SOURCES SOUGHT
M -- AMES VISITOR CENTER
- Notice Date
- 7/22/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 711310
— Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001
- ZIP Code
- 94035-0001
- Solicitation Number
- NNA14ZVC001L
- Response Due
- 8/29/2014
- Archive Date
- 7/22/2015
- Point of Contact
- Bethany A McClave, Contracting Officer, Phone 650-604-3747, Fax 650-604-3020, Email Bethany.A.McClave@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Bethany A McClave
(Bethany.A.McClave@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby requesting information through this notice from interested parties for the following: NASA seeks to identify commercial, not-for-profit, or other organizations capable of developing, managing, and operating the Ames Visitor Center as a self-sufficient concession activity highlighting NASA and ARC missions and programs and offering education and outreach opportunities to the public. This notice also solicits interested parties' questions, comments, suggestions, clarifications, and any data that would help the agency prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP). This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. This presolicitation synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. Respondents will not be notified of the results. The solicitation 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://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=21 It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet cite for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/p ub_library/Omb.html. Background The Ames Visitor Center houses over 15 exhibits, displays and/or artifacts representing NASA and ARC missions. Current exhibits include Science on a Sphere, Ames Spacecraft Missions, Discovering the Moon, REAL Moon Rock, Shuttle Cockpit Simulator, Immersive Theater, Mercury Redstone 1A (MR-1A), SOFIA, Kepler, and Living and Working in Space. See http://www.nasa.gov/centers /ames/home/exploration.html for more information. The Ames Visitor Center hosts approximately 60,000 visitors annually and attendance has increased 10% since 2010. Current hours of operation are: Tue-Fri: 10:00am4:00pm, Sat-Sun: 12:00pm4:00pm, There is currently no charge for admission. Visitors generally stay 1.5-2 hours. The NASA Ames Research Exchange operates a gift shop inside the existing Visitor Center that sells NASA-themed merchandise. The selected awardee will be required to manage and operate the Visitor Center, to maintain facilities, systems, and equipment, and to participate in the conception and development of new Visitor Center capabilities. The Ames Visitor Center must be financially self-supporting. The awardee may conduct income producing activities including, but not limited to, the sale of admission tickets, food, and souvenirs. The awardee will be required to provide nonrevenue producing services and to pay the expenses of the Ames Visitor Center. The Government in no way guarantees that the concessionaire will profit financially from Ames Visitor Center operations. Site Description and Site Visit The existing facility is an approximately 9,000 square feet instant structure (metal frame with fabric coating). It was built in 1996 and has an industry lifecycle of 20 years. A 2.5 acre parking lot surrounds the facility, which is located just outside the ARC entrance gate. The surrounding acreage of the Visitor Center, including the parking lot (see map area marked Exploration Plaza) is part of Ames Visitor Center entity and subject to use by the concessionaire. Included within the facility is a high-definition immersive peripheral projection theater system with a 14-foot tall and 36-foot wide screen and seating for 85. The system plays high-definition films, NASA TV, and Uniview (a staff-led, planetarium-like presentation about the Universe). ARC will hold a site visit Monday, August 4, 2014 from 1:00pm-3:00pm to allow potential offerors an opportunity to visit the Visitor Center and to hear from ARC representatives. To assist us in making the most valuable use of this time, please submit the names and email addresses of expected attendees and any questions regarding the facility or the anticipated agreement via email to bethany.a.mcclave@nasa.gov by July 29, 2014. Any further instructions regarding the site visit will be provided directly via email to the list of expected attendees. Interested parties can assume the following: Once a concessionaire is selected, and a lease negotiated and signed (if necessary), no appropriated funds will be provided for the development, operation, and maintenance of the Visitor Center. NASA would provide at no cost, the existing sprung structure, all existing displays and exhibits, and associated infrastructure. Some assets, like the moon rock, will remain the property of the US Government but may be made available to the concessionaire via a negotiated loan agreement. NASA is open to the idea that the Ames Visitor Center does not have to reside in its current location or within the current structure. The Visitor Center does not have to be a standalone entity. It may reside inside a larger entity as long as the general public is aware of a NASA Ames Visitor Center. If the awardee intends to operate a Visitor Center at Moffett Field, the entity will negotiate and sign a lease agreement with NASA Ames Research Center. If the awardee intends to operate a Visitor Center at Moffett Field, NASA may negotiate with the awardee notional shared-service costs for utilities, police and fire protection. NASA will support the awardee by providing technical assistance on new exhibits and displays. NASA may make available, at no cost to the awardee, other exhibits and displays in its possession. NASA will be proactive in collaborating with the awardee to enhance the visitor experience. Responses Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with an information package. The information packages are due no later than August 29, 2014 and shall be submitted via email only to bethany.a.mcclave@nasa.gov. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and must be clearly marked. The information package shall be limited to 20 pages and shall include the following, at a minimum: --Name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail of designated point of contact. --Recommended strategies for the management, development, operations, organization, and staffing aspects of the requirement. Interested parties are encouraged to be innovative and propose enhancements and alternative approaches for addressing ARCs needs. --Provide information regarding your capability to effectively and efficiently perform the above requirements, including, as applicable, details about current or former concession agreements or other similar efforts.
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