JOFOC LASP FINAL 9.8.21.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Langley Research Center

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

for Instrument Characterization of ARCSTONE In-space Validation of Earth Science

Technology (InVEST) Project

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) Langley Research Center (LaRC).

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

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 the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) – a research organization at the University of Colorado-Boulder for the continuation of technology development and demonstration in space of the ARCSTONE Instrument Calibration of Lunar Spectral Reflectance from Space. This work is a continuation of past effort under past and current grants (80NSSC17K0248 and 80NSSC20K1309), from August 2017 to September 2021, for work that supported the ARCSTONE Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) project. During this period of performance, LASP provided expertise in instrument design and radiometric performance, high-accuracy characterization of the ARCSTONE detector devices and calibration of integrated instruments in laboratory: prototype and Engineering Design Unit (EDU). The new work under this JOFOC for the ARCSTONE in-space demonstration includes characterization of flight Integrated Detector and Cryocooler Assembly (IDCA) unit and integrated instrument, derivation of ARCSTONE uncertainty budget, and delivery of a Flight Calibration System

(FCS).

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):

LaRC Science Directorate, Climate Science Branch submitted a proposal for “ARCSTONE:

Calibration of Lunar Spectral” which included the LASP work identified in this JOFOC, to the NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) In-space Earth Science Technology Validation (InVEST) program. The InVEST program funds projects that want to test their instruments in space. The ARCSTONE project, Calibration of Lunar Spectral Reflectance from Space, was one of three competitively selected proposals for award/funding by the InVEST program. LASP will support the ARCSTONE InVEST project providing expertise derived during the previously completed IIP work. The effort under this contract will include:

(1) participation in the ARCSTONE project reviews, (2) characterization of IDCA flight unit,

(3) system-level radiometric characterization of integrated flight instrument, (4) derivation of ARCSTONE’s measurement uncertainty, (5) support development of documentation for the ARCSTONE Level-1 data product, (6) build and test the ARCSTONE’s Flight Calibration System (three-positions shutter: open, close, spectral filter), (7) perform pre- and post-environmental testing of instrument integrated with spacecraft, (8) peer-reviewed publication on the ARCSTONE instrument characterization and uncertainty estimates, (9) prepare for and support the in-flight calibration and validation efforts via on-orbit tests, characterizations, and analyses, (10) provide scientific support for ARCSTONE’s data calibration and validation of uncertainty budget. NASA intends to issue a firm-fixed price contract with a period of performance of 36 months with an estimated projected start date in October 2021, and an estimated dollar value of $630,774.

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. 2304(c)- 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. 2304(c)-1 is described below.

LASP is the only responsible source for the following reasons:

(1) LASP is the only organization that has exclusive knowledge and skills in characterization of radiometric instrument in spectral range from 350 to 2300 nm to uncertainty < 0.5% (k=1), required by the ARCSTONE project. This expertise is based on previous work with the Hyperspectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS) instrument for the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder, Total and Spectral solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS)-1, and CubeSat Total and Spectral Irradiance Monitors (C-SIM and C-TIM) projects.

(2) LASP has unique calibration facilities in Boulder, CO, certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These calibration facilities will enable highly accurate radiometric characterization of ARCSTONE’s IDCA and integrated flight instrument.

(3) LASP will support the ARCSTONE InVEST project by providing expertise in the characterization of the ARCSTONE Instrument. LASP has experience in flight calibration systems utilizing CubeSat formats that require the accuracies stated in (1) above. This is critical for the InVEST project.

(4) In addition, the scheduled launch date is approximately December 2023 which reflects an aggressive schedule. Due to the amount of rework that would be required if any other company were used, would result in further delay and have schedule and cost impacts which would exceed the budget approved and is not acceptable for this effort.

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:

The competition for this work was obtained via selection by peer-review and executive panels for ESTO IIP 2016 and ESTO InVEST 2020 programs. No other competition or solicitation of sources is needed. However, the notice required by FAR 5.2 will be posted.

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 contractor will provide sufficient breakdown by cost element; including fee, which will be reviewed and analyzed in accordance with FAR 15.4.

8. FAR 6.303-2(b)(8) – Description of the market research conducted, and the results, or a statement of the reasons a market research was not conducted:

Over the past 4 years, the ARCSTONE’s technical and science personnel have obtained in-depth market knowledge via reviewing technical journals and scientific data from other NASA Earth Science Division (ESD) and ESTO InVEST projects: CLARREO Pathfinder, HySICS, TSIS-1, and C-SIM. The LaRC team has also attended multiple technical conferences to stay abreast of instrument calibration methods, technologies, and expected results. The conclusion is that at the time of ARCSTONE IIP (2017) and InVEST (2020), LASP is the only organization which can provide a characterization uncertainty with proven methodology, at the level required by the project, and build a cost-efficient ARCSTONE’s

FCS.

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

There are no other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

10. FAR 6.303-2(b)(10) – A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in writing in the acquisition:

No other firms have expressed an interest in this acquisition.

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.

Instrument Characterization of ARCSTONE InVEST

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Dr. Constantine Lukashin Technical Representative

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

Lisa M. Harvey Contracting Officer