JOFOC.pdf

Rev.:5/2024

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For DragonFly Probabilistic Risk Assessment

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) KSC.

The procuring agency is NASA and the contracting activity is KSC.

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 purchase order to Advanced Systems Concepts Associates (ASCA) for Event Sequence Diagrams (ESD) populated with launch vehicles’ accident failure scenario and outcome services. The ESD's provide vital details on how a launch vehicle would fail, what led to it, and what the consequences are. This is to help characterize the failure probabilities of the launch itself, quantity accident environments, and inertia imparted on a nuclear payload and ultimately to determine nuclear material release risk and identify a risk tiering level under the National Security Presidential Memorandum

(NSPM)-20.

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 NASA Launch Services Program has a need for ESD's to determine the characterization of risk levels for launch vehicles. Obtaining valid data to characterize and understand said launch vehicle and spacecraft systems is crucial for missions for multiple reasons, as such data would enable better-informed safety and risk analyses for siting, range safety, public safety, crew safety, nuclear payload safety and launch approval, as well as the establishment of valid programmatic requirements for and by launch license applicants. ASCA has demonstrated their unique capabilities by performing these services for the Cassini, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rover A, Mars Exploration Rover B, Pluto New Horizons MSL and Mars2020 missions.

The estimated value for this effort is $813,000.00.

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 ASCA utilizes a proprietary process involving the creation of Event Sequence Diagrams (ESD) populated with launch vehicles’ accident failure scenarios and outcomes as described below.

Once branch point probabilities are added to the ESDs, it allows ASCA to develop an independent method of determining the probability of launch vehicle failure accidents occurring in relation to mission elapsed time and the overall reliability of the launch vehicle.

ASCA has developed their own proprietary process and mission specific ESDs based on their database of all launches of all launch vehicles worldwide, a unique capability unknown to be had by any other company or organization. These unique capabilities provided by ASCA are essential to the NSPM-20 nuclear launch approval process.

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 Web site, (sam.gov), was published on February 13th, 2025, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award to ASCA as a sole source; only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements. 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 price analysis will be performed. The price analysis will ensure that the final agreed-to price for the contract action is fair and reasonable.

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):

As noted in Paragraph 3 above, NASA’s Launch Service Program has extensive experience with the market for this service and has not previously found any capable sources other than ASCA. A notice to the Government Point of Entry Web site, SAM.gov, was published on February 13th, 2025, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. The posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award to ASCA as a sole source; only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements.

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:

In accordance with FAR 5.203(a), a notice of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source action was synopsized on the GPE website (Sam.gov) on February 13th, 2025 and allowed for response through February 28, 2025. No responses were received.

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.