BNJ Photron High Speed Camera_signed updated redacted_Redacted.pdf

Rev.:5/2025

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA IT Procurement Office

Brand Name Justification – Photron High-Speed Camera

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 brand name justification prepared by National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA) IT Procurement Office (ITPO).

The procuring agency is the NASA, and the contracting activity is ITPO.

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 solicit Photron brand-name products for the NASA procurement of a highspeed camera for electric propulsion diagnostics.

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 action is for Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) order for Photron hardware and software (a monochrome Photron E9-100S High-Speed Camera and related Photron Fastcam Viewer Software). The total estimated amount of the proposed order is . The camera needs to be delivered on or before 90 days after receipt of order (ARO).

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.

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 41 U.S.C. 1901 as described below.

The NASA electric propulsion systems branch presently uses a Photron SA-Z 480k highspeed camera to acquire data necessary to understand the transitory behavior of electric propulsion devices (e.g. Advanced Electric Propulsion System Hall thrusters). A higher performing camera is necessary to quantify thruster transient behaviors beyond the present limit of 480k frames per second. Additionally, the higher performing camera must be compatible with the existing SA-Z camera so that the two cameras may be synchronized together both in the 1) capturing of high-speed video, 2) playback and 3) analysis; which are features that are all achieved through Photron PFV software. Synchronous images of electric propulsion thrust devices will allow the capture of spatiotemporally-resolved plasma oscillations and transient behavior. This type of data is mainly used to understand plasma current density changes, attachment points, and wave structure that would otherwise be unattainable with either standard DSLR cameras or oscilloscopes.

Although a non-Photron camera can be synchronized during capturing video, only another camera from Photron may enable in-software simultaneous synchronized playback, and analysis. If two different camera software packages were running on the same PC, they will not communicate with each other and will prevent synchronized playback/analysis.

Additionally, running two software packages for two different brand cameras will double the utilized computer hardware resources (i.e. processing power, memory, network bandwidth) which will introduce risk of limited camera function and performance. Moreover, since this tool has been extensively used by various research/engineering teams thus far in the execution of projects, where analysis software (i.e. Python and Matlab) and procedures have been developed and verified based on the particulars of the Photron equipment/software, the use of an alternate tool will require months of additional software development, and verification of function, all of which will contribute to schedule and budget impacts.

An alternate brand would negatively impact three ongoing flight projects, each conducting multi-year long duration wear tests, where the data from the high-speed camera will provide transient characteristic information. A camera outside the Photron product lines will not synchronize playback and analysis using the Photron Fastcam Viewer (PFV) software and will therefore incur avoidable time-based inaccuracies when performing simultaneous triggering of transient events. Simply, there is no guarantee that the relative and absolute time between plasma features will properly align during playback and analysis, thus rendering the new instrument an inefficient use of government resources.

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:

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c), Application for brand-name descriptions, the Contracting Officer will post the justification with the solicitation in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c)(1)(ii)(C) to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov). Market research shows NASA SEWP and GSA Advantage do not provide adequate available competition to meet this requirement, while multiple small business resellers are available on the open market Therefore, this brand-name requirement will be solicited through the GPE, Sam.gov as a 100% small business set-aside to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

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. In accordance with FAR Subpart 13.5, pricing will be determined fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106.3. The requirement will be competed as a brand name to allow for competition. Quoted prices will also be compared to the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), and if available, historical prices and a current commercial price list. This comparison will allow the Contracting Officer to make a determination of fair and reasonable pricing.

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):

Market research was conducted by the technical point of contact as well as the Contracting Officer in order to determine if other models of high-speed cameras were capable of performing the tasks specified in the requirements documents including successfully synchronizing with an existing Photron SA-Z 480k high-speed camera and allowing for analysis of image data. The Contracting Officer contacted the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Photron, who confirmed only Photron brand cameras utilize the Photron software (PFV). While synchronization of third-party cameras is possible, the playback and analysis feature in PFV is limited to only Photron brand cameras. This feature is required in order to analyze the capture of spatiotemporally-resolved plasma oscillations and transient behavior.

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:

provided a market research quote for this requirement.

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 similar requirements.