Signed_FINAl_JOFOC--TTC_Buffer_and_Rebroadcast--2016-08-22.pdf

Teletronics Technology Corporation (TTC) JOFOC August 18, 2016

JOFOC No. _FY 16-06

Purchase Request No. _4200594618

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Armstrong Flight Research Center

P. O. Box 273

Edwards, California 93523-0273

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Introduction:

The Orion Ascent Abort 2 (AA-2) mission is a continuation of the Orion flight test program leading to design certification for human exploration space flight. To the maximum extent possible, all systems and subsystems are developed based upon previously tested Orion components to minimize overall program cost and to maintain traceability of the technical heritage of each system and subsystem.

Specifically, the Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) system is used to acquire, process, format, record, and telemeter data from the AA-2 Orion Flight Test Vehicle (FTV) which includes the Crew Module (CM) & Launch Abort System (LAS) and from the launch vehicle which includes the Separation Ring (SR) & Abort Test Booster (ATB). Over 450 sensors are electronically controlled through master control units which provide for data transmission to ground stations. This data is critical to the success of the AA-2 mission.

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) is responsible for developing and providing the Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) system for the Orion Ascent Abort 2 (AA-2) mission. AFRC has been able to obtain previously purchased residual assets from ‘as-flown’ Orion PA-1 and cancelled Orion AA-1 missions. These assets were originally selected and procured as commercially-available flight-qualified electronic modules from Teletronics Technology Corporation (TTC) designed to fully comply with the requirements associated with capturing Orion flight information and have been demonstrated as compliant with requirements for the AA-2 project. The use of existing inventory of Orion purchased TTC hardware at NASA AFRC will provide a cost effective aproach to achieving the technical requirements for the NASA Orion AA-2 project.

To complete the system design for Orion AA-2, it has been determined that TTC unique non-recurring engineering services are required to design and develop an Orion AA-2 specific TTC CDAU-2020 high speed master controller capability for 1-Channel of PCM and to deliver 4 units of this module within 270 days to avoid impacting the Orion AA-2 mission schedule. Compatibility with existing NASA stocks of TTC components is required to meet the technical requirements of the program and provides a significant cost benefit to the government.

This contract action extends the prior procurement relationship between NASA AFRC and TTC in regards to DFI equipment and has been assessed to be the only technically acceptable approach, as well as the most cost-efficient method of satisfying the technical requirement. This JOFOC serves to acquire unique engineering design services and delivery of modules critical to the success of the AA-2 project. TTC is the only qualified source of these services and materials because the engineering design and fabrication of modules which are fully compatible with the previously acquired TTC hardware and software requires access to intellectual property of TTC which is protected by the Trade Secrets Act. Since the government does not have access to this data, it is unable to write a complete and correct specification for the required modules. .Previous procurement of DFI equipment for Orion flight tests has provided insight and evaluation of TTC as an exceptionally performing vendor.

2. Description of Action:

This procurement supplements a previous TTC purchase of associated components of the engineering development and hardware delivery to complete the Orion AA-2 DFI requirement for a recording/buffering and loop rebroadcast functional capability made by NASA AFRC and full complement of these components will be integrated into test benches at NASA AFRC and NASA JSC. The newly procured hardware must be compatible with existing TTC CDAU-2020 hardware that had been previously purchased as part of the Orion PA-1 and AA-1 projects. The proposed source is:

Teletronics Technology Corporation 15 Terry Drive Newtown, PA 18940

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

The commercial items and services to be acquired are 1) non-recurring engineering services to design and develop the DDL-101-1 card, and 2) 4 units of the high speed data acquisition module configured by TTC for AA-2 ground development testing and flight purposes by the NASA Armstrong Vehicle Integration and Test Branch (Code RT).

The estimated value of this procurement is $277.8K.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition:

FAR 6.302-1 provides an exception to full and open competition where “supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source or from a limited number of responsible sources, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” This provision is authorized by statute 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(1).

The following situation exists which allows for the use of this authority:

When unique supplies or services are available from only one or a limited number of sources or from only one or a limited number of suppliers with unique capabilities.

5. Nature of Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited:

The government’s minimum needs can only be satisfied by unique supplies or services available from a contractor who has subject matter experts that are knowledgeable in both the supply items and support services related to this program area and that have access to intellectual property of TTC that is protected by the Trade Secrets Act. Some of the unique requirements of the hardware to be developed are size, weight, physical interface compatibility, software and programming compatibility, unique data measurement requirements, special signal conditioning for analog parameters, and the ability to adapt to different requirements by adding or removing modular units from the existing unit. The ground development test and flight hardware must be compatible with the previously purchased Orion PA-1 and AA-1 DFI system hardware that is currently available at NASA AFRC in order to satisfy the Orion AA-2 Launch Schedule and to remain with the established budget. Use of any other data system hardware would force the purchase of an entirely new DFI system which would impose significant cost and substantial delay to the Orion AA-2 project. TTC is recognized as the only source for the development of units that require this form, fit, and function to match the exisitng DFI configuration.

6. Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited from as Many Potential Sources to Obtain Competition:

A notice of proposed contract action will be posted on the Federal business Opportunities Web site on August 23, 2016.

7. Market Research:

Previous and current market research shows that TTC is the only vendor, as the system to be tested must be compatible to previously purchased Orion PA-1/AA-1 DFI hardware which was from TTC. No other data acquisition components would suit the requirement due to the nature of the project and the compatibility of the parts.

8. Other Facts:

In order to meet Orion AA-2 Launch Schedule commitments and remain within established Orion Program budget limitations, this procurement must obtain DFI data acquisition system components which are compatible in form, fit and function with the TTC components previously purchased. The systems currently installed at NASA-AFRC are required to be compliant with all Range Commanders Council (RCC) Inter-Range Instrumentation Group (IRIG) standards IRIG 106-3 including Chapter 10 for recording.

9. Fair and Reasonable Cost:

The Contracting Officer will determine the price fair and reasonable by applying cost and price analysis techniques using other than certified cost and pricing data provided by the contractor.

10. Interested Sources:

No other interested parties have expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

11. Steps to Foster Competition:

There are no actions currently available by the agency to remove or overcome barriers to competition for this requirement based on the rationale provided above.

PR No: 4200594618

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

PR Initiator: I certify that the facts presented in this Justification are accurate and complete.

Date

Contracting Officer:: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable, and that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature Date

8/23/2016