NASA GSFC Solicitation: Joint Polar Satellite System Instruments for JPSS-2 Mission

Synopsis – Feb 28, 2012

General Information

Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: JPSS-2-Instruments
Posted Date: Feb 28, 2012
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Feb 28, 2012
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Mar 16, 2012
Current Response Date: Mar 16, 2012
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712

Contracting Office Address

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

Description

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to issue a sole-source procurement to each of the following companies for the following efforts: ITT Space Systems – Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS); Ball Aerospace and Technologies – Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS); Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems – Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS).

NASA/GSFC was directed to implement the restructuring of the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). The existing program was managed through a tri-agency organization and this governance was eliminated and the primary responsibility of the after orbit satellites now belongs to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These satellites provide civil weather forecasting and climate data in a program now called the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS).

As part of that transition, NASA assumed responsibility for the instruments and converted the existing instrument subcontracts to NASA prime contracts. NASA only issued prime contracts on the instrument units that were currently under construction on the NPOESS contract including: three Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer (VIIRS) units, two CrIS, two OMPS, and one ATMS (a second ATMS was procured under a separate NASA contract). The VIIRS quantities converted support three missions (NPP, JPSS-1, and JPSS-2), while the CrIS, OMPS, and ATMS quantities support two missions (NPP and JPSS-1). A sole-source procurement is thus sought for the remaining instruments to be manifested on the JPSS-2 mission (CrIS, OMPS, ATMS).

To maintain data continuity, NOAA must use instruments with the same performance as the current instruments. Any new instrument design would drive changes and costs to the existing program and would not meet NOAA’s technical, schedule, and budget parameters. This would force a delay in the JPSS-2 development thereby increasing the risk of a weather and climate data gap. The above-mentioned contractors are uniquely qualified for these contracts as they are currently building their respective instruments and are the only ones capable of making copies, because access to the necessary intellectual property data is not available to the public at large. Subsequently, they are the only sources that can ensure data continuity for weather and storm forecasting.

Statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1) – Only One Responsible Source. However, any organization who believes they can provide these items without any detrimental impact to the program mission should fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication of the synopsis.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform any of these efforts in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 5:00 pm ET on March 16, 2012. 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 responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. 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: James S. King
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 240-684-0615
Fax: 240-684-0635
Email: james.s.king@nasa.gov

Name: Sandra L. Marshall
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 240-684-0532
Fax: 240-684-0550
Email: Sandra.L.Marshall@nasa.gov