Medtherm Calorimeters for Orion

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

In accordance with FAR 6.303-1(a)(1)-- Only One Responsible Source and No Other
Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, this document is a
Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition prepared by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration Armstrong Flight Research Center (NASA
AFRC), Acquisition Management Office.

The nature and/or description of the action being approved:
This justification documents NASA's determination to solicit for the purchase of the
Calorimeters, only one responsible source, no substitutes or equivalents accepted
from:
Medtherm Corporations
P.O. Box 412
Hunstville, AL 35804

Description of the supplies or services required, including an estimated value:
NASA requires Medtherm Calorimeters (P/N: 20850-08KS, 20850-09KS, 20850-
19KS, 20850-20, 21521C-07KS-0.60, 21521C-08KS-0.60, 21521-22-0.60, 21521-
15-0.60, 22165-08KS-0.50, 22165-22-0.50, 24-10SB-1.0-36-22182KS, 8-15-12-12-
218828, 8-25-36-36-218828, 8-30-4-20-218828, 8-50-12-12-218828, 8-80-12-12-
218828, 8-80-36-36-218828) from Medtherm in order to continue work on the Orion
AA-2 project.
Estimated value: $412,590.00.

Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:
6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will
Satisfy Agency Requirements. Citations 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C.
3304(a)(1) apply. Exception is defined as "When the supplies or services required
by the agency are available only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and
statements so that the Government
can consider other potential sources.

A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the
Government will be fair and reasonable:
The Government expects to obtain fair and reasonable pricing by performing a price
analysis of the submitted proposal. The Government will evaluate the proposal for
compliance with the required FAR and NFS terms and conditions, as well as
compliance with the requirements define in the quality documentation requested by
NASA AFRC's quality assurance department. A technical analysis will be performed
to ensure the proposal meets the requirements of the specification sheet. A price fair
and reasonable determination will be based on the guidance of FAR 13.106-3(a)(2).

Description of the market research conducted, and the results, or a statement of
the reasons market research was not conducted:
Market research was performed by NASA AFRC Code RT before the request was
submitted to the Acquisitions Management Office. The Medtherm calorimeters meet
all mission requirements. There are no other manufacturers that meet mission
requirements.

Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:
None

Sources, if any, that expressed an interest, in writing, in the acquisition:
Pamir Electronics also expressed an interest in the acquisition. However, once
contacted they indicated that they could not quote on space components.

The actions the Agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to
competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services
required:
Medtherm is the only manufacturer that can supply the requested parts to meet
mission requirements. Any authorized vendor can provide these parts, providing that
they are the requested brand name with no substitutions or equivalents.