JOFOC.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

JOHN F. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

NASA, John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) requires a sole source acquisition for a follow-on contract with Artic Slope Technical Services (ASTS) to provide continued support for the Orion spacecraft assembly, integration and production consultation services. The total estimated cost of this effort is $118,553.60 and the period of performance will begin at time of award through November 30, 2017.

This recommendation is made pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source.

Competition is impractical for the following reasons:

1. Unique Subject Matter Expertise

ASTS provides a combination of strategic, programmatic, operational, management, leadership and technical consulting services for governmental space agencies and programs. ASTS has specialized experience in providing strategic production planning, facilitation and implementation of Orion’s spacecraft assembly, integration and production which is directly relevant to the operations planning for the Orion Production Operations Office under NASA’s Orion Program. ASTS is uniquely qualified based on their vast experiences, in-depth knowledge and insight and acute familiarity with the current Orion’s factory assembly processes and operations.

In 2014 an Orion Assembly, Integration and Production (AI&P) Continuous Process Improvement Support Task was completed by ASRC establishing an Orion Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) continuous improvement plan based on lessons learned from Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1). In 2015, the lessons learned and process improvement plan were delivered to the Orion prime contractor for implementation in the prime contractor’s continuous improvement process for build of the next Orion EM-1 mission flight hardware. This EM-1 continuous improvement plan also incorporated a process plan for contractual delivery of the EM-1 mission flight hardware to the government/NASA for certified acceptance via the “Material and Inspection Receiving Report” also commonly known as the DD-250 process. In 2016, the continuous improvement support continued with the implementation phase of the DD250/Flight Hardware Acceptance Plan using an Incremental Acceptance Review (IAR) milestone approach. The tentative schedule for EM-1 incremental flight hardware acceptance spans from July 2016 to December 2017. The subsequent IARs are expected to be more complex as the IARs align with major milestones as the Orion spacecraft is built up incrementally to a fully flight configured spacecraft for mission EM-1 delivery.

For 2017, ASTS will continue to co-lead and co-manage the newly implemented phase of the established EM-1 DD250/IAR process as the process moves from a development and early implementation to a more routine operational phase.

ASTS’s unique qualifications include expertise in Orion AI&P process and Orion’s EM-1 continuous improvement plan, which is critical for this specific requirement. The independent consultant and advisor will perform a lessons learned evaluation of the assembly integration and production of Orion’s Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT1) vehicle and develop a continuous improvement process post EFT-1 to ensure subsequent mission successes. The final comprehensive report will help assure the near-term subsequent Orion missions are processed repetitively in a safe, reliable, and cost-effective manner to meet the agency’s exploration needs.

This specialized knowledge in spacecraft production planning and implementation and in depth prior experience makes ASTS uniquely qualified to provide the support as outlined in the statement of work.

2. KSC continues to do market research for potential sources. The proposed contract action has been synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

No sources have responded with the expertise needed for the scope of this requirement.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, there is only one responsible source who possess the unique capabilities to satisfy the agency’s minimum needs. Based upon the information above, ASTS is the only source that can meet mission requirements.

The Government’s Technical Representative certifies that the supporting data presented in this justification is complete and accurate.

Glenn Chin Date Government Technical Representative

The Contracting Officer (CO) has reviewed and hereby approves of the justifications provided by the technical/requirements team. This requirement will be pursued as a sole source requirement to Artic Slope Technical Services.

The CO certifies that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the CO’s knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date