s competitive advantage. It would take months if not years to collect the data and information amassed by AWIN and hundreds of thousands of dollars of contractor time to create the reporting service and database.

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:

Rev.:5/2024

A notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) was published on November 12, 2024, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source purchase order to Informa Media, 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 price analysis will be performed. The price analysis will ensure that the final agreed-to price for the contract action is fair and reasonable. This procurement is for a commercial item. Thus, the price can be determined fair and reasonable based on a comparison of the established market price and historical pricing. NASA has historical contract information from previous awards with Informa Media for subscription access. Additionally, NASA will require that any discounts be provided by the vendor. The current enterprise access is discounted in comparison to prices for an individual. Based on market research, pricing for one individual to have access is approximately and up to 500 users is approximately Usage statistics shows that AWIN Premium is actively utilized, and the enterprise access is more cost efficient. There are no anticipated issues that would circumvent fair and reasonable price determination. The Contracting Officer will determine price reasonableness during the proposal evaluation process prior to award.

8. FAR 6.303-2(b)(8) – Description of the market research conducted, and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted (e.g., urgent, and compelling requirement):

In accordance to FAR 8.002, market research was conducted to review mandatory sources such as the Procurement List with no availability. Due to being unable to satisfy the requirement from the mandatory sources listed in 8.002 and 8.003, the NSSC Procurement Operations Branch additionally reviewed other non-mandatory sources. The NSSC performed market research of General Services Administration (GSA), Fedlink Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts, and a targeted internet search for the required subscription services. Results indicate from our market research that AWIN is not the sole provider of aviation news in general, but other publications are focused on commercial, business, and private aviation and offer only a small portion of relevant news and information to NASA.

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

See Section 5.

10. FAR 6.303-2(b)(10) – A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in writing in the acquisition:

Rev.:5/2024

A notice of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source action was synopsized on the GPE website (Sam.gov) per FAR Subpart 5.2 (See Section 6 above). The notice was posted on November 12, 2024, and closed on November 19, 2024. No companies responded.

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 or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements. Due to the nature of the expressed requirement, there are no known actions which the Agency may take to consider other publishers for the requirements described herein. Prior to the award of future contracts, market research will be completed to determine if potential sources have emerged that will allow for competition.