Final JOFOC signed by CO.pdf

Rev.:4/2023

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

For New Contract to SciGlob Instruments & Services, LLC.

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) Goddard Space Flight Center.

The procuring agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the contracting activity is NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

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 SciGlob Instruments & Services, LLC for supporting the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and Pandora instruments Level-1 data maintenance and for consultations on instrument operation/calibrations and ground data processing.

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):

Background:

The DSCOVR-EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) is a refurbished version of an instrument developed for the original suspended Triana 2001 mission instrument. The key changes made to EPIC between 2011 and 2014 were improved field group optics and anti-reflection coatings to reduce stray light and new filters with anti-reflection coatings.

Personnel at SciGlob Instruments & Services LLC participated in the on-ground calibrations and testing of the EPIC and Pandora instruments and have been providing the same products and services since the start of operations for both instruments.

Current action:

The proposed current action is for the support of the DSCOVR EPIC instrument, continued on-ground calibrations, and Level-1a data production. The EPIC calibration maintenance work includes the following: (1) periodic checks of EPIC instrument parameters, such as read noise, dark current, dead pixel maps, and temperature evolution; (2) updates of the EPIC calibration tables based on the previous activity; and (3) assistance with the testing and troubleshooting of these new calibration tables. In addition, the contractor shall provide continued support and technical advice on the refinement of Pandora instrument calibrations and retrieval algorithms. The Government’s Independent Cost Estimate for this work is $250,000 for each year totaling $750,000. The potential period of performance is three (3) years (Base period: 12 months; Option Period 1: 12 months; and Option Period 2: 12 months).

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. 3204(a) (1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies and services will satisfy agency requirements”.

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. 3204(a)(1) is that service deemed available only from the original source, and no other supplies and services will satisfy the agency requirements as described below.

SciGlob personnel were part of the team that performed the original ground calibrations of both EPIC and Pandora instruments and have been providing calibration updates since the beginning of operations for both instruments. The company is also in possession of unique and proprietary instrument documentation which is required for the completion of this task.

Any attempt to procure these services would involve technological risk, unacceptable delays, and duplication of costs. According to Adam Szabo, NASA Project Scientist, an effort to compete this requirement would result in the estimated cost duplication of greater than 100% (estimated to be around 0.75 WYE or $150,000.00) as well as an estimated schedule slip of twelve (12) months in order for a new contractor to get up to speed. This would endanger the health of the EPIC and Pandora instruments and significantly diminish the science return of the DSCOVR mission that is already in orbit.

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 February 8, 2024, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to SciGlob Instruments & Services, LLC. 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 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 proposed costs will be evaluated by the Contracting Officer’s Representative and the Contracting Officer to determine that the direct labor rates, direct labor hours, skill mix, other direct costs, indirect costs, and fee(s) are fair and reasonable. This may also include support from external organizations such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency, as needed.

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:

Based upon the knowledge and experience of the COR, no other entities currently exist that can perform the technical requirements of this procurement since they require detailed knowledge of the unique on-ground calibration, testing and ground data processing of the EPIC and Pandora instruments. Therefore, no further market research was conducted as the EPIC instrument was originally built and designed between 1999 and 2001. The expertise and documentation for the instrument is proprietary and unique and is in sole possession of SciGlob Instruments & Services, LLC as stated in Section 5.

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 February 8, 2024 and expired on February 23, 2024. No responses were received at the close of the synopsis.

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:

SciGlob Instruments & Services, LLC is the only known source with the capability, expertise, and familiarity with the EPIC and Pandora instruments requirements to support its continued performance without project delays or technical risks which could significantly impact the instrument. Currently, this is the barrier to overcome before any subsequent full and open competition acquisitions of these services are procured. Any Agency requirements for these services in the future would take into consideration the mission needs at that time.

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.

DSCOVR EPIC Instrument Support Services

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Adam Szabo Technical Representative

APPROVED:

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

Julie Janus Contracting Officer