SOURCES SOUGHT
15 -- STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY (SOFIA) AIRBORNE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, INTEGRATION,AND TEST
- Notice Date
- 10/21/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336413
— Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
- ZIP Code
- 94035-1000
- Solicitation Number
- NNA06127459L
- Response Due
- 11/4/2005
- Archive Date
- 10/21/2006
- Description
- NASA/ARC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for the completion of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Airborne System Development, Integration and Test (ASDIT) (completion of development) segment of the overall SOFIA program. The purpose of this sources sought activity is to determine whether there is more than one entity interested in, and more importantly capable of, completing the SOFIA development within programmatic parameters. It is anticipated that NASA shall issue a contract to complete the work for the SOFIA ASDIT segment of the overall SOFIA program as a sole source, as authorized under FAR 6.302-1 Only One responsible Source to L3 Communications, Waco, TX, the company that is currently performing the required modifications to the SOFIA aircraft. L3 Communications was the subcontractor performing the modifications to the Aircraft Systems under contract NAS2-97001 issued to United Space Research Alliance. HISTORY The SOFIA program consists of an airborne observatory platform (a Boeing 747-SP aircraft) arrayed with a 2.5 meter infrared telescope, as well as other scientific instruments capable of infrared and sub-millimeter observations. The SOFIA observatory is being developed by NASA and its partner the DLR (German Aerospace Center). The SOFIA observatory will be the world?s largest and most sensitive airborne observatory. The aircraft shall operate at a ceiling of 45,000 feet. At stratospheric altitudes the telescope and its suite of scientific instruments can collect radiation with wavelengths of 0.3 micrometers to 1.6 millimeters. The telescope shall peer out of an open cavity in the side of the aircraft, and will allow astronomers to obtain sharper infrared images than ever before. The astronomers, technicians, engineers and flight crews will work in a comfortable airliner environment during a typical eight to ten hour flight. The estimated life of the operational program is 20 years. In December 1996, NASA awarded a contract to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) to serve as the prime contractor with overall responsibility for development if the SOFIA Airborne System, and the Science and Mission Operations as well as the deliver the first 10 years of science missions to collect and analyze data in the infrared (IR) spectrum. Raytheon, (although later acquired by L3 Communications) was originally proposed by USRA as and was a major subcontractor under the USRA contract and is responsible for the design, development, test, integration and delivery of a structurally modified B747-SP. The mid-nineties was a period in which ?privatization? was widely espoused as a beneficial method for the Government to pursue and acquire its mission needs. Central to the privatization model is a minimal involvement of the Government in either insight or oversight roles, deferring largely to the contractor to manage the program. It became apparent as NASA moved deeper into the development phase, that SOFIA was even more complex in its requirements, namely the structural modifications, the integration of a large IR telescope provided by DLR, the NASA German partners, and the overhaul and airworthiness actions associated with the certification of the aircraft for flight. The effect of the many challenges in these areas resulted in development schedule delays, thereby impacting the delivery of critical research data to the research community and increasing program cost. These impacts resulted in a decision in May 2005, supported by several reviews of the SOFIA program, that it was critical that NASA restructure the program to enable the completion of development and the commencement of science data collection and analysis. CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS This project (SOFIA Airborne System development) is approximately 85% complete. All major modification efforts on the aircraft have been designed, engineered and nearly completely installed. Some ground testing has been accomplished. Certain observatory unique subsystems, such as electronics equipment are still being developed for later installation. The telescope assembly has been installed in the aircraft and has undergone basic operational testing. The work remaining on the aircraft includes some development and completion of installations, but primarily entails systems integration and ground and flight performance testing. A more robust description of the work completed to date is attached (see the document entitled State of Completion of SOFIA Airborne System). The SOFIA program restructure addresses both internal government changes as well as a realignment of the contractual relationships for the major SOFIA segments which include: 1) SOFIA ASDIT, to include all activities necessary to complete development and enable operational flight, 2) Science and Mission Operations, 3) Aircraft operations, and 4) Government integration. In 1996, the SOFIA program was structured as a prime contractor/subcontractor arrangement, with USRA serving as the prime. Under the restructure, the Government will enter into prime contracts for each segment and assume a larger role in the oversight of the overall SOFIA program. This Sources Sought announcement addresses only the ASDIT portion of this restructure effort as USRA will continue to provide Science and Mission Operations Support and NASA will utilize an existing Agency-wide contract to provide Aircraft Operations services. STATEMENT OF WORK The work to be accomplished under this procurement shall consist of the completion of the development of the SOFIA Airborne System. The SOFIA Airborne System consists of the refurbished basic aircraft, a Boeing 747SP, and all modifications, additional systems, provisions and support equipment required to accommodate the Telescope Assembly, mission crew, science investigators, and the education and public outreach teams and meet the SOFIA Airborne System performance requirements. A Statement of Work that describes the work to be accomplished is attached to this Sources Sought and is entitled, SOFIA Statement of Work. ELEMENTS OF WORK THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL NOTICE A Supplemental Type Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration is required. Any contractor interested must show an ability to obtain a Supplemental Type Certificate for modifying the aircraft from the FAA and must be capable of maintaining the Certificate for the operational life of the aircraft (approximately 20 years). After completion of the ORR, the ASDIT, as the holder of the Supplemental Type Certificate, shall be responsible for providing NASA with continued data and engineering analysis. L3 Communications is currently in the process of obtaining a Supplemental Certification from the FAA. Should another contractor be selected to accomplish this work through a competitive procurement, it will be the responsibility of that contractor to obtain the appropriate certificate or have any certificate issued by the FAA transferred. The ASDIT contractor shall prepare the aircraft and be responsible for the aircraft through the Operational Readiness Review (ORR). The Operational Readiness Review will be complete when the SOFIA Airborne System performs as required in the SOFIA requirements documents as specified in Statement of Work section 2.0.2.1. All systems provided by the contractor must perform as an integrated part of the SOFIA Observatory. The aircraft shall be complete and ready for flight and operations. SCHEDULE: The current schedule requires a first flight (closed door) in October 2006. Work described in the Statement of Work must be accomplished to meet this first flight schedule. Any contractor interested in completing this work should provide information as to whether it can meet this schedule. The overall period of performance of the principle tasks required to complete development through ORR is approximately three years. COST The Government estimate to complete this work is $40,000,000. The aircraft is currently located in Waco, TX at the L3 Communications facility. The aircraft is non-operational. NASA will consider the amount of duplication of work and costs that would be incurred by potentially changing contractors performing the work, an example includes the costs of relocating the aircraft from its present location to another location. CAPABILITY STATEMENT Interested contractors having the required specialized capabilities to meet this requirement should submit a capability statement indicating their interest and ability to perform all aspects of the effort described herein as well as ability to perform the work required within the proposed schedule. Upon receipt of the information requested by this Sources Sought Synopsis, the Government shall review the responses for contractor interest and capabilities. Contractors that exhibit interest and have provided sufficient information as to their capability shall be contacted to request further information. If after the publication of this Sources Sought, NASA receives either no responses, or the responses and subsequent market survey indicate no other contractor is capable of meeting the requirements or that no economically feasible alternative exists, NASA shall proceed to issue this procurement as a sole source, as authorized under FAR 6.302-1 Only One Source, to L3 Communications, Waco, TX. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror?s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Please be advised this requirement is not considered to be a commercial or commercial-type product. A commercial item is defined in FAR 2.101. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses hereto. All responses shall be submitted to Michael J. Hutnik III no later than 4 November 2005. Please reference NNA06127459L in any response. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
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