SATPC0041478 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 3D Systems Inc. only for DMP Flex 200 system. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is NLT 30 Sept 2026.

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):

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 DMP Flex 200 by 3D Systems is an Additive Manufacturing System that allows the customer run standard alloys pre-validated by 3D Systems for DMP Flex 200 but also enables the customer to develop other or even their own proprietary materials. What makes the DMP Flex 200, unique among Additive Manufacturing Systems is the layering mechanism which is implemented as a counter-rotating compaction roller. This one-of-kind recoating systems allows for 1) a high Z-stroke accuracy and thin layer capability, 2) processing a wide range of powder in terms of morphology and particle size distribution and 3) more aggressive unsupported geometries. With these benefits attributed to the compaction-roller layering system, the DMP Flex 200 can process finer non-spherical particles, conceptually even ceramics or ceramics blended with metals. On traditional metal powders, the DMP Flex 200 can print open channel diameters and feature sizes as small as 150μm and wall thickness of 100 microns. In combination with a powerful 500W laser source, the DMP Flex 200 is remarkably versatile in terms of the kind of materials, powder specifications and applications it can process. The DMP Flex 200 has an inert build and supply chamber that protects not only the process of sintering but protects the material throughout the process by maintaining an inert environment for the material from the placement.

Materials are added and removed via an air interlock chamber that prevents oxidation or exposure of the materials. This keeps the material from reacting with the ambient environment throughout day-to-day-build changeovers). The other important benefit of the closed build chamber is the safety benefits by protecting the operators from access to fine powder particles.

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

No other system is capable of meeting the above listed salient features in a single system and only 3D Systems Inc. sells it. Not procuring this equipment would result in a loss of capability to additively manufacture high resolution prototype components and hardware and would result in a large loss of capability in SSC’s rapid prototyping capability.