NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BE

17 -- PALLET DROP AIRCRAFT SERVICES SOL NAS9-97031 DUE 112097 POC Yolande B. Harden, Contracting Officer, Phone (281) 483-9953, Fax (281) 244-5337, Email yharden@ems.jsc.nasa.gov -- Yolande B. Harden, Contracting Officer, Phone (281) 483-9953, Fax (281) 244-5337, Email yharden@ems.jsc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/JSC/date.html#NAS9-97031. E-MAIL: Yolande B. Harden, yharden@ems.jsc.nasa.gov. NASA/JSC plans to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) for the continuation of Pallet Drop Aircraft Services in support of the Experimental Crew Return Vehicle (X-38) program. NASA/JSC intends to continue to acquire these services from Airlift Technologies International, Inc. Airlift Technologies was awarded a contract for pallet drop aircraft services through a competitive procurement. Under that contract, Airlift Technologies has supported 13 previous Low Velocity Air Drop (LVAD) tests in support of the X-38 program over the course of the past year. The continued services will allow the test program to maintain the accelerated test schedule required on the program. The Airlift Technologies team has upgraded and modified its radio communications systems and onboard power systems to be compatible with the Yuma Proving Ground mission control and NASA/JSC test support equipment. The ability to support the existing test schedule and meet the compatibility requirements are critical to the success of the X-38 test program. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. See Note 22. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". Interested firms have five days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after the 5 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Firm date for receipt of offers will be stated in the RFO. All qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nnotes.htm. (0309)

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