NASA GSFC Solicitation: NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center

Synopsis – Feb 09, 2006

General Information

Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: GBE2587
Posted Date: Feb 09, 2006
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Feb 09, 2006
Original Response Date: Mar 30, 2006
Current Response Date: Mar 30, 2006
Classification Code: M — Operation of Government-owned facilities
NAICS Code: 561990 – All Other Support Services

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Code 210.W, Wallops Island, VA 23337

Description

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops Flight Facility is hereby issuing a Request for Information (RFI). This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry, academia, and other non-profit organizations the opportunity to offer creative solutions, verify the reasonableness and feasibility of the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center proposed objectives, as well as promote competition.

The NASA Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)/Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) conducts education and outreach programs and operates a facility – the NASA Visitor Center – which is used as an education facility for the public as well as a meeting/conference site for organizations located at Wallops. The Visitor Center (Bldg. J-20) is an approximately 9,000 square foot building located adjacent to the Wallops Flight Facility on Va. Route 175/Chincoteague Road, Wallops Island, Virginia. There also is an office building (J-17) and an Educator Resource Center (Bldg. J-93) located on the site. Attendance at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center has averaged 44,000 each year since 1996. It has annually hosted 171 groups, mostly schools, since 1999. These groups accounted for 6,135 of the average annual attendance.

The Wallops Flight Facility is hereby soliciting creative approaches from potential sources for the development and/or use of the Wallops NASA Visitor Center to accomplish three main NASA Visitor Center objectives: Public Education Outreach and Programs; Educator Resource Center; and Conference/Meeting Center. Included in this RFI is a document entitled “Statement of Objectives” containing detailed information about each of these potential objectives.

As part of this RFI, Wallops welcomes innovative ideas or approaches for outsourcing any, any combination or all of the three NASA Visitor Center objectives. Ideas and approaches to outsourcing or commercialization are limited to the use of these facilities. The gift shop at the Visitor Center is operated by the Wallops Exchange and Morale Association. Inclusion of the gift shop in submissions will need to take this into account.

Ideas may include forming partnerships or other collaborative relationships with commercial, academic, or other governmental organizations and/or phasing in development to satisfy NASA educational functions and meeting/conference activities by both NASA-sponsored and non-NASA groups.

Interested parties are hereby invited to submit ideas/creative approaches to meeting the requirements of this RFI. Submissions to this RFI are not, and will not be considered official proposals to provide these services. It is intended that the submission will be used by the Government to determine the feasibility of this approach, the degree of interest in the industry and other interested parties, and to aid in formation of requirements for a potential future solicitation for proposals. Any submissions to this request shall be limited to no more than 20 pages, including attachments. Additional instructions for submissions are included in the attached document available for download. Submissions are due no later than March 30, 2006, and shall be submitted to the address included in the attached document.

This RFI is for information and planning purposes 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. The Government may invite respondent in for further discussion of ideas and concept.

All questions must be submitted in writing and directed to Mr. Jim Dolan, Mail Code 210.W at NASA/GSFC Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337 or faxed to 757-824-1974. We will not respond to telephone inquiries.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops Flight Facility operates a NASA Visitor Center that houses exhibits highlighting NASA activities throughout the agency and at Wallops and other organizations at the Facility. The Visitor Center is used to conduct education and outreach programs and used as a meeting/conference site for NASA-sponsored and non-NASA functions.

NASA is issuing this document to solicit creative approaches using expertise and facilities that carry out these functions and needs on behalf of the Wallops Flight Facility.

As part of this RFI, Wallops welcomes innovative ideas or approaches for outsourcing or commercialization of the facilities and these activities.

Ideas may include forming partnerships or other collaborative relationships with commercial, academic or other governmental organizations and/or phasing in development to satisfy NASA educational and outreach functions as well as provide meeting/conference services.

Wallops is seeking from prospective recipients innovative proposals that would include providing all or some of the following three objectives:

• Develop innovative and creative exhibits and programs for public tours and outreach activities, in partnership with Wallops and formal and informal educational and community-based organizations that share NASA’s commitment to increase science literacy, to enhance Wallops’ presence in the local community and share information about NASA and Wallops’ missions and discoveries with the public.
• Operate the Wallops Educator Resource Center and provide extensive outreach to the local community with special attention to the youth of the region to stimulate their interest in math, science and technology aerospace careers.
• Maintain, schedule, operate and fully use the Wallops’ NASA Visitor Center, Building J-20, as an educational facility and as a facility for meetings of NASA-sponsored groups as well as non-NASA organizations.

A. PUBLIC EDUCATION OUTREACH AND PROGRAMING

Development, implement and manage a variety of programs that reach the general public. These programs include but are not limited to:

• Tours of the Wallops Flight Facility
• Exhibits
• Programs

Tours

• Provide tours and conduct orientation and special topic lectures on the Wallops Flight Facility for school-age students, youth groups and pubic organizations.
• Develop tour themes which are linked to the NASA Exploration, Aeronautics, Science and Human Spaceflight Directorates.
• Provide educational groups with both pre and post-tour information to include activities on Wallops and the NASA Directorates that support the Standards of Learning.

Exhibits

• Develop an exhibit program for the Visitor Center that educates the public on the NASA mission with an emphasis on Wallops’ NASA activities; that describes non-NASA activity at Wallops; and/or features scientific or technological principles.

Programs

• Develop and conduct activities and programs for the public on the NASA mission with an emphasis on Wallops’ NASA activities; that describes non-NASA activity at Wallops; and/or features scientific or technological principles.

B. EDUCATOR RESOURCE CENTER

Manage and operate the Wallops Educator Resource Center (ERC). Services shall include, but are not limited to providing to the adult educational community the following:

• Provide visiting educators materials available in the ERC and training educators on the use of them.
• Assisting visiting educators in using the audio/video, digital and duplicating systems.
• Conduct educational instructional programs related to the aerospace educational materials for teacher groups when deemed appropriate.
• Collaborate with state, local and district educational organizations, systems and educators.

C. WALLOPS CONFERENCE AND MEETING CENTER

The Wallops NASA Visitor Center is located outside the security perimeter of the WFF and may be used as a conference/meeting site for functions sponsored by NASA and other organizations at Wallops. Parking is available for approximately 46 vehicles. The building is equipped with two exhibit halls, an observation deck, and one auditorium. The Visitor Center can accommodate meetings/conferences up to approximately 110 people and receptions for up to 200 people.

Special Note: A tour of the Wallops NASA Visitor Center is possible. Please contact Mr. Keith Koehler at 757-824-1579, if interested.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSIONS

General Instructions

The above Statement of Objectives represents the Government’s desired requirements. It is not necessary to respond to or provide all of the above items. As stated in the announcement, it is intended that the submission will be used by the Government to determine the feasibility of this approach, the degree of interest in the industry, and to aid in the formulate requirements for a potential future solicitation for proposals.

Each submission must identify which area or areas of the requirement, the respondent is addressing. Included in your submission, should be the following:

1. Detailed narrative of your approach to meeting the requirement 2. List of Teaming Partners (if applicable) and their roles, responsibilities. and level of commitment (both technically and financially). Note: If NASA will be participating as a teaming member, provide an estimate of the required contribution. 3. Project Cost estimate (This information will only be used to gauge the magnitude of the effort and enable the Government to place your approach into perspective) 4. Projected implementation time table, including discussion of all critical milestones. 5. Names and contact information.

Delivery Instructions

All submissions must be received no later than March 30, 2006. As stated in the announcement, all submissions to this request shall be limited to no more than 20 pages, including attachments. Electronic submissions will not be accepted.

Please provide 3 copies of your submission and send them to:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility Bldg E-105 Code 210.W Wallops Island, VA 23337 Attention: Mr. James R. Dolan

Point of Contact

Name: James R. Dolan
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: (757) 824-2587
Fax: (757) 824-1974
Email: James.R.Dolan@.nasa.gov

Name: Bernard J Pagliaro
Title: Procurement Manager
Phone: (757) 824-1277
Fax: (757) 824-1974
Email: Bernard.J.Pagliaro@nasa.gov