SATPC0042069 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf

This is a Recommendation and Determination to Solicit from One Source document from NASA's Shared Services Center for a sole source procurement.

NASA's Shared Services Center recommends negotiating exclusively with Mississippi State University (MSU) for the implementation of Design Optimization Tools in Loci/CHEM. The estimated contract period extends through April 30, 2027, with a total estimated cost that is redacted in the document. MSU is identified as the originator and primary developer of the Loci/CHEM computational fluid dynamics code, which NASA's propulsion and test centers utilize as their primary aerodynamic analysis tool for rocket nozzles and similar applications. The justification emphasizes MSU's multi-decade collaboration with NASA, the code's tailored capabilities for NASA's specific needs, and the extensive evaluation of alternative codes (CRUNCH, Fluent, SU2, STAR-CCM+, CFX, and OpenFOAM) that all fell short in at least one critical dimension. The document asserts that no other computational fluid dynamics code currently offers the propulsion-related simulation capabilities of Loci/CHEM, making MSU the only feasible source for developing the required design tools and establishing the necessary foundation for hot-fire demonstration of cascading rocket nozzles. The sole source recommendation is dated July 10, 2026.