SATPC0038543 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf

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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 Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

only for LaRC FY25 Pointwise Center Consolidated Renewal. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026.

OR

Brand Name Justification:

☐I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate only with vendors who can provide the subject band name from . 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.

The Pointwise software produces high-quality structured and unstructured multi-dimensional grids utilized by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) teams, including the FUN3D development team, as well as those supporting the NASA Engineering Safety Center Aerosciences Technical Discipline Team (TDT), the Computational Aeroelasticity team, and the Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) team. These grids serve as fundamental components in generating numerical simulations related to fluid flow and acoustic propagation around and through various objects. Pointwise also offers direct compatibility with NASA’s USM3D CFD flow solver and supports expanded overset grid assembly. Numerous researchers at LaRC rely on Pointwise daily for creating unstructured CFD grids suitable for high-performance computing (HPC) applications such as FUN3D. These efforts support NASA aeronautics, space technology initiatives, and flight mission operations, including current projects associated with modifications to the Artemis II core stage. The simulation results aid in the design and analysis of aerodynamic bodies (such as flight vehicles, reentry vehicles, and propulsion systems) and in assessing their acoustic impacts on flight vehicles and surrounding communities. These grids are an essential element of the numerical simulation process, and their development is critical to the success of these analyses. The Pointwise software has been under development for several decades, resulting in a mature and widely recognized tool within the user community. It is highly integrated with current NASA CFD and CAA workflows. For instance, the present time-domain acoustic scattering prediction workflow relies on Pointwise scripting capabilities to define scattering geometries and the placement of acoustic treatments. The absence of this software would significantly disrupt operations, compelling users to seek, learn, and implement alternative solutions under tight deadlines. Such a scenario would have a substantial impact on NASA programs and associated milestones. Multiple engineers in D205 conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses as part of their responsibilities and are experienced users of Pointwise. The software is essential for continuing these tasks. It is considered the standard, and often the sole, tool for constructing grids for CFD analyses within our environment, and it is already integrated into our supercomputing infrastructure. Additionally, NASA’s EDL missions have predominantly relied on Pointwise for decades, facilitating the sharing, modification, and reuse of CFD grids without the need

Page 2 V2.0 3-15-2017 to generate new ones from scratch. Losing access to the license would necessitate D205 to identify suitable alternatives or workaround strategies, neither of which has been determined at this time.

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

Each gridding software package has its own strengths and limitations. Some support only structured grids, others only unstructured grids, and some allow for hybrid grid types while others do not. The Pointwise software offers a comprehensive range of capabilities, making it a highly valuable tool for our work. Absence of this program would likely require users to employ multiple alternative software solutions, increasing costs, workload, and reducing overall productivity, which could lead to project delays. Such inefficiencies and potential incompatibilities with other vendors could adversely affect NASA program milestones, increase costs, and potentially impact the development of safety justifications for crewed missions such as Artemis II to the Moon. Recently acquired by Cadence, Pointwise may undergo changes in its pricing model. Historically, the software offered volume discounts for multiple licenses, encouraging shared usage across different teams to reduce costs. It was available via annual or perpetual licenses: the annual licenses incurred a consistent yearly fee, whereas perpetual licenses involved a higher upfront cost with lower ongoing fees, resulting in a break-even point after several years. Most shared licenses tend to be perpetual due to their long-term cost savings. Disruptions to existing licenses would necessitate paying the large initial fee again.Please note that in certain cases— such as classified work—licenses cannot be shared. Additionally, if there is a short-term increase in license demand, annual licenses may be more cost-effective than perpetual licenses due to the large upfront investment required for the latter. Losing access to Pointwise would significantly impair our ability to perform assigned tasks and collaborate externally outside of D205. Currently, alternative software with equivalent functionality is unavailable; new software options would require extensive training (weeks to months) and workflow redevelopment, posing significant time and resource challenges. Furthermore, switching tools risks losing access to decades of legacy flight data, which are critical for future development. Transitioning to new software would also involve installing and validating modules within our existing supercomputing environment, potentially leading to compatibility issues with Linux and remote desktop setups, as well as disruptions to workflows involving CAD files and NASA-specific solvers.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

5/27/2025

Technical User Name Date

Title

Fidelity Pointwise software is proprietary and distributed exclusively by the vendor.

Sole distributor letter (dated 1/2/2025) provided by vendor.