NOIS3-032 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 NOIS3-032 Seal Team Fix Challenge Phases 2 and 3 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 NOIS3-032 on a sole-source basis to HeroX, PBC. The objective of NOIS3-032 is to evaluate and test prototype solutions that are able to address the US Bureau of Reclamation’s critical issue of sealing large conduits under high-head conditions that are free-flowing or uncontrolled due to gate failure for future development and deployment. The estimated value of NOIS3-032 is $400,000.

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 coordinating and administrating similar multi-phased challenges for the US Bureau of Reclamation, such as NOIS2-074 USBR Veg Out - Managing Aquatic Vegetation in Canals. Additionally, HeroX PBC was awarded NOIS2-200 USBR Sealing Large Conduits during Uncontrolled and High Head Conditions Phase 1, which was the immediate precursor to NOIS3-032.

The concepts that are intended to be prototyped and tested within the scope of NOIS3-032 were generated via NOIS2-200. Having HeroX PBC continue with the next two phases of this activity 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 NOIS3-032. 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.