NASA GSFC Solicitation: Sole Source Contract Extension for the LROC Instrument Under LRO Mission
Synopsis – Jul 15, 2010
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNG07EK00C-R
Posted Date: Jul 15, 2010
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jul 15, 2010
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Jul 30, 2010
Current Response Date: Jul 30, 2010
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 517919 – All Other Telecommunications
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.S, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Description
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for the continuation of Contract NNG07EK00C with Arizona State University (ASU) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Investigation on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission. ASU is currently performing both the flight operations, which includes spacecraft operations planning, scheduling, and engineering parameter review and trending, as well as the science operations which includes initiating all target requests to the instrument, planning all instrument modes and turn-ons, data dissemination to the co-investigators and to the general scientific community through the Planetary Data System (PDS).
NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole-source Request for Proposal (RFP) to ASU. The estimated period of performance of this cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) contract extension will be for twenty-four (24) months from March 1, 2011 through March 15, 2013. ASU is the only organization currently qualified to perform the subject requirement for the following reasons: 1) This procurement will enable the science and flight operations activities to be merged and carried out at ASU with a substantial university undergraduate and graduate student educational involvement. Only ASU possesses the high level scientific expertise, the detailed knowledge of the LROC instrument and LRO spacecraft, the capability to carry out the targeting and operations in a manner in which the scientific operations and the flight operations can be merged. 2) ASU scientists and engineers are unique in their familiarity with the LROC instrument design, testing and calibration as well as the LRO spacecraft. From 2005-2009, ASU designed, fabricated, calibrated, tested, and integrated the LROC instrument for the LRO spacecraft, including at the Spacecraft level after delivery to LRO. Under contract NNG07EK00C, ASU has successfully carried out the science operations of the LROC instrument on the LRO spacecraft since LRO launch in June 2009. Dr. Mark Robinson of ASU, as a leading expert in his field of planetary geophysics, was selected by NASA Headquarters to lead this investigation, based on an evaluation of his proposal submitted under the Announcement of Opportunity for exploration measurements in NASA’s LRO Mission (AO NNH04ZSS003O). The LROC instrument is a state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind instrument. In addition, ASU developed software for: testing the instruments on-orbit, generating target selection, checking telemetry received for health and safety of the instruments, processing the raw data so that scientists can manipulate, display, and analyze the scientific data received, and producing summary data. This effort requires the detailed understanding of the instrument and all related software. Since no other organization was involved with these activities on an in-depth level, no other organization currently has the knowledge and experience to perform the requirement. 3) ASU scientists have helped lead the effort in the community to analyze the images and data products from the LROC Instrument, and are currently the only organization with the capability to carry out the combined scientific and instrument operations in conjunction with the educational opportunities.
Statutory authority for this firm-fixed price procurement is 10 U.S.C. 304(c)(1)–Only One Responsible Source. However, organizations who believe they can provide these services without any detrimental impact to the program schedules supported by this work should fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on July 30, 2010. 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.
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: Denise A. Byrd
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 301-286-8509
Fax: 301-286-1773
Email: denise.a.byrd@nasa.gov
Name: Julie A. Janus
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 301-286-4931
Fax: 301-286-0341
Email: Julie.A.Janus@nasa.gov
