AWARD
A -- IXPE Specialized Grazing Optical System Development, Manufacturing and Testing - Justification for Other Than Full or Open Competition
- Notice Date
- 3/29/2017
- Notice Type
- Award Notice
- NAICS
- 541330
— Engineering Services
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Office of Procurement, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, 35812, United States
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- RFP4200614749
- Archive Date
- 4/13/2017
- Point of Contact
- Kathryn C. Christy, Phone: 2569617443
- E-Mail Address
-
kathy.c.christy@nasa.gov
(kathy.c.christy@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Award Number
- NNM17AA13C
- Award Date
- 3/13/2017
- Awardee
- IXPE GIOS, 1018 Meridian St, Huntsville, Alabama 35801, United States
- Award Amount
- Phase B value is $322,958 additional Phases C-F NTE $1,000,000
- Description
- Justification for Other than Full or Open Competition NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION GEORGE C. MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC) PURSUANT TO TITLE 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5) 1. This Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) is prepared by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.3, Other Than Full and Open Competition, and NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) Part 1806.3, Other Than Full and Open Competition. 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved: The Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) project was competitively-selected through NASA's Announcement of Opportunity (AO) process: AO-NNH14ZDA0130, 2014 Small Explorer (SMEX). IXPE submitted a Step-1 proposal in December 2014 and was notified of final selection as a NASA project on January 4, 2017. The selection of IXPE represents the largest scientific spacecraft development project in the past eighteen years at MSFC, as well as MSFC's largest competitively-selected science mission ever. MSFC proposes to enter into a sole-source contract with LINC Research, Inc. (hereinafter "LINC") for support in fulfilling these project requirements. 3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's need, including estimated value: The proposed effort requires specialized and significant experience and knowledge to support the IXPE Project in the areas of grazing incidence optical system development, manufacturing, and test. More specifically, LINC's expertise is required to support MSFC's replicated shell optics development, production, and test capabilities, facilities, and processes. The total estimated price of this effort is $1,000,000 with an estimated period of performance of March 1, 2017 through September 30, 2020. 4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition: FAR 6.302-5(b)(5)-Authorized or required by statue, which implements the authority for 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5) for acquisition of supplies or services from only one source when authorized or required by statute, specifically the HUBZone Act, 15 U.S.C. 657a, referenced at FAR 19.1306-HUBZone sole source awards. LINC is a Small Business Administration HUBZone certified small business; thus this contract award serves to fulfill IXPE project small business utilization goals while simultaneously advancing MSFC HUBZone small business goal engagement and fulfillment - at present, MSFC is not meeting its fiscal year 2017 HUBZone small business goal. Additionally, the Small Business Administration's Procurement Center Representative has expressed his support for this sole-source award to LINC. 5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires the authority cited: i. The proposed work requires significant experience in and knowledge of grazing incidence optical system development, manufacturing, and test. Detailed knowledge of the IXPE science goals, project plans, budget, basis of estimate, and optics production plans enables IXPE to immediately begin work on optical shell production. The IXPE schedule and budget is based on experienced personnel developing the polarimeter. LINC's experience with MSFC's replicated shell optics development, production, test capabilities, facilities, and processes enables the project to proceed without impact. ii. Command of the fundamental science principles of x-ray astronomy and x-ray instrumentation is essential to enable the contractor to contribute to and lead project risk management, re-planning, alternatives analyses, or trade studies. The proposed project and engineering management work requires a thorough understanding of optics manufacturing and metrology, testing of high energy optics systems, MSFC optics production capabilities and processes, and NASA spaceflight project management requirements to enable the IXPE team to implement its project management baseline. LINC has prior experience and scientific fluency in these areas. iii. IXPE's low risk plans and management approach were key factors in its selection and utilization of LINC for the efforts identified will prove key in this regard. An implementation team familiar with these plans, their basis, and MSFC's capabilities to produce required hardware presents the project and Center with the best opportunity to meet Science Mission Directorate commitments and expectations. 6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable: This proposed contract action was published as a pre-solicitation synopsis in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.201-General via the Government Point of Entry (FedBizOpps). The Internet site, or URL, for the Federal Business Opportunities home page is www.fedbizopps.gov. The disposition of responses is detailed in item #10 of this JOFOC. 7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable: A price analysis will be performed as described in FAR Subpart 15.4-Contract Pricing. LINC will submit a proposal that will be evaluated and negotiated by the Government. All sources such as the MSFC cost/price analyst and the Government technical representative will be utilized in the determination of a fair and reasonable price. In addition, data compiled from LINC historical data will be used for comparison. 8. Description of the market survey conducted, and the results, or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted: Extensive market research was conducted by the Manager of the Science Projects Office (ST14), evaluating the capabilities of more than 40 HUBZone businesses as provided through the Small Business Administration's HUBZone web search capability. Of the HUBZone businesses evaluated, only LINC was found to have the relevant NASA science instrument experience and knowledge to meet the requirements of this acquisition. 9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: The facts supporting other than full and open competition are identified throughout this JOFOC specifically in the contractor's unique qualifications in paragraph 5. There are no technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition. 10. Sources, if any, that expressed an interest in writing in the acquisition: Only one company, a HUBZone in Huntsville, AL, responded to the posting for this acquisition. A technical review was conducted by project personnel, which determined that the company, EJC Consulting Inc., did not demonstrate its ability to perform IXPE requirements, as detailed below: - No experience or expertise was described in the provided response. - No background or knowledge was expressed with regard to MSFC replicated optics development capabilities and processes. - No demonstrated understanding of the IXPE project, plans, budget and basis of estimates, and science goals. - No expressed project and engineering experience with the knowledge of NASA science projects and instrument development. 11. The actions, if any, the Agency may take to remove or overcome barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: There are no known actions which the agency may take to remove or overcome barriers to competitions before any subsequent acquisition for the services required. 12. I hereby certify the facts in this justification and any supporting data used for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. SEE ATTACHED SIGNATURE PAGE   I hereby certify the facts in the justification and any supporting data used for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. ______________/S/__________________ ______/S/_________ Randy M. Baggett Date Manager, IXPE Program ST-16 I hereby certify that the above justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. In addition, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. ______________/S/___________________ ______/S/_________ Melinda E. Swenson Date Contracting Officer Manager, Science and Space Systems Support Office Concurrence: ______________/S/__________________ ______/S/_________ Steven C. Miley Date Procurement Officer Approved: ______________/S/___________________ ______/S/_________ Paul K. McConnaughey Date Center Competition Advocate
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/3eecea80e763e54ebc9b215eef1350d5)
- Record
- SN04451471-W 20170331/170329234855-3eecea80e763e54ebc9b215eef1350d5 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |