CBD Annoucnement: Astrobiology and Space Research Services

COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF JUNE 26,2001 PSA#2880

SOL RFP2-36482-PBH-ROB

DUE 071301

POC Patricia B. Hudson, Contracting Officer, Phone (650) 604-3001, Fax (650) 604-4646

NASA/ARC plans to issue a Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) for Astrobiology and Space Research services (A&SR). The requirement includes, but is not limited to, services for support of life sciences research, advanced life support research and technology development, astrobiology, human factors research, and space life sciences projects, research in atmospheric and ecosystem science; planning, design, development, and operation of space and airborne systems and missions; basic and applied research in astrophysics, planetary systems, exobiology, and astrobiology; project management and administration; and infrared and cryogenic development. A sources sought synopsis was issued for market research purposes on August 11, 2000. The Draft Acquisition Plan was issued also on August 11, 2000 and had six questions that were deferred.

The following are the answers to those questions.

1. Sources/Extent of Competition: The follow-on strategy has resulted in ARC planning one solicitation with two contracts to be awarded. In the solicitation there will be a line item for each contract. The line item for Programs and Projects Services (P&P) will be a full and open competition. The line item for Research and Technology Development Services (R&T) will be set-aside for small business.

2. Whether or not all or part of the acquisition should be set-aside for SB/SDB A market survey and analysis was performed which consisted of a review of the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply Schedules, a search of the SBA s PRO-Net database, and a review of the capabilities statements resulting from the published sources sought synopsis. The Contracting Officer, the NASA small business specialist, the requesting organization’s technical representative, and the Small Business Administration Procurement Center Representative collectively reviewed the market survey results in conjunction with the requirements. Based on the results of the analysis performed from the capabilities statements and other sourcing information available, it was determined that the P&P Services would be full and open competition. It was determined that the R&T Services would be a small business set-aside.

3. Number of Contracts (one or more for all of the work described in the draft acquisition plan) The number of contracts was determined by evaluating the capability statements and reviewing the requirements.

4. Specific ways to incorporate PBC We plan to have metrics within each task order. The metrics will be in the areas of cost control, technical performance, and schedule performance. The metrics will have defined economic consequences and incentives. The award fee evaluation will cumulate the results of the metrics on each task to determine the economic consequences and incentives.

5. Risk Identification/satisfaction/mitigation (from an industry perspective). Industry responded with many quality responses in regard to risk identification. The NASA technical community recently embedded the principles of Risk Management into NPG 7120.5, which governs how projects and programs are planned and managed. Risk-Based Acquisition Management (RBAM) seeks to integrate risk principles (including safety, security, health, cost, schedule, technical, unauthorized technology transfer, resource, and need to involve foreign sources) through the entire acquisition process. NASA Ames Research Center considered the implications of programmatic risk when developing the acquisition strategy. The acquisition team utilized input from the Center Offices responsible for security, safety and mission assurance, occupational health, environmental protection, information technology, and export control in developing this acquisition plan. Due to the breadth of programs and projects to be supported by the resultant contracts, NASA will be using more than one Risk Management Plan, a document covered by NPG 7120.5A.

6. Contract Type (CR/AF vs. Award Term (or other)) The contract type will be CPAF for both contracts. Neither contract will be an award term contract. For Programs and Projects Services Contract a waiver is in the process of being requested from NASA Headquarter to allow this contract to be eight years with a three year base, a first option period of two years and a second option period of three years. The Research and Technology Development Services Contract will be a five year contract with a base period of two years, a first option period of one year and a second option period of two years. Potential offerors are encouraged to comment on all aspects of the solicitation, including requirements, schedules, proposal instructions, and evaluation approaches. The Pre-Solicitation Conference and Site Visit will be held on July 10, 2001 for the P&P contract and July 11, 2001 for the R&T contract. The cut-off for comments or questions is 12:00 p.m. PST July 13, 2001. Time and Place will be named in the Draft RFP.

All comments or questions shall be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer as designated below. Comments on the Draft RFP are not mandatory. The use of industry comments to structure the final RFP is at the discretion of the Government. In accordance with FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997), the Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of the Draft RFP or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. The provisions and clauses in the Draft RFP are those in effect through FAC 97-26. The government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR part 12. See note 26. The NAICS Code and Size Standard is 541710 and 500, respectively.

The DPAS rating for this procurement is DO-C9. No solicitation exists at this time; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The anticipated release date of the Draft RFP is on or about June 27, 2001. The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. An electronic library will be posted with the Draft RFP. It will consist of various items that would normally be in hard version on site at Ames, i.e. all the current tasks orders, current statement’s or work, etc.

The Internet site, or URL, for NASA/ARC Business Opportunities home page is http://procurement.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=21. The documents will be in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel and will reside on the World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the draft and final solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html. An ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note “B”.

Email phudson@mail.arc.nasa.gov –Rhonda O. Baker, Contract Specialist, Phone (650) 604-5631, Fax (650) 604-4646, Email rbaker@mail.arc.nasa.gov.

WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=21#RFP2-36482-PBH-ROB.