SATPC0042458 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 Florida Institute of Technology Inc. only for Support to the Office of the Chief Engineer with the Establishment of Foundational Document and Engineering Data. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is September 01, 2026 through August 31, 2027

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.

Florida Institiute of Technolgy Inc is at the forefront of AI/ML application to solving problems which might not be as straight forward as what we often seen in the news today where AI/ML/ChatGPT are applied. Their understanding of NASA’s challenge, along with inhouse expertise is needed for this, along with access to AI training data makes them the appropriate solution.

While there have been a small number of a papers and articles posted about AI/ML using ‘small data” or “small ‘n’” data sets, it has largely been focused around the IT security sector and no applicable to the current NASA sought-after solution to smart tailoring of standards for contractural applications. And when performing a similar search for smart tailoring of standards using AI/ML processes with small-n data sets we were not able to find anything out there that met or exceeded what Florida Tech has proposed.

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

There would be additional cost and schedule risk do to having to educate the secondary vendor as to the exact needs of NASA, what the desired outcome is to be, verify and validate they have the appropriate skills and resources which would result in costs which exceed current funding.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

8/12/2026

Technical User Name Date