A--FLIGHT DYNAMICS SUPPORT SERVICES BRIDGE CONTRACT

NASA plans to award a sole-source bridge contract to a.i. Solutions, Inc. under the authority of 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1), citing that it is the only responsible source able to continue supporting the Goddard Space Flight Center’s Applied Engineering and Technical Directorate (AETD). The current FDSS contract held by a.i. Solutions is reaching its maximum ordering value well before the anticipated end date, necessitating a bridge contract to maintain continuity of critical flight dynamics engineering services. This contract, structured as a Cost Plus Fixed Fee Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity agreement, will have a base period of 12 months and an option for an additional 3 months, enabling NASA to complete planning and conduct a competitive follow-on procurement (FDSS II) without interruption to ongoing mission support. The services covered by this bridge contract include on- and off-site support for mission and instrument development critical to multiple NASA programs such as JWST, MMS, GPM, DSCOVR, MAVEN, JPSS, and GOES. Interrupting these services by transitioning to a new contractor before the FDSS II award would risk significant mission impacts due to the specialized expertise and experience of a.i. Solutions. The estimated value of this bridge contract is approximately $25.4 million. Although a competitive follow-on contract is planned, the bridge is necessary to avoid costly duplication of effort and technical risks during the transition period. Potential sources may submit qualifications for consideration by a specified deadline, though NASA retains discretion on whether to proceed competitively. An Ombudsman has been appointed to ensure fairness during the procurement process.