SATPC0041795 TAB 06 BNJ.pdf

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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 vendor name only for supply or service to be procured. The total estimated cost of this effort is $41,827.60 and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is date.

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 PAI Defense for services to provide 10 MR556A4 rifles as scoped and designed for the GRC Office of Protective Services. The total estimated cost of this effort is 41,827.60 and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is September 30, 2026.

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 GRC Office of Protective Services conducted an intensive, mission-driven evaluation of all NASA-approved firearms manufacturers and authorized vendors. This assessment included technical reviews, operational testing, reliability analysis, and compatibility checks with existing NASA OPS equipment, training programs, and armorer capabilities.

Following this comprehensive analysis, GRC OPS determined that the Heckler & Koch MR556A1 SBR is the rifle platform that fully satisfies NASA GRC’s operational, safety, and standardization requirements.

Key factors include:

• Proven reliability under extreme environmental and operational conditions

• Compatibility with existing NASA OPS armorer tools, maintenance protocols, and training curricula

• Standardization across multiple NASA centers to ensure interoperability and reduce training risk

• Superior performance characteristics required for protective mission readiness

NASA Headquarters OPS reviewed and validated these findings and formally approved the requirement for HK MR556A1 rifles to ensure uniformity, safety, and operational effectiveness across the protective services enterprise.

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

PAI Defense has created a package specifically for GRC OPS’s rifle needs, matching unique system requirements. OPS is on a tight timeline to secure funding for the HK MRA4 model which PAI Defense can supply. The research and approval process took over six months, and failing to acquire this product risks losing designated funds approved for this project. PAI Defense is the recommended vendor for this

Page 2 V2.0 3-15-2017 procurement due to its demonstrated expertise with NASA OPS system requirements, its proven history supplying this exact rifle platform to multiple NASA centers, and its extensive experience supporting federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The company’s established logistics, delivery, and technical support infrastructure significantly reduces integration risk and ensures immediate operational readiness—an essential factor given the protective mission’s urgency. Although multiple vendors are authorized to sell Heckler & Koch products, PAI Defense’s unique familiarity with NASA’s protective mission, combined with its consistent record of successful performance, makes it the most capable and reliable source to meet NASA’s accelerated operational timelines. Failure to procure this brand-name rifle within the approved window may result in forfeiture of allocated funds and require restarting the entire evaluation and approval process.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

OPS has completed an in-depth review comparing the HK MRA4 rifle to similar models, and our stance is consistent: we are seeking a platform that is more advanced and upgraded than the discontinued HK G33 or other rifles like the current Colt M5. We maintain that the HK MRA4 is a far superior, dependable, and well-tested improvement over other duty rifles in use today. The lifetime barrel warranty also guarantees that the GRC will possess a high-performance, long-range rifle for many years ahead.

Eric J. Combs 7/21/2026 Technical User Name Date

OPS/EPACS Program Manager Title GRC Code F/FS00 Office of Protective Services Office