SATPC0042377 Tab 06 RDSS..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 NanoScience Instruments, Inc.

only for Thermo Fisher Scientific Desktop. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 8-12 Weeks ARO

OR

Brand Name Justification:

☐I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate only with vendors who can provide the subject brand name from Manufacture Name for supply or service to be procured. The total estimated cost of this effort is 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 Phenom XL G3 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is the only desktop SEM identified through market research that meets NASA’s technical requirements for large-format imaging, high-throughput automated analysis, and fully integrated energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) capabilities. Nanoscience Instruments, Inc. is the sole authorized U.S. distributor for all Phenom SEM products and is the only vendor authorized to provide quotations, installation, service, and warranty support, as confirmed by the manufacturer’s distributor authorization letter. The Phenom XL G3 offers unique capabilities not available from competing benchtop SEMs, including a 100 mm × 100 mm sample capacity, an optional 100 mm × 100 mm automated motorized stage, a high-brightness electron source with more than 3,000 hours of maintenance-free operation, and fully integrated EDS, ChemiSEM, automated image mapping, and workflow automation within a single software platform. Procuring the Phenom XL G3 also ensures continuity with the organization's existing Phenom XL G2 system by maintaining compatible data formats, software, automation scripts, and operating procedures, thereby reducing training requirements, minimizing operational risk, and eliminating the need to revalidate established analytical methods.

Market research comparing commercially available benchtop SEMs confirmed that competing systems offer smaller sample capacities, lack equivalent large-area automated stage travel and integrated analytical software, often require additional infrastructure, and that no other U.S. vendor can provide the Phenom product line or its associated support services.

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

Using an alternate vendor or brand would create significant technical and compatibility risks because competing benchtop SEM systems do not provide the same 100 mm × 100 mm travel, integrated EDS/SEM control, and compatibility with existing Phenom XL G2 datasets. A different system would require new training, method revalidation, data-management workflow changes, and potential dataset conversion or reprocessing, resulting in months of avoidable schedule delays. An alternative system could require additional accessories, third-party EDS software, image-stitching packages, duplicate

Page 2 V2.0 3-15-2017 software licenses, and calibration, increasing both acquisition and long-term support costs. Using a different platform would also disrupt data continuity and comparability across NASA’s multi-year, multi-lab materials research, whereas maintaining the Phenom ecosystem preserves consistent metadata, file structures, analysis tools, and overall operational efficiency.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

8/5/2026

Technical User Name Date

Title

Office