COASTER and Support Services JOFOC Final_Redacted.pdf

Rev.:5/2024

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA IT Procurement Office (ITPO)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For Atlas Devices Counterweight-Offload Astronaut Sensor, Telemetry & Electronics Rig (COASTER) & Support Services

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) IT Procurement Office (ITPO).

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is IT Procurement Office (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 award a sole-source contract to Atlas Devices for the Counterweight Offload Astronaut Sensor, Telemetry and Electronics Rig (COASTER) and associated Support 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 purchase of the Atlas Devices Counterweight-Offload Astronaut Sensor, Telemetry & Electronics Rig (COASTER) and associated support services are required to fulfill the need of telemetry-based suited and unsuited gravity offload testing at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC).

Atlas Devices’ COASTER is a connected sensor/suit telemetry and offload system for use with space suits to create simulated gravity environments for lunar and Martian operational concept development, hardware evaluation, and Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) testing.

Relying on a simple double-pivoting arm system with an innovative cable routing system that enables counterweights to be attached (much like common exercise equipment), the Atlas COASTER brings connected suit telemetry and offload capability for portable, high reliability telemetry-based HITL testing that can be operated anywhere, including outdoor environments.

The COASTER and Support Services are deliverable to Johnson Space Center for a total estimated cost of . The estimated Period of Performance is award date through September 30, 2025.

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 is Atlas Devices is the sole source provider for this requirement as described below.

Atlas Devices produces the only known human-rated articulated jib arm style sensor and suspension systems in the world. The COASTER is uniquely able to be disassembled, moved, and reassembled at an outdoor site with no heavy equipment required. Current support facilities in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF) at JSC have been verified to both house and support COASTER for the use of suited and unsuited HITL testing.

COASTER will interface with all current NASA space suits (xEMU, Mark III, EMU, etc.)

and Atlas EXCON analog suit for gravity offload testing. The Atlas EXCON suit was designed through intensive studies of xEMU requirements and functions. These studies and “reverse engineering” of the suit have provided Atlas Devices with a unique and comprehensive body of knowledge surrounding telemetry based suited HITL testing and suspended/offloaded suited operations. COASTER's proprietary gimbal interface, which includes both suit telemetry and offload capabilities, will accommodate planetary suits.

Having full suit telemetry, as well as offload, is crucial to quantify metrics such as suit positions and angles in relation to vehicles and equipment during various operations. These will vary widely through ranges of suit pressures, with EXCON suits providing an important baseline of 0 pressure to compare against planetary suits.

COASTER is the only available system that will properly interface with EXCON suits and perform required testing which utilizes both suit telemetry and offload. This is due to the lack of compatible telemetry interfaces between EXCON and ARGOS (ARGOS is existing gravity offload technology at NASA JSC).

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:

A notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) was published on November 21, 2024, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to Atlas Devices. 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 quote to be evaluated 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. In accordance with FAR 13.106-3, a statement of price reasonableness will be documented to the contract file citing historical prices and any other reasonable basis.

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):

Email correspondence with OEM representative confirmed that Atlas Devices is the sole source provider of the required product and services. It was also confirmed that Atlas Devices is the only producer of human-rated articulated jib arm style sensor and suspension systems.

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 was synopsized on the GPE website (Sam.gov) per FAR Subpart 5.2 (See Section 6 above). The synopsis was published on November 21, 2024, and closed December 6, 2024. T-Fox Inc expressed an interest regarding the synopsis and a review was conducted of the capability statemen received from T-Fox Inc. They were found not capable to provide the needs of 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 the same requirements.