NASA MSFC Solicitation: Further Expansion of the SERVIR System to East Africa

Synopsis – Feb 18, 2011

General Information

Solicitation Number: NNM11036114R
Posted Date: Feb 18, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Feb 18, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Mar 05, 2011
Current Response Date: Mar 05, 2011
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541370 – Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services

Contracting Office Address

NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

Description

NASA/MSFC has a requirement to advance SERVIR-Africa beyond the installation of the initial infrastructure and early development of the integrated platform and science applications. The specific focus will be on enhancing the functionality and performance of the SERVIR regional platform at RCMRD, capacity building and training, and development of national application priorities in response to the needs assessment results.

NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from the Regional Center for the Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) to further the expansion of the SERVIR system to East Africa. Competition is impractical for the following reasons:

1. RCMRD is already partnering with NASA and USAID, and has been implementing this work since its inception. An immediate start is necessary to avoid an interruption of activity and unrecoverable schedule and project implementation impacts.

2. Funding was provided to NASA from USAID under a Participating Agency Program Agreement. USAID approved RCMRD for hosting and operating the SERVIR-Africa system, and supports continuation of RCMRD’s engagement.

3. The initial infrastructure has been set-up at RCMRD with the installation of USAID funded equipment (hardware and software).

4. RCMRD is a collaborator on NASA’s ROSES 2007 SERVIR-Africa project. That project is now in its final stages. Without RCMRD’s involvement, the completion of the NASA ROSES project could be negatively impacted.

5. SERVIR is a high-visibility project at NASA/MSFC, NASA/HQ and USAID. It is also the model in the Americas for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems–a multinational effort to build an earth observation system. It is also a key implementation project under the Central American-United States Joint Accord signed by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on June 7, 2001. This level of visibility further supports the need to continue engaging an institution such as RCMRD that is well recognized in the geospatial community.

6. South-South collaboration has been established between the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC), which hosts and operates the SERVIR system in Mesoamerica, and RCMRD. This relationship provides yet further rationale for engaging RCMRD; hence, NASA can continue to benefit from the technical interchange and technology transfer that is already occurring between these two highly regarded institutions.

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 4:30 p.m. local time on March 5, 2011. 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.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

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

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The installation Ombudsman is:

Robin N. Henderson NASA/MSFC Building 4200, Room 918A Telephone: 256-544-1919 FAX: 256-544-7920 E-Mail: robin.n.henderson@nasa.gov

Point of Contact

Name: Iris Walter
Title: Contracts Administrator
Phone: 256-961-7054
Fax: 256-961-7148
Email: Iris.R.Walter@nasa.gov

Name: Mark R. Stiles
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 256-544-0381
Fax: 256-544-6062
Email: mark.r.stiles@nasa.gov