Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) - ThermoFisher PDF_Redacted 80TECH26QA1114.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Information Technology Procurement Office (ITPO)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For Solicitation #80TECH26QA114 - ThermoFisher Helios 5 CX

1. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.104-1(a)(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) Information Technology Procurement Office (ITPO).

The procuring agency is NASA, and the contracting activity is the ITPO.

2. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 with Thermo Fisher Scientific for ThermoFisher Helios 5 CX. This is a DualBeam Focused Ion Beam–Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB- SEM) and will be the direct successor to the Thermo Fisher Scientific system currently operated within NASA’s Focused Ion Beam Laboratory.

3. FAR 6.104-1(a)(3) – A description of the supplies or services required, to meet the Agency’s needs (including the estimated value):

The requested Thermo Fisher Scientific Helios 5 CX is currently operated within the NASA Focused Ion Beam (FIB) Laboratory. NASA Johnson Space Center's (JSC) Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division (XI) requires a highly integrated DualBeam Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM) capable of preparing ultra-high-quality transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) specimens while preserving the pristine condition of unique extraterrestrial and terrestrial materials. These capabilities are essential to support NASA's scientific research, planetary sample curation, technology development, and future exploration missions.

The total estimated price of the proposed order is and the estimated period of performance is the date of award through 12/31/2026.

4. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 acquisitions using the procedures in FAR 12.102 is 41 U.S.C. 1901.

Rev.: 4/2026

5. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 41 U.S.C. 1901 is because there is only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The Thermo Fisher Scientific Helios 5 CX is the only commercially available system that provides all required capabilities as a factory-integrated, single-platform solution with unified hardware and software architecture necessary to meet NASA's mission-critical requirements for analyzing unique, irreplaceable astromaterials. Because the laboratory’s current infrastructure is built around Thermo Fisher systems, procuring this model ensures seamless compatibility with existing hardware, software, operating procedures, workflows, and consumables.

The strong compatibility between existing Thermo Fisher Scientific hardware and new Thermo Fisher Scientific Helios 5 CX systems further ensures seamless integration and comparison of data generated across both instruments. By maintaining standardized workflows and common software and hardware environments, NASA’s FIB Laboratory operations benefit from improved efficiency, reduced potential for user error, simplified maintenance and inventory management of consumables, and the support of consistent, reproducible scientific results.

The Thermo Fisher Scientific Helios 5 CX provides a fully integrated platform that combines ultra-high-resolution imaging, precision ion milling, automated sample preparation workflows, cryogenic operation, inert sample handling, analytical 3D tomography, and contamination mitigation. These capabilities are necessary to analyze irreplaceable materials that may be air-sensitive, hydrated, volatile, cryogenic, electrically insulating, or otherwise susceptible to contamination or alteration during preparation.

NASA's research requires these capabilities to operate seamlessly as an integrated workflow.

The Helios 5 CX uniquely combines these technologies under a unified hardware and software architecture, minimizing sample handling, reducing contamination risk, and maintaining environmental integrity throughout specimen preparation and analysis. This integrated approach is essential when working with limited, irreplaceable, and scientifically valuable samples such as returned planetary materials.

Alternative systems can each provide discrete capabilities such as SIMS analysis, micro CT or micro XRF imaging, laser based geochemical methods, air free transfer accessories, synchrotron based microscopy, and multimodal imaging but they require multiple instruments, fragmented software environments, and repeated sample transfers that increase contamination risk and operator intervention. Such approaches do not satisfy NASA's technical requirements for preserving pristine sample states while achieving the required analytical quality and throughput. Failure to procure the Thermo Fisher Scientific Helios 5 CX would significantly impact NASA's ability to conduct critical scientific investigations involving unique and irreplaceable astromaterials and advanced materials research.

6. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 5.1 and, if not, which exception under 5.101 applies:

A notice to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) website (Sam.gov) was published on September 4, 2026, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.1. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source to FEI Company "Thermo Fisher Scientific”. The results of this synopsis are summarized in Section 10 below.

7. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 must 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.

8. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 conducted by reviewing recent market research results for similar or identical supplies/services, through fact finding sessions with other knowledgeable people in Government, and through query of Government databases for relevant information. This market research confirms that FEI Company (Thermo Fisher Scientific) is the exclusive provider for the ThermoFisher Helios 5 CX. This requirement was competed via NASA SEWP for 5 business days; no responses were received. An interested vendor notified NASA that FEI Company does not have any resellers for these particular items & must be purchased directly from FEI Company. The Contracting Officer contacted FEI Company and received confirmation that they are the only manufacturer for these products and software.

Additionally, they provided a sole source qualification letter.

9. FAR 6.104-1(a)(9) – Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

None

10. FAR 6.104-1(a)(10) – A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in the acquisition in writing:

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 Presolicitation was publicized on September 4, 2026 at 12:27PM CST. It closed on September 14, 2026 at

12:00PM CST. One response was received from received from potential vendor by the end of the closing date. The response came from EDAX/Ametek, inquiring as to what brand was being offered to NASA. The ITPO responded to their inquiry, the brand is ThermoFisher Helios 5 CX DualBeam Focused Ion Beam–Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM) as stated in the notice of intent. Choosing another vendor is not a viable option.

11. FAR 6.104-1(a)(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 requirement.