SATPC0040312 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf
PDF 256 KB Posted
- Attached to
- To renew software maintenance for Code V Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- 80NSSC26924169Q
About this file
This is a Recommendation and Determination to Solicit from One Source or Brand Name document from NASA's Shared Services Center (NSSC) dated January 22, 2026. The document justifies a sole source procurement for the renewal of CodeV optical design software from Synopsys, the exclusive vendor. The estimated cost and performance period are redacted in the document. The procurement is for software license maintenance including 12 months of support.
The justification establishes that competition is impractical based on exclusive licensing agreements and technical compatibility requirements. GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) requires CodeV software because thousands of optical models for major projects including JWST and WFIRST have been developed using this proprietary software. A market survey confirmed that alternative optical modeling programs (ZEMAX and OSLO) are incompatible with existing CodeV models. The document emphasizes that reverse engineering or developing alternative CodeV-compatible software is infeasible due to government restrictions on accessing Synopsys source code, combined with prohibitive time, cost, and technical risk implications. Using an alternative vendor would cause unacceptable mission delays, increased technical risk to JWST and other critical programs, extended project schedules beyond fiscal year funding dates, and compromised customer support for post-launch missions, ultimately jeopardizing mission success.
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Other files for this federal contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| SATPC0040312 Tab 04 4 SOW.pdf | ||
| SATPC0040312 Tab 07 Capability Statement SAM.gov.pdf |
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Page 2 V2.0 3-15-2017
OSLO (Lambda Research Corp.). Based on this survey, none of these programs were found to be compatible with the CodeV models.
The software to be procured by GSFC must be compatible with CodeV so that GSFC may use and modify existing optical models and exchange new optical models developed in the future with other agencies and support contractors. CodeV software is a commercial product for which Synopsys is the only vendor. The development of a technical data package, specifications, and/or development of a technical data package is not feasible, because the Government is restricted from gaining access to Synopsis’s source code information and from reverse engineering or duplicating this software. Even if these barriers and restrictions could be overcome, the amount of time and resources necessary to develop “CodeV” compatible software would result in unacceptable mission delays, increased technical risk to the JWST and other programs, and a substantial increase in cost.
Synopsys is the only supplier of software that is compatible with the unique and complex requirements of the breadth of projects supported by the GSFC Optics Branch. The required CodeV software has been used to develop existing JWST, WFIRST and numerous other models, and continues to be used by other agencies and support contractors involved with JWST telescope and instrument models and hardware. In order to provide software that is proven to be compatible with the CodeV software, other vendors would need to have the CodeV source code data. The CodeV optical design software was developed at private expense by Synopsys and it is licensed on a lease basis. Existing leasing and licensing agreements make the copyrighted CodeV software the proprietary and confidential property of Synopsys, which restricts any duplication or disclosure of the software by leasers or licensees.
2. What is the impact to the government if another vendor/brand is used? Include any dollar, schedule, or compatibility impacts if possible.
Delays of time-critical projects will extend their schedules beyond their current fiscal year funding dates, and hence reduce designers’ abilities to produce the expected product, or cancel the projects. Delays in customer support of post launch missions will be an impact to mission operations creating risk to the mission success.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
1/22/26
Technical User Name Date
Title Office
****FOR NSSC SAT USE ONLY***
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .