JOFOC_80MSFC22CA004-P00021_3-Month-Extension.pdf

Rev.: 10/2025

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (MSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPORT SCIENCE DATA SYSTEM

80MSFC22CA004

1. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.104-1(a)(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) / George C. Marshall Space Flight Center

(MSFC).

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

2. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 an extension to contract number 80MSFC22CA004 with New Rights Group, Inc. dba Development Seed (herein referred to as Development Seed). The extension will add three months to the current period of performance, establishing a new end date of June 30, 2026, with an additional one-month option period through July 31, 2026, if required.

3. FAR 6.104-1(a)(3) – A description of the supplies or services required, to meet the

Agency’s needs (including the estimated value):

The NASA Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT) requires continued integration of NASA’s specialized Earth science data, services, and tools into custom research applications and workflows. These capabilities enable the infusion of emerging trends in informatics, data science, and information technology to develop innovative solutions for science data management, dissemination, and rapid prototyping of advanced concepts in scientific data systems. The work includes addressing challenges related to data search, access, and usability. Specifically, the contractor will develop systematic approaches to data management and stewardship supporting distributed archive centers, provide system architecture analysis for IMPACT, and perform data curation for collaborations within NASA and with external partners, including other government agencies, industry, and academia.

Although the present contract includes a 12-month Option Period 4 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026), exercising that option is not in the Government’s best interest. Option Period 4 contains tasks outside the current scope and does not align with the anticipated transition to the Next Gen contract. Therefore, extending Option Period 3 is the most efficient and cost-effective solution to maintain uninterrupted support. Pursuant to FAR 6.104-1(a)(3), this extension is justified to ensure continuity of services critical to NASA’s Earth science data

Rev.:10/2025 integration and advanced concept development. A lapse in performance would result in disruption of ongoing system architecture analysis and data stewardship activities, delays in collaborative efforts with interagency and international partners, and increased risk to NASA’s ability to meet mission objectives for scientific data management and open science initiatives.

Development Seed is uniquely positioned to provide these services without additional phase-in time or risk to schedule. Engaging a new contractor for this short-term extension would introduce significant inefficiencies and jeopardize milestone completion.

NASA/MSFC seeks to modify Development Seed’s existing contract, 80MSFC22CA004, to extend the period of performance for short-term continuity of service. The estimated period of performance associated with this action is from April 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026 for the 3-month extension plus the 1-month option period. The overall contract period of performance will be extended, and the total estimated dollar value is $1,956,000.00 for the 3-month extension and option period. The current contract value would increase from $30,755,494.00 to $32,711,494.00 for the proposed action. The overall period of performance is from January 1, 2022 through July 31, 2026.

4. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 6.104-1(a)(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), which is only one responsible source, and no other supplies and services will satisfy agency requirements, as described below.

The primary justification for this sole-source extension is the alignment with NASA’s acquisition strategy and the imminent transition to the Next Generation Scalable Data Engineering, Operations, and Informatics Support for Open Science (Next Gen) contract.

The Next Gen acquisition, which is being conducted under full and open competition, is scheduled to begin its phase-in on April 30, 2026. Attempting to award a new, standalone contract at this time would be impractical and contrary to the Government’s best interest for the following reasons:

• Ensuring Continuity of Operations During Transition Development Seed’s demonstrated capabilities and familiarity with the existing cyberinfrastructure enable them to maintain and support the current system without interruption, ensuring that IMPACT deliverables and milestones remain on schedule.

Disrupting this work by introducing a new contractor would jeopardize continuity during the transition period, creating operational risk and potential delays in meeting stakeholder requirements.

• Time Constraints and Integration Risks The extension period is limited to three months, with an optional one-month contingency. Any new contractor would require time to gain an understanding of the existing infrastructure and deliverables. This timeline is incompatible with the short-term nature of the extension and the scheduled phase-in of Next Gen.

While Development Seed’s technical expertise and knowledge of the existing system reinforce this determination, the overriding factor is that the Government has already committed to a competitive follow-on acquisition. Maintaining Development Seed for this brief extension ensures a seamless transition, minimizes risk, and upholds the Government’s acquisition strategy.

6. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 part 5 and, if not, which exception under part 5 applies:

A notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) was published January 13, 2026, through January 28, 2026, in accordance with FAR Part 5. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source extension to Development Seed.

The results of this synopsis are summarized in Section 10 below.

7. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 Contracting Officer will assess the Contractor’s proposal utilizing cost and price analysis techniques in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.404-1 to determine a fair and reasonable price.

8. FAR 6.104-1(a)(8) – Description of the market research conducted, and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted (e.g., urgent, and compelling requirement):

A SAM.gov market survey was not conducted for the proposed acquisition. The requirements of the current contract are being competed in the currently underway Next Gen acquisition.

Due to the anticipated phase-in of the follow-on Next Gen competitive acquisition award beginning April 30, 2026, an attempt to award another new, standalone contract to bridge the gap at this time is neither practical nor in the best interest of the government.

However, in accordance with FAR 8.002(a)(2), market research was performed by the mandatory source AbilityOne.gov Procurement List with no availability. A review of the Office of Procurement Strategic Sourcing Website was performed yielding no solutions. Other sources were reviewed such as geospatial data science contracts via GSA eLibrary, and other Government contracts. Additional review of existing NASA contracts, per NFS 1808.004, that provide the required services has been conducted and none were suitable for this requirement.

9. FAR 6.104-1(a)(9) – Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

None.

10. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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) from January 13, 2026 through January 28, 2026, per FAR part 5 (See Section 6 above). This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source extension to Development Seed. One interested company responded to the posting and requested consideration. The response was not deemed credible.

11. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 is actively removing barriers to competition by having a full and open competition for the Next Gen follow-on contract, and this requirement will continue to be competed into the future. We will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.

Rev.: 10/2025

NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPORT SCIENCE DATA

80MSFC22CA004

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Elizabeth Fancher Deputy Project Manager/ST50 Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT)

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

Brad Vest Contracting Officer/PS51 Science and Technology Support Branch

APPROVED:

Adrian D. Clayton Competition Advocate, Acting Deputy Procurement Officer, Acting Marshall Space Flight Center