NASA Solicitation: Intelligent Systems Research and Development Support 2
Synopsis – Mar 27, 2012
Draft Document – Posted on Mar 27, 2012
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNA12424845R
Posted Date: Mar 27, 2012
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Mar 27, 2012
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Apr 10, 2012
Current Response Date: Apr 10, 2012
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001
Description
NASA/ARC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for the Intelligent Systems Research and Development Support-2 (ISRDS-2). The Intelligent Systems Division (Code TI or the Division) is part of the Exploration Technology Directorate (Code T) at the NASA Ames Research Center. Code TI conducts scientific research, develops technologies, builds applications, and infuses and deploys advanced information systems technology into NASA missions and other federal government projects. This procurement is for research, development and infusion support services to assist that effort.
The Division is a major contributor to enabling technology research and development of NASA’s programs in Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD), Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD). Programs supported by the Division include ESMD’s Robotics, Operations and Supportability, ESMD’s Constellation, ESMD’s Exploration Technology Demonstration Program (ETDP), ARMD’s Aviation Safety and Fundamental Aeronautics programs, SOMD’s ISS Training system, SMD’s Landsat data and mission operations and the Center’s Small Satellite Research projects.
The Contractor shall provide research and development support in the following research domains: artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge-based systems, knowledge discovery and data mining, soft computing (including neural networks and fuzzy control methods), nanotechnology information processing and sensors, biologically inspired computer systems and human extensions, prognostic signal analysis, model-based diagnostic reasoning, software fault diagnostic and automated software methodologies, fault-tolerant computing hardware and networking, tele-presence and tele-control of remote, mobile platforms, autonomous and adaptive control, integrated design, human-centered computing, system design of a distributed heterogeneous network of workstations, and distribution of research information in various formats and forums.
The work will be performed primarily at Ames Research Center (ARC), Moffett Field, California. In this Request for Information (RFI), NASA ARC is soliciting information, for market research purposes, about potential sources and preferred contracting approaches for the above described services.
Notification is hereby provided of the availability of the Contracting Officer and Technical Representative to meet with interested parties on Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm for one half hour meeting once before the draft Request For Proposal (RFP) is released and once after the draft RFP is released. We also anticipate holding a Pre-solicitation Conference after the Draft RFP is released for review and comments from interested parties.
I. PURPOSE OF THIS SYNOPSIS/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
1) To request information on capabilities of potential Offerors to provide the services described in the attached Draft Statement of Work (SOW) in order to determine if this will be a small business set-aside. Information received as a result of this notice will be considered by the Government and used for acquisition planning purposes only. An interested parties list will be posted.
2) To request information from interested parties regarding their preferred contracting approach to provide the services described in the attached Draft SOW.
II. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED WORK BACKGROUND
The draft SOW establishes the requirements for providing flexible, responsive, coordinated, and comprehensive research and development support services for Code TI at the NASA Ames Research Center.
III. RESPONSES REGARDING POTENTIAL SOURCES–STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES
Interested Offerors having the required specialized capabilities/qualifications to support some or all of the work described in the Draft SOW are asked to submit a capability/qualification statement of 15 PAGES or less. There is no required font size and/or type designated for this Capability/Qualification Statement. Figures, exhibits, and diagrams should be readable. Submit your response electronically in PDF format. The Government requests separate files for the Statement of Capabilities response and the Contracting Approach response. The response must include the following: 1) Company name, address, point of contact, phone, fax, e-mail, and website (if applicable). 2) Whether your company is Large business, Small business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a)set-aside small business, HUBZone small business, Woman-owned small business, Veteran-owned small business, HBCU/MI, Service-Disabled Veteran-owned small business for NAICS code 541712 size standard 500 employees. 3) Your company’s capability in each of the technical areas. For each technical area, indicate what percentage of the technical area you would perform. 4) A list of relevant work performed in the past five (5) years, including contract type, contract number, technical description, dollar amount, period of performance, and a customer reference name and telephone number. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses. A multiple award or single award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract may also be considered.
IV. RESPONSES REGARDING THE CONTRACTING APPROACH
The Government is soliciting contracting approaches to the ISRDS-2 procurement that will enhance competition and provide business opportunities. Therefore, the Government is requesting feedback in the following areas for consideration during acquisition planning: a) Socio-economic considerations: ARC is interested in your comments on establishing subcontracting goals for Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-owned small business, Small-Disadvantaged Business, Women-owned small business, Veteran-owned small business, Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI), and HUBZone small business. b) Use of Incentives: In an attempt to determine the appropriate contract type (contract types for consideration, alone or in a hybrid combination, include both Fixed-Price and Cost-Reimbursement contracts, such as FFP, FPI, FPAF, CPFF, and CPIF), for this particular procurement, the Government is soliciting input from interested parties and asks that responses include information regarding why a particular contract type or combination of contract types might be more appropriate (benefits and impediments), how that proposed contract type would affect costs and how you would propose; as well as answers to the following questions: 1) Performance incentives: Please provide your view regarding types of fee, options ,and/or other appropriate incentives for contractor performance. 2) In a mixed-team (Government/Contractor) environment, how would you propose to measure factors such as the technical/cost/schedule performance, risk mitigation, employee and asset safety and security, innovative best practices, quality of service to users, responsiveness to changing requirements and budget, or identifying opportunities for technical and administrative improvement, or cost? c) Technical Information: What type of technical information along with the Statement of Work would you like to see with a potential solicitation (e.g., sample tasks)? d) Contract Content/Structure: Do you have any suggestions or examples of restructuring, simplifications, and clarity in the description of the technical areas of the draft SOW as well as other types of additional information that would improve understanding or clarity of requirements and terms and conditions?
There is no limit on the page length to your response to this part.
V. YOUR RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
All responses to the 1) Statement of Capabilities and 2) Contracting Approach shall be received no later than Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 4:30 PM PST. Please respond via electronic mail (e-mail) to the Contracting Officer, Sarah Andrae at sarah.m.andrae@nasa.gov. Written questions should also be directed to the Contracting Officer, Sarah Andrae at sarah.m.andrae@nasa.gov. If an interested party requests confirmation of receipt, the Contracting Officer will confirm receipt. In all responses, please reference “NNA12424845R” and “ISRDS-2”. Verbal questions will not be accepted. This Request for Information is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential Offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html .
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 site 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.
Point of Contact
Name: Sarah M Andrae
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 650-604-3136
Fax: 650-604-0912
Email: Sarah.M.Andrae@nasa.gov
