Xenon Reprocessing (NNC16BA05B) - Temporary Extension - Sole Source Justification

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER (NASA GRC) RECOMMENDATION AND DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM ONE SOURCE Summary NASA intends to negotiate with only Linde Gas North America LLC (the Contractor) for reprocessing of Xenon Gas in support of NASA GRC's electric propulsion testing project. The total estimated cost of this effort is $76,000.00 and the estimated period of performance end date is August 26, 2021. This $76,000.00 will be added to current NASA GRC contract NNC16BA05B increasing the value from $250,000.00 to $326,000.00. This recommendation is for the acquisition of continued highly specialized services determined to be reasonably available only from the original source. For this reason, it is highly likely that soliciting and awarding to another source would result in the substantial duplication of costs to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. What Are The Reasons For Soliciting Only The Original Source? Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the current operating status of NASA GRC is at Stage 3. Thus, the majority of NASA GRC's workforce is working remotely to ensure safety to the employees and workers. As a result, many projects, testing, inspection and acceptance, etc. are postponed, delayed or cancelled. Electric propulsion testing is one project affected by the current operational stage of NASA GRC. The electric propulsion testing project utilizes a contract for xenon reprocessing. This contract is with Linde Gas North America LLC, Contract Number NNC16BA05B. This contract is an IDIQ contract that commenced on August 26, 2016 and the end date is August 26, 2021. The current value and obligated amount are $250,000. Since there is uncertainty when the electric propulsion testing project can resume full operational status, the amount of contaminated xenon needed to be sent out for reprocessing during this pandemic stage is unknown. Thus, since the amount of xenon reprocessing is unknown at this time the soliciting of a new contract would not be cost efficient nor good utilization of government resources. Due to the current contract, NNC16BA05B, having reached its full value and obligation amount prior to its period of performance end date of August 26, 2021, a new contract will soon need to be solicited. However, due to the current status of operation of NASA GRC and the uncertainty of the amount of xenon reprocessing that will be needed, it would be in the Government's best interest to continue use of the current contract and add additional funding of $76,000.00 to ensure a contract vehicle is available for xenon reprocessing for the electric propulsion testing project. This will avoid any delays to the program if minor xenon reprocessing is required prior to the end of the contract's period of performance. Thus, the current contract will be increased by $76,000.00 to a revised contract value and obligation amount of $326,000.00. Once the electric propulsion testing project has received authorization to return work on-site, and the amounts of xenon reprocessing can be determined with certainty, a solicitation will be issued to secure a new contract. What Is The Impact To The Government If Another Vendor? There is uncertainty as the amount of xenon that will need to be reprocessed due to the operational status of NASA GRC due to the COVID 19 pandemic which makes soliciting a new contract for this service unpredictable. To ensure continued xenon reprocessing services until August 26, 2021 will be provided to the electric propulsion testing project, it is more efficient and economical to add $76,000.00 of funding to the current contract. Once the electric propulsion testing project returns to on-site, and NASA GRC is able to estimate the amount of xenon reprocessing that will be needed over the next few years, a solicitation will be issued to secure a new contract. FAR SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION Reference to Specific Regulation FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. (a)(2)(iii) For DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of follow-on contracts for the continued provision of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other source would result in- (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. (See 10 U.S.C.2304(d)(1)(B).) Explanation of Requirements Applicability to Regulation Per the FAR reference above, the current requirement for xenon reprocessing falls into the category of a highly specialized service follow-on contract. Additionally, it is likely that an award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic the award of a new, long-term contract, would not be cost efficient nor good utilization of government resources at this time. As a result, a sole source modification will be issued to avoid substantial duplication of costs to the government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.