B -- SUPPORT FOR THE GSFC LABORATORY FOR ASTRONOMY AND SOLAR PHYSICS (LASP)

Notice Date

January 19, 2001

Contracting Office

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 216, Greenbelt, MD 20771

ZIP Code

20771

Solicitation Number

RFP5-05167-215

Response Due

February 9, 2001

Point of Contact

Dawn M. Fountain, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 286-3815, Fax (301) 286-1773, Email dfountai@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov

E-Mail Address

Dawn M. Fountain (dfountai@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov)

Description

NASA/GSFC plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a six-month sole source extension of the Raytheon STX (RSTX) support service contract NAS5-32993 based upon 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1) Only One Responsible Source. The contract with RSTX began March 1, 1996 and will expire on February 28, 2001. The contract extension provides support for astronomy and solar physics research, and astronomy and solar physics instrument development in the Space Sciences Directorate. In order to provide this support, expertise is required in research techniques to extract new scientific knowledge from space observations, in engineering activities to develop space borne instrumentation, and in the Information Technology activities that support space borne instrumentation. To date, over 40 task orders provide support to GSFC within the Space Sciences Directorate consisting of research in a broad range of science disciplines including solar physics, space plasma physics, astrophysics, astronomy, and planetary studies. Support for this research will be provided in two main areas: astronomical and solar physics scientific research; design, development and operation of ultraviolet, optical, infrared, sub-millimeter, x-ray, and gamma ray detectors, and imaging and spectroscopic instruments. Work is currently underway to compete the present requirement on a Competitive Basis (Small Business Set-aside). The selection of the successor contractor and phase-in is expected to occur during this six-month extension period. RSTX's unique qualifications of specialized science research and instrument support have been developed from its past 4 years of supporting GSFC because of the extensive time and effort involved in getting up to speed in this contract; therefore, RSTX is the only responsible source capable of supporting GSFC's 40+ tasks currently being performed under NAS5-32993. Potential replacement of the incumbent at this time introduces unacceptable risks to the completion of the Center's mission milestones such as the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) a MIDEX Mission with a LASP PI, and the launch of the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Explorer (HESSI) a SMEX Mission with a LASP mission scientist and a PI at the University of California at Berkeley. In addition, RSTX possess technical expertise in the area of unique devices and computer software that were designed, developed, and implemented by RSTX personnel. Technical skills required to perform the full range of functions under this effort include strong backgrounds in the astronomy/physical sciences, engineering, and computer sciences. Moreover, substantial delays would be incurred during this training period such that it would not be cost-effective to train a new contractor for the six-month extension period. Companies seeking to contest this six-month sole source contract extension should fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication of this synopsis on the NAIS or Commerce Business Daily. Responses to the synopsis received after 15 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. See Note 22. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer, which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html

Web Link

Click here for the latest information about this notice (http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=51#RFP5-05167-215)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010123/BSOL004.HTM (D-019 SN50B2X2)