SATPC0040303 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 COMSO , Inc only for the FY26

COMSOL Renewal . The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 04/01/2026-03/31/2027.

OR

Brand Name Justification:

I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate only with vendors who can provide the subject brand name from Manufacture Name for the. The total estimated cost of this effort is 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 COMSOL software is proprietary, and the detailed source information defining its salient characteristics is not available to the Government. No alternate vendors have been authorized by COMSOL, Inc. to develop or provide this software. As a result, sufficient technical data does not exist to permit the development of specifications necessary to support full and open competition.COMSOL, Inc. software has been extensively and successfully used for many years to analyze complex coupled-physics problems, including structural dynamics, fluid dynamics, nonlinear stress, buckling, and acoustics. These analyses are routinely required in support of MSFC propulsion elements, special test equipment, ground support equipment, and thermal control systems. Maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and compatibility of these analytical capabilities is critical to mission success. Introducing changes that could compromise compatibility with the existing analysis framework would present an unacceptable technical and programmatic risk.

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

COMSOL software has been used for many years across multiple organizations within MSFC to develop and maintain analysis models supporting a wide range of programs. It is a mission-critical tool used on a daily basis to perform coupled-physics analyses essential to routine job functions.Use of an alternate vendor would have significant adverse impacts. First, existing design methodologies, analysis optimization strategies, and validated capabilities developed using COMSOL would require redevelopment. Without identification of a specific replacement tool, it is not possible to determine whether all current capabilities could be replicated, the associated costs, or the impacts to ongoing projects and schedules.Second, analysis data stored in native COMSOL file formats for projects that are currently in development, sustaining, or legacy would require immediate conversion to a neutral format or risk permanent data loss. For active projects, additional cost and schedule impacts would be incurred to convert the neutral data for use in a comparable analysis tool. Due to the number and diversity of affected programs, the total cost and schedule impact of these efforts cannot be reasonably estimated.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

1/23/2026