CIESIN Socioeconomic Data and Application Center Distributed Active Archive

SOCIOECONOMIC DATA AND APPLICATIONS DISTRIBUTED ACTIVE ARCHIVE CENTER FOR NASA’S EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

Synopsis – Apr 04, 2013

General Information

Solicitation Number: 4200447556
Posted Date: Apr 04, 2013
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Apr 04, 2013
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Apr 19, 2013
Current Response Date: Apr 19, 2013
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.Y, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

NASA/GSFC has a requirement for a five-year contract (one-year base period and four 1-year options) with the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) of the Earth Institute at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. This requirement is for the continued development and operation of the Socioeconomic Data and Application Center Distributed Active Archive Center (SEDAC DAAC) for the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS,) pursuant to FAR 6.302-3, industrial mobilization; engineering; developmental or research capability; or expert services.

Specifically, the SEDAC DAAC is part of an established program of scientific research, academic involvement and education outreach at the university. As an institutional element within EOSDIS, SEDAC was created provide products and services for policy formulation and decision making which combined Earth Science and socioeconomic data as well as improve the exchange of data and information between Earth Science and socioeconomic data users. To perform this function, SEDAC utilizes data from NASA’s Earth Science research satellites as well as other Government and private sector programs. Using this data, SEDAC develops and manages geospatial data and information products which further the understanding the Earth as a system and enhances the interaction between scientific efforts at NASA and those at other agencies, as well as communication with the public and social science communities. Finally, SEDAC works with other EOSDIS data centers, which provide operational data and information services for other disciplines and are a source of products that are useful for socioeconomic research applications. There can be no interruption in services to the current contract that expires July 31, 2013. According to FAR 6.302-3(b)(2)(ii), the use of the authority at (a)(2)(ii) is appropriate when it is necessary to: Establish or maintain an essential capability for engineering or developmental work calling for the practical application of investigative findings and theories of a scientific or technical nature. The current sets of capabilities possessed by Columbia University are essential to NASA in that the combination of technological skills, scientific and theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on experience are necessary to operate and manage SEDAC.

NASA requirements include the following:

1)Information and data system management, software and system development necessary to support the socioeconomic data and applications; 2)Sustaining and expanding the existing information gateway between Earth science and socioeconomic science communities; 3)Sustaining a granule-based inventory for socioeconomic data archived and distributed by SEDAC; 4)Ensuring the long-term integrity and viability of the data products SEDAC generates or holds; 5)Dataset acquisition and applications development to include documentation, guides, metadata, and incorporation into SEDAC holdings as well as populating the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD and the EOS Clearing House (ECHO), a repository of NASA Earth science metadata; 6)Electronic distribution of data and products in formats consistent with the user’s needs, and; 7)User Services for SEDAC data products and for users attempting to overcome obstacles to analyses presented by the organization of the data.

The Columbia University CIESIN facility is uniquely qualified to take the remotely sensed data from NASA satellites and combine it with socioeconomic data including population information and other statistical data gathered by governments and agencies around the world. The CIESIN is widely known for its expertise in acquiring socioeconomic data as well as complementary earth science datasets, processing and gridding this data to create higher level geospatial informational products, and managing and disseminating these data and products effectively and efficiently to the user community. This unique synthesis of earth science and socioeconomic datasets allows researchers and policy analysts to more fully understand the human dimensions impact of global climate change both the impact of changes on populations and the impact of human populations on the climate system. CIESIN’s socioeconomic science expertise and experience coupled with its data management expertise distinguish this Columbia University facility from other potential sources having data and information capabilities. The combination of the institutional elements with an active science community makes the Columbia University a unique location, both nationally and internationally, for socioeconomic research and data applications. A unique organizational strength that CIESIN has is in the number of prominent scientists in the field of socioeconomic science and applications working at the Center and the close affiliation with other national socioeconomic scientists on the SEDAC DAAC User Working Group. CIESIN has affiliated scientists covering the mission areas of Population, Land Use, and Emissions (PLUE,) Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators (ENTRI,) socioeconomic Model Visualization and Analysis (MVA), Environment & Health (EH,) Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA,) Environmental Sustainability (ES,) Poverty & Food Security (PFS,) and socioeconomic information useful for geospatial analyses and applications. The CIESIN has direct contact with a group of these research scientists who interact on data management and data set priority issues. Further, NASA has affirmatively designated the SEDAC DAAC, among eight other discipline-specific data centers, to be the entity, which provides state-of-the-art data products for socioeconomic research. Without these skills, GSFC would be unable to meet needs of the EOSDIS in the area of socioeconomic research. No other institution was identified by GSFC to have similar experience and expertise. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than April 19, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 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.

All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing via email (oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.) to Elizabeth D. Abraham at elizabeth.d.abraham@nasa.gov not later than April 19, 2013 at 4:30 p.m EST.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

Point of Contact

Name: Elizabeth D Abraham
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 301-286-5064
Fax: 301-286-5373
Email: elizabeth.d.abraham@nasa.gov

Name: Sislyn P Barrett
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 301-614-5533
Fax: 301-286-5373
Email: Sislyn.P.Barrett@nasa.gov