NASA Solicitation: Adaptation and Implementation of the My Community Our Earth Program for SERVIR
Synopsis – Dec 29, 2011
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNM12416659R
Posted Date: Dec 29, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Dec 29, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Jan 12, 2012
Current Response Date: Jan 12, 2012
Classification Code: L — Technical representative services
NAICS Code: 541360
Contracting Office Address
NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Description
NASA/MSFC has a requirement for the continuation of the My Community, Our Earth (MYCOE) in support of the Regional Visualization and Monitoring System (SERVIR) Global program. The activities associated with this procurement will build upon past SERVIR collaboration, current MyCOE work, and partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other public and private partners. The already proven regional model for utilizing geographic technologies for capacity building will be extended globally to support and assist the growth of the overall SERVIR network.
NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from the Association of American Geographers (AAG). Competition is impractical for the following reasons:
1. AAG has served as the MyCOE Secretariat since its inception, collaborating with international academic organizations, government and nonprofit agencies, and private firms to further the advancement of geographic learning for capacity building and sustainable development. USAID provides funding for SERVIR and is one of nine founding sponsors of the MyCOE program. In the past, USAID sponsored MyCOE’s biodiversity initiative in Central America and highly supports the use of MyCOE for SERVIR global expansion. Furthermore, NASA benefits from being able to leverage an existing USAID investment in MyCOE.
2. This procurement is a follow-on for continuation of activities where AAG adapted the MyCOE program processes and infrastructure to support SERVIR in East Africa. More significantly it is a follow-on to the MyCOE program efforts sponsored by multiple federal agencies since its inception in 2002 to present. Award to any other entity would result in duplication of costs that would not be recovered through competition and would fail to leverage the synergy and cost savings through leveraging the ongoing MYCOE program efforts.
3. Funds provided to NASA from USAID to establish and expand the SERVIR system globally included a stipulation that a significant portion of the funds be used for capacity building. MyCOE uses a proven regional model to address how geographic data and tools may be applied to critical regional needs and does so through improving the capacity within the regions. This model has been accepted by USAID as shown in their investment and continued support of the MyCOE program.
4. SERVIR has already completed a successful collaboration with AAG implementing MyCOE in East Africa and can leverage this experience as the program expands globally. Since SERVIR has great familiarity with MyCOE, global expansion of the model will be much easier and greatly enhances SERVIR’s ability to quickly satisfy some of the capacity building requirements from USAID.
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. For these reasons, it is of benefit to NASA to deepen its affiliation with the MyCOE program that is globally recognized and accepted thus joining other sponsoring and contributing federal agencies and reputable institutions such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), U.S. Department of State, USAID, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), and many others.
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 Thursday, January 12, 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.
Oral communications are 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 Email: 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: Melinda E. Dodson
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 256-961-7454
Fax: 256-961-7524
Email: Melinda.E.Dodson@nasa.gov
