SATPC0038517 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 Performance Sealing

Incorporated only for the procurement of teflon Nearside Door Seals The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 14 weeks.

OR

Brand Name Justification:

☐I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate only with vendors who can provide the subject brand name from ________________. The total estimated cost of this effort is _________ and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is _________.

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.

The specified teflon door seals are a critical system custom designed component in the NASA Langley

Research Center (LaRC) National Transonic Facility (NTF). The provided specifications are a direct replacement of the currently failed seals within the existing system design. Deviation from existing design specifications will create a work stoppage if installed within this National Critical Infrastructure and thereby adversely impact multiple NASA missions. Performance Seal Incorporated worked directly with NTF personnel to develop a proprietary manufacturing technique to supply a new seal to meet the same specifications as the existing seal. NTF personnel worked with several other suppliers that either no quoted the task due to complexity or provided estimates of more than $200K.

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

The nearside door seals for the NTF are original and failed during testing in 2023. At the time due to schedule and budget constraints, NTF personnel repaired the seal using speed tape. These repairs only provided marginal success and the seal has continued to leak. A complete seal failure would allow gaseous nitrogen to escape the tunnel circuit and could present a hazardous situation for the facility. In addition, the leaking seal causes loss of nitrogen during operations and impacts testing efficiency and cost. Sound engineering design/practice dictates procurement of replacement seals. Introduction of another manufacture for the seal may an engineering study, seal re-design and approval process, in addition to procurement, modification and installation time. A ROM for the efforts described exceeds

$200K and 1.0 year (in addition to costs and lead time associated with materials procurement). The requested purchase is significantly timelier, more cost effective (utilization of compatible components and implementation knowledge) and is associated with lower risk to mission and equipment safety. In addition, market research has shown that there is a limited supply base for this custom manufactured seal and without Performance Sealing Inc. proprietary manufacturing technique the cost would be orders of magnitude more expensive.