JOFOC EVA-Robo Training.pdf

Rev.:01/2021

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER (JSC)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(JOFOC)

For State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS, Contract NAS15-10110

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) Johnson Space Center (JSC).

The procuring agency is NASA, 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 new work modification to contract number NAS15-10110 with State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS, hereinafter referred to as ROSCOSMOS, for the services of Russian Cosmonauts to be trained to perform contingency International Space Station (ISS) Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) with U.S. system expertise and the services of Russian Cosmonauts to be trained and certified to perform robotic operations onboard the ISS. Russian Cosmonauts of the 72S Prime Crew will be required to be trained at the JSC in Houston, TX and certified as back-up to U.S. crewmembers for contingency ISS extravehicular activities, and for ISS Robotics activities and intravehicular operations.

Training for contingency operations of the ISS is necessary for the safety of the vehicle and crewmembers, and necessary for essential operations.

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 total estimated value of this action is not to exceed $100,000. Russian Cosmonauts of the 72S Crew will be required to be trained at JSC in Houston, Texas and certified as back-ups to the U.S crew members for the contingency ISS EVAs, and for ISS robotics activities and intravehicular activities. This training is necessary to ensure the safety of the vehicle and crewmembers, and necessary to accomplish essential operations.

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(a)(2), which states that full and open competition need not be provided when the services required by the Agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of 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 as follows.

The ISS is a multibillion dollar U.S. investment which relies on the continued presence of properly trained crew members for its operation. NASA requires that the ISS crew possess the unique robotics skillset and contingency EVA training provided for under this action. If U.S. astronauts onboard the ISS are unable to perform EVA or robotics activities for any reason, it is essential that these Cosmonauts be able to perform these activities as a form of seamless redundancy. Training for contingency operations of the ISS is necessary for the safety of the vehicle and crewmembers, and necessary for essential operations. Only by training these four Cosmonauts can this requirement be met, as procuring these services from any other source would mean that the flight schedule, already agreed upon by multiple international agencies, would not align with requirement to have the properly trained crew onboard ISS at the proper time. The services of Russian Cosmonauts are only available through NASA via ROSCOSMOS.

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 November 14, 2023, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2. This posting informed potential sources of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source to ROSCOSMOS. 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 price 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 price proposed by ROSCOSMOS will be compared to historical actuals. The proposed total price will also be compared to past amounts NASA has paid for purchases for similar services purchased from ROSCOSMOS under NASA contract NAS15-10110, incorporating exchange rate differences and escalation data. The Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR) will provide a Technical Evaluation based on both his technical expertise and experience purchasing the same and similar services and hardware in the past.

At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, additional techniques authorized in FAR 15.404- 1 may be utilized for the purposes of ensuring the government receives a fair and reasonable price for the services and supplies being acquired.

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:

Russian Cosmonauts are scheduled to be upcoming crew members onboard ISS. In order to perform their duties and ensure uninterrupted operations in a contingency situation for the safety of the vehicle and crewmembers, and necessary for essential operations onboard ISS, they require the training associated with this action. The only way for NASA to gain access to services of Russian Cosmonauts is through ROSCOSMOS. Therefore, no market research other than the synopsis described in sections 6 and 10 of this document.

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 synopsis was posted on November 14, 2023, and closed on November 28, 2023. No responses were received.

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:

Based on the ISS’s flight schedule requirements, dependent on which crewmembers are traveling to and from ISS, NASA will utilize other sources for these services in order to maintain the safety and functionality of the ISS and crewmembers.

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.