EM27-Synopsis

NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for the purchase of 14 Bruker EM27/Sun as well as the purchase of a single Bruker Infrared Fourier Spectrometer IFS 125HR system. NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire the items from Bruker Corporation. Bruker Corporation is the only source available for the unique support being contracted for due to the following:

NASA has been tasked with hosting the interagency Green House Gas (GHG) coordination center at NASA’s GSFC.

As NASA expands into this area, direction has been received by Headquarters to establish a NASA network of ground-based GHG observing instruments while both expanding U.S. capabilities, e.g. the New Opportunity in ROSES: A.51 Increasing Participation of Minority Serving Institutions (IPMSI) in Earth Science Division Surface-Based Measurement Networks and tying into the foundational, international COllaborative Carbon Column Observing Network (COCCON; https://www.imk-asf.kit.edu/english/COCCON.php) and the international Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON; http://www.tccon.caltech.edu/).

The achievement of success for COCCON and TCCON relies on obtaining reference measurements that adhere to both U.S. federal and international standards. To support NASA’s GHG and IPMSI initiatives but also adhere strictly to the internationally agreed-upon standards of the COCCON and TCCON networks, only instruments manufactured by the Bruker Corporation possess the capability needed.

The required instrument capable for COCCON is the Bruker EM 27/Sun Instrument, The required instrument for capable TCCON is the Bruker IFS 125HR system Based on market research, the Government is aware that there is no other known manufacturer for an EM27/Sun instrument and 125HR system instrument, or anything remotely equivalent. No other known manufacturer can offer the same quality and portability while meeting the required standards.

Moreover, Bruker offers significant cost savings to the Government as its data aligns with publicly available retrieval algorithms developed and maintained by the network. The expense associated with adapting to a new instrument (if one were to exist) would be high, requiring multiple years of research, development, and labor to establish performance against existing standards and to devise customized retrieval algorithms suitable for a different instrument.

These time delays would render it impossible to meet the mandates imposed upon the Agency by the Administration, Congress, and OMB. In summary, it is the Government’s assessment that no other potential manufacturer can offer equivalent support at an acceptable level without jeopardizing both budget and time constraints required to meet the same standard. Therefore a sole sourced contract is anticipated.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to James H. Kim (James.H.Kim@nasa.gov) not later than 4:30PM EST on February 01, 2024. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis.

A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at : https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf