NASA Solicitation: The Expansion of the SERVIR System to the Himalaya Region
Synopsis – Mar 09, 2010
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNM10330374R
Posted Date: Mar 09, 2010
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Mar 09, 2010
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Mar 24, 2010
Current Response Date: Mar 24, 2010
Classification Code: B — Special studies and analysis – not R and D
NAICS Code: 541360 – Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services
Contracting Office Address
NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Description
NASA/MSFC has a requirement for the addition of a third SERVIR (Regional Visualization and Monitoring System) Node to be hosted in Kathmandu, Nepal to serve the Himalaya region. The overarching purpose of the SERVIR-Himalaya initiative is to improve environmental decision-making in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region through dissemination and analyses of earth observation information. Stakeholders for this kind of information range from decision-makers at the regional level addressing trans-boundary issues, to national governments, scientists, students, the general public, USAID, other donors, and development practitioners working in the region. Ultimately, SERVIR should help to reach beyond the scientific community to ensure an impact on communities. It is intended to strengthen ICIMOD’s capabilities as an established regional resource center on geospatial information and earth observation applications for the HKH region.
NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Competition is impractical for the following reasons:
1.The funds specifically dedicated to expand the SERVIR system to the Himalaya region are provided to NASA from the USAID under a Participating Agency Program Agreement. USAID identified the Himalayas as the region to continue the global expansion of SERVIR, and identified and approved ICIMOD for hosting and operating the SERVIR-Himalaya node.
2.ICIMOD is based in Kathmandu, Nepal and has been operational since 1983. ICIMOD is a regional knowledge development and learning center serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. ICIMOD supports regional transboundary programs through partnership with regional partner institutions, facilitate the exchange of experience, and serve as a regional knowledge hub. As such ICIMOD satisfies USAID’s requirement for an established regional institution.
3.This project requires readily available diversified skills for successful implementation. ICIMOD’s staff comes from all the countries in the HKH region and many countries beyond. They cover a diverse range of subjects related to sustainable mountain development’ including, for example, gender and development, agroforestry, common property resource management, land-use planning, hazard mitigation, rangeland management, biodiversity, soil and water conservation, alternative energy systems, GIS applications, and knowledge and information management. ICIMOD contains the basic infrastructure as well as staff who possess readily available expertise necessary to expand the SERVIR system to the Himalaya region.
4.USAID has determined that during 2010 a formal meeting (SERVIR Summit) be held with representatives from each SERVIR node, SERVIR Coordination Office, NASA’s Rapid Prototyping facility, and USAID. The SERVIR Summit is to allow for technical exchange and address challenges faced by each node concerning financial sustainability, government relations, data sharing, internet connectivity, and outreach to user communities. It is NASA and USAID’s desire to include ICIMOD to benefit from the additional expertise and experience, and apply lessons learned early in the initial operations of a new node. The SERVIR Summit is expected to occur in late spring or early summer. Therefore, an immediate start is essential if NASA has any chance of establishing the third SERVIR node in time to support the summit. Even with the use of already existing expertise and basic infrastructure, the schedule and work plan must be carefully orchestrated to meet this stringent deadline.
5.SERVIR is a high-visibility project at NASA/MSFC, NASA/HQ and USAID. It is also the model in the Americas for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems–a multinational effort to build an earth observation system. It is also a key implementation project under the Central American-United States Joint Accord signed by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on June 7, 2001. This level of visibility further supports the need to engage an institution such as ICIMOD that is well recognized in the geospatial community.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. 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.
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 may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
Point of Contact
Name: Iris Walter
Title: Contracts Administrator
Phone: 256-961-7054
Fax: 256-961-7148
Email: Iris.R.Walter@nasa.gov
Name: Belinda F Triplett
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 256-961-7650
Fax: 256-961-7524
Email: belinda.f.triplett@nasa.gov
