JOFOC - Atlas FY26 Support Services Final_Redacted.pdf

Rev.:5/2025

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 Counterweight Offload Astronaut Sensor, Telemetry and Electronics Rig (COASTER) 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) 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.

Support services for this system include test operators and test readiness review (TRR) support on behalf of the system.

COASTER support services include COASTER operation and supervision, test initiation, equipment checks, structural and electrical integrity verification, calibration, safety, inventory and function checks for COASTER telemetry system, hardware, and suit/harness interfaces, pre- and post-run full system maintenance including materials, travel as required, and on-site communication. TRR support includes TRR preparation, hazard analysis support from initial establishment to test-specific updates, TRR call participation, and action close-outs.

COASTER Support Services are deliverable to Johnson Space Center

. The estimated Period of Performance is October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.

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 for Atlas Devices being the sole source provider for COASTER support service is described below.

Atlas Devices produces COASTER, the only known human-rated articulated jib arm style sensor and suspension systems in the world and is the only source capable of providing the support services for COASTER. 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, exclusive of test operators and TRR support on behalf of

COASTER.

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.

Atlas is the only company which offers services to operate both COASTER and EXCON for HITL testing. Intricate knowledge of the entire system, including its hazards, and failure modes, is necessary to represent COASTER within TRR functions and proper operational decision making and safety practices during use.

Individuals at Atlas who designed and built COASTER will also be the ones providing operational support services, to include operation and supervision, test initiation, equipment checks, structural and electrical integrity verification, calibration, safety, inventory and function checks for COASTER telemetry system, hardware, and suit/harness interfaces, pre-and post-run full system maintenance including materials, travel as required, and on-site communication.

The Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP) has identified periods in FY25-FY26 as risks for completion of tests in the critical path of Artemis III due to overbooking of current gravity offload test facilities. Given the limited capacity of telemetry-based gravity offload testing and training resources and the growing demand for testing, there is a risk that critical testing will be delayed or not conducted, impacting EHP and Artemis milestones. The addition of COASTER and Atlas Support Services are planned to absorb the recently added Elevated Suit Pressure (ESP) testing campaign initiatives which require telemetry-based suited gravity offload testing. Without COASTER, multiple planned tests are at risk of not meeting schedule.

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 July 10, 2025, 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 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 notice was posted on

July 10, 2025, and closed on July 25, 2025 at 4:00PM CDT. No companies responded to the notice expressing interest in 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.