Status Report

NASA GSFC Solicitation: Market Research and Release of Draft Documents for Anticipated Procurement of the GOES R Series of Weather Satellites

By SpaceRef Editor
April 8, 2007
Filed under , , ,

Synopsis – Apr 04, 2007

Draft Document – Posted on Apr 04, 2007

General Information

Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: 4200193033
Posted Date: Apr 04, 2007
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Apr 04, 2007
Original Response Date: Apr 13, 2007
Current Response Date: Apr 13, 2007
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 336414 – Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing

Contracting Office Address

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

Description

The GOES are weather satellites built for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for use by the National Weather Service and other users. The R series of GOES spacecraft will carry multiple earth-observing, solar observing and space observing instruments. The GOES are based on a three-axis, body-stabilized design that enables the sensors to continuously view the U.S. and environs. NOAA awarded contracts for the Program Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) phase of GOES R to three contractor teams in anticipation of a single contract for both the spacecraft and ground system. However, as a result of PDRR and various external reviews, NOAA has determined that the spacecraft and ground system will be procured separately. NOAA has delegated to NASA the responsibility for development of the GOES spacecraft.

NASA anticipates issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) in August/September 2007, for the acquisition of the Implementation phase of the R series of GOES spacecraft. NASA anticipates award of a single CPAF contract.

Key milestones for the acquisition are estimated as follows:

Implementation contract award: May 2008 Flight Model (FM) 1 delivery: June 2014 FM 2 delivery: October 2015 FM 3 and 4 are options

A. Presolicitation:

This is a solicitation for information and planning purposes. NASA anticipates that only those spacecraft vendors involved in the NOAA PDRR phase contracts will be viable competitors for the prime contract for the Implementation Phase of GOES R spacecraft. However, in the interest of assessing whether other potential prime offerors exist, NASA has posted a draft specification on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service Web site at http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/procure.htm . The objective of this release is two-fold: 1) to invite potential prime offerors, who were not involved in the PDRR phase contracts, to submit information that allows the Government to advise them about their potential to be viable competitors for the prime contract; promote competition; improve potential offerors’ understanding of the Government’s requirements; and improve the Government’s knowledge of industry’s capabilities; and 2) to invite small, small disadvantaged, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses to submit capabilities statements for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and small business subcontracting goals for this requirement.

Prospective offerors for the prime contract, who were not involved in the NOAA PDRR contracts are invited to submit comments on the specification or on other approaches to the Government’s requirements.

This preliminary information is being made available for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled “Solicitation for Information or Planning Purposes.” It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. This procurement is subject to review or cancellation at any time.

The preliminary documents described in this notice constitute all information concerning the procurement of the GOES R series of spacecraft that will be furnished at this time. Firms interested in obtaining a hardcopy of this synopsis and specification must submit a request, in writing, to Clelia Walker, Code 210.7, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771.

Offerors who are interested in proposing for the prime contract, who were not involved in the NOAA PDRR contracts, and intend to respond with a qualifications statement are requested to contact Clelia Walker within two days of receiving this notice. Firms interested in proposing for the prime contract are requested to submit any comments and suggestions on the preliminary documents and their capability statements by April 13, 2007 to the address cited above.

We anticipate release of the final solicitation in August/September 2007. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the NASA Acquisition Internet Service.

B. Government Assessment of Viability to Propose on Prime Contract

1. NASA invites potential prime offerors, who were not involved in the NOAA PDRR contracts, to submit information that will allow it to advise them of their potential to be viable competitors for the prime contract. This procedure is described in Part 15.202 of the FAR. In order to be evaluated for your viability, you must submit the information described below. NASA will utilize this information in order to advise you of your potential to be a viable competitor for the prime contract for the R series of GOES spacecraft.

2. Information Requested – provide a capabilities and qualifications statement that includes:

a. A discussion of your past experience in developing spacecraft similar in nature to GOES, including a listing of contracts/subcontracts, and a brief description of the quality of your performance on these contracts.

b. A discussion of your understanding of the GOES R requirements, including: key technologies that can be applied to the GOES R; the impact of the resource envelope and the 5 year ground storage, 5 year on-orbit storage and 10 year on-orbit lifetime requirements in driving design considerations; lessons learned in past spacecraft development that can be applied to GOES R; any preliminary design and risk reduction activities that are relevant to GOES R.

c. A brief description of your facilities, financial condition and other resources necessary for formulating and implementing the GOES R spacecraft. Include the availability of your facilities and other resources.

This statement should be no more than 15 pages (8.5″ x 11″) in length.

3. NASA will evaluate the submitted capability and qualification statements by considering the following criteria:

a. Depth and relevance of experience and past performance history, which convey a demonstrated ability to successfully perform the implementation phase of GOES R.

b. A demonstrated understanding of the GOES R requirements, including payload accommodation, impact of design life on spacecraft design, and risks associated with the development and fabrication of the GOES R spacecraft.

c. The adequacy and availability of necessary facilities, financial condition and other resources for implementing and performing the GOES R contract.

After NASA’s evaluation of capability and qualification statements, NASA will advise each respondent, in writing, as to our assessment of viability to compete for the prime contract under this potential acquisition. To be considered a viable competitor, you must be rated viable for all criteria. NASA anticipates completing this evaluation within one week of receiving qualification statements. NASA may ask for supplemental information to your qualification statement if there is uncertainty as to your viability. You will be notified in writing regarding the results of this evaluation. If you are found not to be a viable competitor, NASA will advise you as to the basis for that determination. Notwithstanding the advice provided by the Government, non-viable respondents can participate in any resultant acquisition.

C. Small Business/Small Disadvantage Business/Women and/or Veteran Owned Business

Businesses under this category who wish to provide a capabilities statement should submit the same information as required for the potential prime offerors (see B.2 above). This information will be used to assess the level of subcontracting goals for the prime contract. Please note, however, that the Government does not intend to perform any viability assessment or notify the business entity as to their viability to participate in this requirement.

Point of Contact

Name: Clelia Walker
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 301-286-1351
Fax: 301-286-9777
Email: Clelia.A.Walker@nasa.gov

Name: Tammy E. Seidel
Title: Procurement Manager
Phone: 301-286-8124
Fax: 301-286-0383
Email: Tammy.E.Seidel@nasa.gov

SpaceRef staff editor.