ABI5 JOFOC (Final Posted ).pdf

Rev.:5/2025

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (GSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

FOR THE GEOSTATIONARY EXTENDED OBSERVATIONS (GeoXO)

FLIGHT PROJECT IMAGER (GXI) CONTRACT 80GSFC23CA044

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

(GSFC).

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

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 new work modification to contract 80GSFC23CA044 with L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris) to increase the scope to ensure Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) 5 flight readiness. ABI-5 will be a separate contract line item deliverable. The modification expands the contract scope to include full lifecycle support for ABI-5 flight readiness, preserving continuity with prior ABI units, mitigating integration risk, and maintaining schedule alignment with spacecraft launch timelines.

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):

In support of NOAA’s GeoXO Program, NASA GSFC requires the delivery of the ABI-5 flight unit and associated services to ensure compatibility with spacecraft integration timelines and continuity in national environmental monitoring capabilities and severe weather predictions. The ABI-5 instrument is critical for geostationary observation and is aligned with mission requirements for on-orbit performance, dynamic environment survivability, and data consistency across the GOES constellation. The ABI-5 instrument was developed under the previous generation GOES-R series ABI contract as a government-retained spare. The instrument is fully assembled and remains in storage at the contractor’s facility. ABI-5 will be designated as the first Flight Model (FM) and will undergo spacecraft-level integration and test activities to support GeoXO mission implementation under the GXI contract.

Required efforts include:

• Perform the storage testing for the completed ABI-5 instrument, and any other necessary engineering work to certify that ABI-5 instrument is ready for flight.

• Execution of pre-ship review and delivery of qualified flight hardware

• Provision of documentation and data packages in accordance with contract requirements

• Delivery of ABI-5 configured for spacecraft integration

• Support of spacecraft-level integration and system testing

• Participation in pre-launch testing and launch site operations

• Support of launch operations and early on-orbit validation

• Post-launch calibration to confirm operational performance

The delivery date of the ABI-5 unit is anticipated to be April 2030. The estimated value of this action inclusive of instrument delivery, integration support, and post-launch operations is expected to be $86,000,000.

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 or 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 the property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency as described below.

L3Harris is the only responsible source as they developed and built the previous generation of GOES-R ABI Instruments, therefore, they have the specialized expertise and knowledge to provide the ABI-5 unit that will be required under the next generation GXI Contract.

Based on the unique and highly intricate design of the ABI instrument, along with required precision manufacturing processes, special test equipment, test fixtures, specialized and skilled workforce, in-depth calibration procedures, and institutional expertise and knowledge required to test and provide the ABI-5 unit, L3Harris is the only qualified vendor that meets the requirements for this procurement. No other company has the knowledge, experience, and understanding needed to provide the ABI-5.

L3Harris spent decades refining their design and workmanship pertaining to the Imager instruments. L3Harris overcame significant technical (both design and workmanship-related), schedule, and cost hurdles along the way. There is no other vendor that could fulfill the technical requirements of testing and delivering the ABI-5 to support the current delivery schedule. The learning curve is too steep, and the risk is too great to have a new vendor learn the design of the ABI instrument and execute the effort within schedule.

ABI-5 must match the design heritage and interface specifications of its predecessors to ensure interoperability with the spacecraft bus and ground systems. Deviating from the incumbent design introduces significant risk to instrument performance, calibration traceability, and mission continuity.

The spacecraft-level integration schedule for ABI-5 is tightly coupled with other GeoXO program deliverables. Recompeting ABI-5 would necessitate extensive interface redesign, delay pre-launch testing, and disrupt downstream system-level milestones, impacting GeoXO launch cadence and operational readiness for the planned 2032 launch.

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 August 27, 2025, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source modification to L3Harris Technologies, 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 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 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 (e.g., urgent, and compelling requirement):

No additional market research has been conducted on these requirements. Based on the unique design, manufacturing processes, special test equipment, test fixtures, specialized and skilled workforce, institutional expertise and knowledge required to provide the ABI-5, in addition to being able to meet the current delivery date, L3Harris is the only qualified vendor that meets the requirements.

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

Award to L3Harris ensures compatibility, price realism, and integration stability.

Competitive procurement would require requalification, incur delay, and increase risk across multiple GeoXO program milestones.

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 posted on August 27, 2025 and closed on September 11, 2025. One company, RazrWing Inc., expressed interest in writing. Upon review of the information submitted by RazrWing Inc., the Government has determined that the company does not have the capability to provide an ABI-5 instrument and associated 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 in the future for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.

GXI CONTRACT 80GSFC23CA044

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.

Kevin Tewey Technical Representative

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

Sang Lee Contracting Officer

CONCURRENCES:

Eric Newman Competition Advocate Goddard Space Flight Center

APPROVAL:

Nipa Shah Head of Contracting Activity, Goddard Space Flight Center

Kevin Tewey Digitally signed by Kevin Tewey Date: 2025.09.16 10:47:00 -04'00'

Sang Lee Digitally signed by Sang Lee Date: 2025.09.16 11:04:24 -04'00'

Eric Newman Digitally signed by Eric Newman Date: 2025.09.29 15:19:15 -04'00'

NIPA SHAH

Digitally signed by NIPA SHAH Date: 2025.10.23 08:48:55 -04'00'