NOIS3-023 JEFO.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Johnson Space Center Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity

Description of the action being approved: This justification documents the basis for issuing Task Order NOIS3-023 Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge under the NASA Open Innovation Services 3 (NOIS3) contract using an exception to the Fair Opportunity process.

Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs: The Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI) was created in November of 2011 at the request of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to help NASA and other Federal Agencies advance their use of open innovation and crowdsourcing models. CoECI guides NASA and other Agency teams on all aspects of implementing crowd-based initiatives, from problem definition, to incentive design, to post-submission evaluation of solutions. CoECI also provides access to its contracts through assisted acquisition Interagency Agreements.

NASA intends to issue NOIS3-023 on a sole-source basis to HeroX, PBC. The objective of NOIS3-023 is to conduct a prize competition to identify, prototype, and test solutions that are able to address NASA’s need for a compliant, lightweight MicroChariot wheel design that enables exploration tasks on rugged terrain beyond the Lunar Base. The prize competition includes several phases over approximately one year: ideation, prototyping, and demonstration.

The estimated value of NOIS3-023 is $275,000 and includes a prize purse of $155,000.

Identification of Exception to Fair Opportunity: FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C), The order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract, provided that all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.

Supporting Rationale: This Task Order is being awarded to HeroX, PBC on a sole-source basis.

HeroX, PBC, has an extensive track record of performing these kinds of complex, prototype solution prize competitions, such as NOIS2-074 Veg Out - Managing Aquatic Vegetation.

Additionally, HeroX, PBC, was previously awarded NOIS2-203 Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge Design through a competitive process, and has already completed the challenge design and the development of the competition website to support NOIS3-023. Having HeroX, PBC, conduct the prize competition is in the interest of economy and efficiency to avoid unnecessary schedule delays and duplication of costs that would be associated with another contractor performing this scope of work.

Determination that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable: The Government will ensure that it obtains fair and reasonable pricing from the contractor on Task Order 023. The Government will compare the proposed prices to historical prices paid, whether by the Government or other than the Government, for the same or similar items or services.

Other Facts: The CO will continue to examine the market in the future for alternative solutions or new sources before executing any subsequent acquisitions for the same requirements.