Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC)-80GRC023CA021 Final Signed.pdf

Rev.:1/2023

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Glenn Research Center (GRC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For 80GRC023CA021

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) Glenn Research Center (GRC). The procuring agency is NASA, and the contracting activity is GRC.

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 80GRC023PA009 with GE Research for the purchase of 10kW, 50kr/min Switched Reluctance Generator and Demonstration.

The purpose of this procurement is to demonstrate a switched reluctance generator (SRG) sourcing 10kW of dc power at 50kr/min and deliver the generator, controller, and inverter to NASA and to demonstrate a potential path to megawatt scale power generation for future nuclear electric propulsion.

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 system is comprised of the following elements:

The SRG will be a three-phase design, likely with six stator poles and four rotor poles. The magnetic design will not be optimized against any specific objectives.

A three-phase inverter through which the SRG is excited. This inverter will be based on standard gate drive designs. The inverter design will not be optimized against any specific objectives. The nominal dc bus voltage will be set by a commercial power supply. (The commercial power supply will not be a deliverable.) The generated power will be delivered to a resistive load.

A basic controller for the inverter that will provide capability for regulating the phase currents at low operating speeds. The S G will be controlled through phase current amplitude and adjustment of the excitation angles relative to the maximum inductance position of the SRG. Open loop control of the SRG will be provided. Will show how a closed-loop control for the SRG can be implemented, but we will not carry out that implementation for this demonstration. While a controller can be developed to make use of self-sensing the SRG magnetization characteristics for purposes of position sensor elimination, no such effort will be included in this demonstration program.

A prime mover to drive the SRG at the required speed. The prime mover would be purchased to support the demonstration. The prime mover may be a motor or engine, possibly integrated with a gearbox to provide at least 50kr/min speed with adequate power capability. A special-purpose dynamometer will be used to integrate the prime mover with the SRG. The dynamometer will not include torque sensing. Assessment of shaft power will be undertaken through analysis of the phase voltage and current waveforms.

After the system has been designed and fabrication is underway, contractor will work cooperatively with NASA to outline a preliminary path for scaling the SRG up to the megawatt class for nuclear electric propulsion.

The total cost of this procurement will be approximately $300,000.

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), 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 the property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency; as described below.

GE Research has the only high-speed generator compatible with our nuclear electric propulsion Brayton system for space that can be delivered in 9 months. NASA and GE worked together on a proposal two years ago on a similar effort and this uniquely enables them to deliver this in a short-time frame while also providing a MW-scale option. While other companies have recently begun providing Switched Reluctance Generators for the automotive market, GE is unique in the aerospace generator market which requires higher voltage, power, and rotational speeds.

There would be negative impact to the government if another vendor/brand is used. The impact would be NASA would not have a high-speed 50,000 rpm generator available within 9 months with such a limited budget. This would result in a lost opportunity for NASA to advocate for the funding for this major program. GE is also the only company in the U.S. to successfully demonstrate a flight-ready MW-scale generator which is the power level we need for our Mars transportation system.

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 March 30, 2022, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract to GE Research. 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 proposal analysis will be performed. The proposal analysis will ensure that the final agreed-to price for the contract action is fair and reasonable.

This contract will be a firm fixed price. The cost proposal will be compared to similar items on the market.

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:

In accordance with FAR 5.2, a description of this requirement was posted to the GPE website (SAM.gov) on March 30, 2023 and closed on April 14, 2023. The results are as follows: no responses were submitted. Thus, GE Research is the only contractor who can meet all 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:

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 published on March 30, 2023 for the fifteen (15) day posting requirement, and the industry was welcomed to challenge the sole source approach until April 14, 2023. This posting can be found at https://sam.gov/opp/0ead3d89adc242d68bbf861ba2292f04/view.

This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source; the Contracting Officer did not receive any challenges of the Government’s intent to sole source the requirement herein.

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:

None at this time due to schedule and current state of the industry. However, NASA will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.

10kW, 50kr/min Switched Reluctance Generator and Demonstration and 80GRC023PA009

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

Use the following signature authority for proposed actions less than or equal to $750K:

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

Rodger Dyson Technical Representative

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

Brian Huth Chief, Research & Space Operations Branch

RODGER

DYSON

Digitally signed by

RODGER DYSON

Date: 2023.04.25 09:54:06 -04'00'

Brian Huth Digitally signed by Brian Huth Date: 2023.04.25 10:06:44 -04'00'