SATPC0042392 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

Brand Name Justification:

☒I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate with only with vendors who can provide the subject brand name from Starlink Services, LLC a subsidiary of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation for the Starlink Aviation Performance Kit. The total estimated cost of this effort is ) and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is 08/07/2027.

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 company listed on the quote is a trusted vendor for prior acquisitions of high-bandwidth, high reliability satellite communications capable of streaming HD or better imagery continuously from airborne imaging platforms within the NASA IT firewall. Additionally, Starlink is the only vendor that offers these services with worldwide coverage, which allows for complete continuity in mission operational capabilities with no dependence on the physical location of the aircraft. The combination of these system capabilities and worldwide coverage enables a low-constraint operational readiness posture for high-bandwidth satellite communications.

Additionally, an FAA approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) is available for the Starlink Aviation Performance kit hardware. The availability of this STC kit demonstrates that this satellite communications system is a functionally mature, flight-proven system by gaining certification for the installation of the Starlink Aviation Performance kit on various domains of atmospheric flight from private to commercial and military aviation. This certification enables a reasonably short and established path to airworthiness approval, with little additional analysis required by NASA for air worthiness certification. The Starlink Aviation performance kit is also a flight proven system within NASA and is actively operated on two different NASA aircraft. The experience with this IT system in different environments. Starlink Technologies, LLC is also already listed as 889 compliant with NASA procurement standards.

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

If this specific brand and model of satellite communications equipment is not used, it should be expected that there would be significantly increased non-recurring engineering costs associated with physically integrating an antenna manufactured by a different manufacturer into existing aircraft. This would require the redesign and manufacturing of a custom hardware solution that will need to be revalidated for the environment and

Page 2 V2.0 3-15-2017 certified by NASA to fly operationally. Not using this brand name would also result in significantly increased non-recurring engineering and labor costs associated with the development of new software interfaces required to integrate a satellite communications system manufactured by a different manufacturer into the aircraft and to also get it approved for flight. Due to the need to go through this process, there is a high potential for complete incompatibility with existing IT infrastructure and inability to meet mission requirements, resulting in drastic changes in the communications pathway. Significant schedule cost associated with adapting to major changes in the physical size, weight, and power required or the reinventing of the systems IT control architecture should also be expected.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

System Requirements:

• When performance standards must be met: 27 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year

• Where should the following performance standards be enforced: Anywhere on Earth airplanes and jets can fly from an altitude of sea level to 50,000 ft or higher.

• Performance requirements o Downloads: 135 to 310 Mbps (peaks up to 450 Mbps) o Uploads: 20 to 44 Mbps o Latency: Typically, under 99 ms o Coverage: Global

• Compatibility requirements o FAA-approved STC kit available for all gulfstream aircraft as old or newer than a

Gulfstream III, to include the Gulfstream III, Gulfstream IV, Gulfstream V, and Gulfstream G550.

Deliverables:

• Hardware to be delivered: Starlink Aviation Performance kit

• Delivery address:

NASA Langley Research Center 4 Marvin St S, Hampton, VA 23681

• Required Delivery Date: 08/07/2027

8/2/2026

Technical User Name Date

Title

Office