SATPC0040561 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf

This is a Sole Source Justification and Recommendation document from NASA's Shared Services Center for a single-source procurement action. NASA proposes to negotiate with Nikon AM Synergy Inc. to provide Aheadd CP-1 Specimen NXG Build services, with an estimated performance period of 8 weeks. The total estimated cost is redacted in the document.

The justification establishes that competition is impractical because Marshall Space Flight Center requires manufacturing of Aheadd CP-1 specimens using a Nikon SLM Solutions additive manufacturing machine to evaluate alloy properties for potential hardware production demonstrators. Nikon AM Synergy is identified as the only commercial vendor currently installed, qualified, and printing Aheadd CP-1 on a Nikon SLM Solutions NXG machine. The document notes that the NXG machine's 600mm x 600mm x 600mm build volume is necessary for large-scale complex NASA components. If an alternative vendor were selected, the resulting material would not adequately represent the production process, material performance would not be directly comparable, additional costs would be incurred for material switching, and lead time impacts would affect NASA's FY26 milestones. NASA has engaged Nikon AM Synergy under an existing contract to evaluate materials on the NXG platform, and continuity with this vendor is deemed essential for improving NASA's technological understanding of large-scale additive manufacturing for STMD, SLS, and commercial space missions. The document is dated February 17, 2026.