_JOFOC Parts Procurement Alta DT_Red_Redacted.pdf

NATIONALAERONAUTICSANDSPACEADMINISTRATION

GEORGE C MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (MSFC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For Solicitation 80MSFC22786741

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’s (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center

(MSFC):

The procuring agency is NASA, and the contracting activity is the MSFC located in Huntsville, Alabama.

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/purchase order to Alta Data Technologies (AltaDT) (Cage Code 4RK27) for the acquisition of the PCI Express Multi-Channel Dual Redundant Dual Function MIL-STD-1553 Interface Card, part number PCIE4L-1553-4D-A- 002; PCI Express Multi-Channel Dual Redundant Full Function MIL-STD-1553 Interface Card, part number PCIE4L-1553-4F-A-002; and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) 1553 Four Channel Cable Assembly, part number SCSI-1553-4-AUX01. The AltaDT products support avionics system testing and development within MSFC’s Integrated Avionics Test Facilities (IATF), which include nine laboratories located within the System Integration Laboratory (SIL), Software Development Facilities (SDF), and System Integration Test Facilities (SITF). The primary purpose of these laboratories is simulation, which is critical to NASA’s mission success. They perform the required integration, testing, and simulation exercises of avionics systems and flight software for new launch vehicles.

NASA/MSFC has purchased approximately over 250 AltaDT interface modules and cable assemblies through previously awarded contracts spanning from January 2012 through May 2020. A summary of the most recent orders is provided below.

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 AltaDT interface cards and cable assembly are proprietary products required to support the MSFC IATF laboratories under the Vehicle Integration project within the Space Launch System (SLS) program. This purchase is for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products.

The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated lead-time for delivery is 12 to 14 weeks.

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 this sole source acquisition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by, and using the procedures of, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 for acquisition of supplies or services from only one 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 only one source can satisfy agency requirements as described below.

AltaDT is the original manufacturer (OM) and sole distributor of the AltaDT PCIE4L-1553 interface modules and cable assemblies. These are AltaDT proprietary components used by the IATF for avionics system testing and development. The AltaDT PCIE4L-1553 interface module provides four channels of dual redundant MIL-STD-1553 with dual function Bus Controller/Monitor (BC/Mon) or Multi Remote Terminal/Monitor(mRT/Mon) capability.

The PCIE4L-1553 interface modules can also provide full function BC/mRT and Mon capability. These interface modules come with the proprietary advanced, modular software package, AltaAPI ™ providing portability between applications written for PCI/PCIe based products.

The AltaDT products support the critical 1553 data bus communications between the Flight Computers and avionics during simulation testing. This testing supports various activities within the IATF labs including the Explorer Upper Stage (EUS) builds and the Advanced Real-Time Environments for Modeling, Integration, and Simulation (ARTEMIS) 2 configuration. AltaDT hardware and cable assemblies are deployed throughout the IATF labs, test and development lines. There is an established compatibility with the other hardware, written software code, and RedHawk Linux real-time operating system which is the main IT infrastructure of the IATF. The purchase of these components is needed to upgrade portions of the existing infrastructure in the IATF laboratories and support new builds under the SLS program.

NASA has made significant investments in hardware and software design and development within the IATF laboratories which include the AltaDT components. The compatibility and functionality of the AltaDT products with the existing hardware and equipment used in the IATF laboratories is well-established and must be maintained. The AltaDT products have been used in the IATF since the initial build. Their proprietary AltaAPI software has been incorporated into the written software code used in the IATF laboratories with the RedHawk Linux real-time operating software. Pursuing another 1553 interface module would cause a work stoppage for simulations and require software code rewrites. To ensure compatibility and operability, a replacement product would require extensive hardware and software development and testing prior to replacement. Such an endeavor would result in severe adverse impacts to the SLS schedule and all other ongoing IATF work by bringing all integration, testing and simulation exercises of the avionics systems and flight software for new launch vehicles to a stop.

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 12/23/2021in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source purchase order to Alta Data Technologies. The results of this synopsis are summarized in Section 10.

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 (based on a comparison of the proposed price to published catalog price lists, pricing of other similar products, and historical prices of previous or similar purchases) will be performed to 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 a market research was not conducted:

Since the IATF simulation facilities were established, AltaDT interface modules and cable assemblies have been used. The AltaDT PCIE4L-1553 interface modules provide additional timing information, increased system performance and reduced integration time. These are key requirements for the data recorders which the AltaDT products are used for throughout the IATF labs. While strategic market research and product evaluations by the simulation development engineers of MSFC’s Avionics and Software Ground Systems Test Branch (ES53) are ongoing, no other 1553 interface modules capable of satisfying NASA’s requirements have been found.

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

This procurement directly supports the avionics development, integration, and test of the SLS’ ARTEMIS 1, ARTEMIS 2, EUS vehicle configurations and associated missions. The interface modules and cable assemblies being acquired will be used in the build of new development and test systems for ARTEMIS 2 and EUS. The guaranteed performance, functionality, and compatibility between the AltaDT components and existing IATF hardware and software must be maintained. A re-evaluation to determine the acceptability of another product would require not only an evaluation of the component but its compatibility and functionality with the current real-time operating system computers, all the other equipment connected to these computers, and the software code written for use in these labs.

This would result in an adverse work stoppage and interruption to the mission. As mentioned above, AltaDT is the OM of the PCIE4L-1553 interface modules, cable assemblies, and AltaAPI ™. They own the intellectual property rights to the hardware and software.

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 (beta.sam.gov) per FAR Subpart 5.2 (See Section 6). One source, provided a quote in response to the synopsis. The Government technical point of contact and the Government procurement points of contact reviewed the quote to determine if the alternative source could meet the Government requirements, or if the alternative source offered a better technical or business approach. During this review, the Government requested confirm that it intended to source the required parts through AltaDT. A representative from indicated the company did intend to source the parts through AltaDT.

The representative also stated that did not initially see the sole source intent in the synopsis posting, and as a result requested the Government consider its quote null and void.

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:

Currently, there are no known actions that the agency may take to remove or overcome barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required products is sought, as the strategic market research and product evaluations show that these are the only products compatible to the IATF infrastructure with regard to form, fit, and function.

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.

PCIE4L-1553 Interface Modules and Cable Assemblies Procurement

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Anita Cross Technical Representative Avionics & Software Ground Systems Test Branch

ES53

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

Rhoney Triplett, Jr.

Contracting Officer Director, Engineering and OSAC Support Division