SATPC0039885 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 Coulometrics LLC, only for design, assembly, screening, and delivery of Li-ion cells in 4680 format capable of >265 Wh/kg and with a subset of cells implanted with an on-demand internal short circuit device. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 90 days.

OR

Brand Name Justification:

I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate with only with vendors who can provide the subject brand 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):Ω

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 scope of the work can be summarized by starting with Coulometrics’ highest energy 21700 cell design, scaling it up to the 5 times larger 4680 format, producing 61 cells, implanting an on-demand internal short circuit device in 12 of the 62 cells, closing the assemblies, screening the cells, and delivery to NASA-JSC. Coulometrics will be the first to do these implantations in 4680 sized cells. They will draw on their prior experience with implantations done on smaller (21700) format cells in previous contracts 80NSSC23PA661 and 80NSSC23PA667. Coulometrics has developed a proprietary way to stop their jellyroll winder at the same spot for each cell and perform the implantation while keeping the jellyroll in the winder. This drastically improves trigger cell production yields and reliability that the device will activate consistently and on-demand. So it’s critical to go to Coulometrics for these deliverables.

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

Competition is impractical for the following reasons; A) Coulometrics has developed and delivered to NASA numerous 21700 cell designs that > 265Ah. B) Modification of their current 4680 cell design to > 265 Wh/kg is straight forward scale up from their 21700 electrochemical design while keeping the continuous tab configuration of their proprietary 4680 cell design. C) Their internal short circuit device implantation experience has been proven effective and reliable in 21700 trigger cells delivered to JSC with their proprietary technique. D) Developing a 4680 cell design that exceeds 265 Wh/kg and demonstrating reliable and consistent ISCD implantations is not feasible because it would cost > $600,000 and take > 1.5 year.