Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) ).pdf

Rev.:5/2025

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) Justification For Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC)

For Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System - Integrated (CDRILS-I)

80JSC025RCDRS

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 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC). The procuring agency is JSC and the contracting activity is JSC.

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 for the Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System - Integrated (CDRILS-I) system supporting NASA's Mars Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (mxEMU) to ensure continuous carbon dioxide (CO2) and humidity control using a liquid sorbent via an Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System-Mobility (CDRILS-M) and regeneration via a CDRILS Regenerator (CDRILS-R). The CDRILS-M offers non-venting EVA capability, trace contaminant removal, and improved serviceability.

It aims to integrate with a CDRILS-R to enable recovery of constituents into an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) processing loop to enhance mission efficiency and reduce maintenance requirements.

This contract will supplement contract 80NSSC25PA663 which was awarded to Honeywell International, Inc. for the purpose of analyzing possible approaches to achieve the NASA mxEMU capacity and rate requirements based on literature and existing CDRILS test data, and estimate the Size, Weight, And Power (SWAP) of a mxEMU PLSS CO2 removal system using experimental data for each approach related to the CDRILS-M project. The 80NSSC25PA663 contract was valued at $201,098.00 and had a period of performance of March 4, 2025 to September 30, 2025. The previous contract was awarded on a sole-source basis to Honeywell and had a definitive scope and limited purpose of exploring the feasibility of the CDRILS-M concept. Once the concept was determined viable, the requirements activity determined there is a need for the project to move into full-scale Systems Requirements Review (SRR) and eventually a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) to prove the concept with physical data. However, moving from a conceptual design contract to a full-blown SRR contract will increase the value at least $2M, which is not within the scope of the initial contract awarded by the NSSC. Therefore, another contract is needed to accomplish this work. Honeywell has done the most advanced work in the field for this technology, which was built around its own prior knowledge gained from contracts 80MSFC18C0045 and 80NSSC25PA663. Honeywell can start production earlier and more knowledgeably than firms that have not been involved in the development and application of the CDRILS technology. Attempting to source this requirement with another firm will affect the time and quality of production, both of which are important to the Government.

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):

NASA is procuring the development and feasibility study of the CDRILS-I. This contracting activity includes:

• CDRILS for Mobility (CDRILS-M): A space suit life support system for continuous CO2 and humidity control using a liquid sorbent.

• CDRILS Regenerator (CDRILS-R): A system to recharge the CDRILS-M for surface operations.

Mission Supported: The CDRILS-I project supports NASA's mxEMU concept. The system aims to enhance mission efficiency and reduce maintenance requirements by integrating with an ECLSS processing loop. Key features include:

• Non-venting EVA capability, enabling recovery of H2O and CO2.

• Trace contaminant removal without separate consumable components.

• Improved serviceability for long-duration missions.

• Commonality between the space suit and ECLSS processing loop to reduce the need for unique spare parts and maintenance.

Period of Performance and Delivery Date: The period of performance for the CDRILS-I project will be from date of award through November of 2026. The project involves multiple phases, including analysis, experimental evaluation, and optimization. Specific timelines for each phase will be determined based on the specific milestones.

Estimated Dollar Value: The estimated dollar value for the CDRILS-I project involves significant research, development, and testing efforts, amounting to approximately $2.5M, considering the complexity and scope of the project.

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, Single Source Availability, as the property or services needed are available from only one responsible source or a limited number of sources, and no other type of property or services will satisfy the agency's needs. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is also implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source. Full and open competition is not required when the supplies or services needed are available from only one responsible source, or for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other type of 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:

Honeywell International possesses unique capabilities and expertise in the technical area of CO2 removal by ionic liquids that make it the only responsible source for this acquisition.

Through work performed under the Research and Development (R&D) contract 80MSFC18C0045 valued at $9.9M with Honeywell, it investigated a NASA application of performing CO2 removal by ionic liquid sorbents for exploration ECLSS in a brass board system. This contract was competitively awarded under a NASA Research announcement and had a period of performance of September 19, 2018, through March 18, 2024. Honeywell was successful in meeting the requirements to prove that the technology application works and that the concept is viable for NASA ECLSS. It’s worth noting that, while this contract was solicited competitively because the market research at that time indicated the potential for multiple sources, Honeywell was the only contractor that proposed on the effort.

In 2024, NASA contemplated a follow-on procurement with Honeywell to design, fabricate, test, and deliver a CDRILS and Precision Combustion Inc. (PCI) Sabatier integrated flight technology demonstration unit and a ground Engineering Development Unit that will accept cabin air from the International Space Station (ISS) and remove the carbon dioxide from the cabin air and reduce the carbon dioxide to methane and water. The intent was to build a four-crew engineering and flight development unit for demonstration on ISS. At that time, a decision was made to not pursue this procurement due to the need to restructure financial commitments to other higher-priority projects. However, due to the critical importance the agency has placed on the United States becoming the first country to place a human on Mars there is now a prioritized need for further development of CDRILS technology. In order to achieve this mission, NASA needs to first establish a complete spacesuit system and the CDRILS component is a critical aspect of the overall spacesuit/life support system for the astronauts. The Mars Campaign Office has prioritized funding to again pursue the CDRILS program, albeit in multiple phases (i.e. Phase 1 being the previous NSSC procurement for $201K, Phase 2 being the initial base period of this contemplated contract and Phase 3 being the option period of this contemplated contract).

In 2025, the JSC Engineering Directorate Crew and Thermal Systems Division has been charged with proving a much smaller concept for a portable, CDRILS unit that is mobile within the mxEMU. Under R&D contract 80NSSC25PA663, Honeywell was contracted to investigate a similar application for CDRILS-M in a Mars spacesuit application.

The purpose of this R&D contract is to analyze feasibility in the NASA mxEMU application. The assessment includes estimating the SWAP of a mxEMU PLSS CDRILS approach. The deliverables provided by Honeywell under this contract have given NASA substantial confidence that the viability of the concept is promising, which therefore warrants further development to be initiated. The CDRILS-I procurement is intended to be a follow-on effort to contract 80NSSC25PA663. Initially, synergy was planned to be achieved for regeneration via the 2024 procurement that was canceled. As a result, CDRILS-M will now need a regeneration capability. Therefore, it is crucial to pursue the CDRILS-I procurement for the success of NASA's mxEMU concept. The crucial technical aspect is for the regeneration of the CO2 removed from the spacesuit. Any delays in the acquisition and development of this system would significantly impact the mission's timeline and objectives.

The urgency of this project is driven by the need to ensure the safety and efficiency of long-duration space missions. Failure to execute the contract action promptly could result in substantial harm to the Government, including increased costs, delays in mission schedules, and potential risks to astronaut health and safety.

Honeywell International has over seven years of direct experience and knowledge of this highly specialized technology. Its exclusive knowledge and highly specialized equipment are critical for integrating the ionic liquid sorbent technology with an ECLSS processing loop for NASA's mxEMU concept. Additionally, Honeywell has a unique process involving the use of ionic liquid sorbents and hollow fiber membrane contactors, which are critical for rapid CO2 removal and recovery in a microgravity environment. Honeywell's expertise in these areas is highly specialized, making them the only responsible source capable of performing this unique and critcal work. If another contractor were to begin working on this R&D effort, it would result in substantial duplication of cost to the United States that’s estimated to be in excess of $10M, which is not expected to be recovered through competition.

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 18, 2025, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting included a copy of the Statement of Work and invited any and all industry partners to provide capability statements, along with past performance references for similar work performed, with an emphasis on hearing from small businesses of any socioeconomic category. The posting also informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole source contract for Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System - Integrated (CDRILS-I) to Honeywell International. The posting closed on Monday, July 28, 2025 and no responses were received.

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 offeror shall be required to submit a proposal to be evaluated and negotiated by the Government. Prior to execution of the contractual instrument, a full cost analysis will be performed. The offeror will be required to provide its direct labor, indirect labor, and other cost elements within its proposal so that the Government can fully evaluate all elements to determine if the price is fair and reasonable when compared to publicly available information. The contracting officer will obtain certified cost or pricing data to establish a fair and reasonable price.

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):

Market research was performed. A notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) was published on July 18, 2025, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting included a copy of the Statement of Work and sought any other interested/capable industry partners and informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole source contract Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System - Integrated (CDRILS-I). The posting closed on Monday, July 28, 2025 and no responses were received. Given that no responses were received, there is sufficient evidence to support that Honeywell International is the only responsible source and that no other interested vendors exist.

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

If a sole-source contract were not awarded to Honeywell International and potentially awarded to another vendor, then NASA will not be able to realize the investment of the $9.9M spent on the initial development of the CDRILS system. This investment was intended for use within the habitation unit for living on Mars. NASA would have to spend at least $9.9M or more to arrive at this current stage of development. Additionally, another $201K or more would have to be spent on determining if another vendor could build a portable unit that would be feasible to be used within the mxEMU. Although NASA has knowledge gained from these initial investments, it would be difficult and more expensive for another vendor to replicate the same type of systems. Additionally, the seven years of time NASA spent with Honeywell developing the science behind this unique system would have to be partially recreated with another vendor. In total, over $10M would not be realized, along with an immeasurable amount of time and resources expended on the Government’s end. None of this cost is expected to be recouped by competition, particularly when no other interested parties exist based on the market research performed.

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). No other interested parties have expressed interest to perform 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:

NASA technical subject matter experts have reviewed all currently known technologies within the marketplace and it has been determined that only Honeywell can offer the expertise related to CDRILS technology that is critical for life support systems on Mars. A major study is currently being performed to assess other potential technologies that could potentially work within the Mars environment, but that study has only been underway for less than a year and will go on for at least another year. As additional information is obtained and understood on future technology applications related to potential life support systems on Mars, NASA will reevalute other potential and available industry technologies and solutions in an effort to overcome barriers to competition.

Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System - Integrated (CDRILS-I) 80JSC025RCDRS

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SIGNATURE PAGE

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

Cinda Chullen MCO Spacesuit Portfolio Lead, EC5 Technical Representative

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

Stephen D. Noethen Contracting Officer

APPROVED:

Eric Schell Competition Advocate NASA Johnson Space Center

CINDA

CHULLEN

Digitally signed by

CINDA CHULLEN

Date: 2025.09.15 04:48:40 -05'00'

Stephen Noethen Digitally signed by Stephen Noethen Date: 2025.09.15 07:16:52 -05'00'

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) - Final (003)