SATPC0036381 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf

Page 1 V2.0 3-15-2017

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER

RECOMMENDATION AND DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM ONE SOURCE

OR BRAND NAME

PICK ONE

Sole Source:

☒I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate with ATI Industrial Automation only for the 6-axis load cells and corresponding equipment. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 15 weeks from acceptance of the purchase order and down payment.

OR

Brand Name Justification:

☐I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate with only with vendors who can provide the subject band name from Manufacture Name for Enter Supply or Service to be procured. The total estimated cost of this effort is Enter Dollar amount and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is Date.

This recommendation is for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source/only one manufacture. Competition is impractical for the following reasons (please answer the questions below):

1. What are the reasons for soliciting only the suggested source/suggested brand name? Please provide the unique characteristics of the items or services along with the supporting rationale and the market research performed to substantiate your reason for the suggested source/brand name.

Other load cells were used for a previous wind tunnel test that did not perform adequately. Similar load cells from this company (ATI) have been used by other NASA projects, and the load cells have performed well. The Tiltrotor Test Stand has purchased similar load cells and purchasing the same ones will allow for the load cells to be interchangeable in case one of them fails during testing. This would save money since a new load cell would not need to be purchased. The confidence that NASA has in these load cells is higher than other companies that make load cells. It is critical that the upcoming wind tunnel test in the NFAC has load cells that can perform well in order for the test to be a success.

Additionally, other load cells do not have the load capacity to withstand blade out conditions. If a blade out occurred using the previous Interface or JR3 load cells, the load cell would be destroyed and would require replacement.

2. What is the impact to the government if another vendor/brand is used? Include any dollar, schedule, or compatibility impacts if possible.

If these load cells cannot be purchased, we would either need to find other load cells that are less desirable or use the previous Interface load cells. The previously used Interface load cells had a falsely advertised accuracy, and were not calibrated to function adequately when subjected to a moment arm (which our test stand has all the time). The load cells had to be recalibrated a number of times in order to obtain decent data, but the data quality is still less accurate than we would want for the next test in the NFAC. It was attempted to buy other load cells from a different vendor, JR3. JR3 was very unresponsive, and 6 months after the due date the contract was terminated because the load cells were still not delivered and the company had not given a new estimated delivery date. NASA has purchased load cells multiple times from the company ATI, which much success. Thus, if these new load cells from ATI are not purchased, it will waste more government time and resources to acquire a less adequate load cell that cannot withstand blade out loads and to which no replacements exist. This could also affect schedule if

Page 2 V2.0 3-15-2017 we obtain load cells NASA is not familiar with, since we might need additional time to learn how to implement the new load cells into the model and the data acquisition software. Purchasing the ATI Delta load cells would be a risk reduction in terms of schedule and cost.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

None.

8/12/2024 Technical User Name Date

Title

Office