SOLICITATION NOTICE
15 -- STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY (SOFIA) AIRBORNE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, INTEGRATION AND TEST
- Notice Date
- 11/14/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- 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
- NNA06127459
- Response Due
- 11/22/2005
- Archive Date
- 11/14/2006
- Description
- NASA/ARC plans to issue a contract to L-3 Communications, for the Completion of Development of the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Airborne System Development, Integration and Test portion of the SOFIA program. 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. 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 Completion of Development, Integration and Test segment, 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 and integration aspect of the overall SOFIA program. 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 Synopsis of Proposed Contract Action and is entitled, SOFIA Statement of Work. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 336413 and 1,000 employees, respectively. It is anticipated a Letter Contract shall be issued to L-3 Communication on or about 1 December 2005. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B". No solicitation shall be issued. NASA shall proceed to issue a letter contract in accordance with the procedures listed under FAR Part 16 and NFS 1816. This procurement shall be issued as a sole source citing FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source. The notification of award and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/ARC Business Opportunities home page is http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=21 Any questions must be submitted in writing (e-mail or fax). Telephone questions will not be accepted.
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- Record
- SN00931809-W 20051116/051114212142 (fbodaily.com)
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