NASA Solicitation: Earth Observing System Data and Information System Snow and Ice Distributed Active Archive Center
Synopsis – Jun 13, 2007
Draft Document – Posted on Jun 13, 2007
General Information
Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: Col2007
Posted Date: Jun 13, 2007
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jun 13, 2007
Original Response Date: Jul 17, 2007
Current Response Date: Jul 17, 2007
Classification Code: B — Special studies and analysis – not R and D
NAICS Code: 541710 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.Y, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Description
This notice is issued by the NASA/GSFC to post a Request for Information and Statement of Work] via the internet, and solicit responses from interested parties. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition.
NASA/GSFC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for the operation of the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for snow and ice data.
No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.
This EOSDIS snow and ice data center is currently located at the University of Colorado, Boulder campus as the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This DAAC is required to process and distribute snow and ice data products needed for Earth science research, as well as snow and ice data products generated from Earth science instruments, which are useful to the broader science community and educational institutions. This DAAC is responsible for managing the cryospheric data and data products from SSM/I, AMSR, GLAS and MODIS, and derived products from these instruments. This DAAC will support its user community by providing cryospheric data and information services, assisting in locating and manipulating related data not archived at the DAAC, and serving as a point of contact for the development and implementation of new geophysical algorithms to derive standard snow and ice products.
NASA is interested in awarding (or renewing) a cost, no-fee type contract for acquiring, storing and distributing snow and ice data with a group that would work cooperatively with the ESDIS Project and the Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs). The period of performance is five years starting in May 2008. The functions of this facility would include, but are not limited to (see the Statement of Work):
1) Manage existing data collections and acquire new data streams needed to meet NASA Earth science objectives. 2) Acquire, produce, archive and distribute snow and ice data products from Earth science or other closely related instruments, as well as supporting/validation data from in-situ sources. 3) Facilitate the use of those products in modeling cryosphere-climate systems processes. 4) Share DAAC expertise with the user community. 5) Process satellite instrument data using algorithms provided by EOS-funded investigators. 6) Implement and/or test existing and new algorithms to derive geophysical products from satellite imagery and related ancillary products. 7) Collecting information needed for specifying EOSDIS requirements. 8) Review and test enhancements of the EOSDIS Core System (ECS). 9) Track user requests and user needs to access resources in greatest demand. 10) Conduct system engineering studies of the DAAC needs. 11) Support the ECS verification and acceptance test activities at the DAAC. 12) Operate and maintain the DAAC, including ECS elements deployed to the DAAC. 13) Populate and update the Global Change Master Directory with information about data sets available from the DAAC. Populate and update the EOSDIS ClearingHouse (ECHO) with metadata about datasets available from the DAAC. 14) Prepare and disseminate information on DAAC activities. 15) Develop and implement methods to ensure data integrity. 16) Establish and maintain an effective DAAC User Working Group. 17) Establish and maintain a formal configuration management process. 18) Provide regular activity and financial reports. 19) Interact with the other NASA Earth science data centers and NASA Headquarters. 20) Exhibit expertise in cryospheric data for the user community. 21) Staff with trained engineers, scientists and operators.
Constraints: 1) This facility should be resident at or have a strong partnership with a university to encourage education outreach, academic involvement and scientific research. 2) Site must possess an acceptable level of support personnel and network security. 3) The facility should already exist and require little modification. 4) High speed data networks and communication systems should already be in place and available for use. 5) Management and personnel should already be familiar with managing data acquisition, product generation, archiving, and distribution of cryospheric science data. 6) Management must have experience coordinating and conducting operations with U.S. and foreign agencies.
For an understanding of the scope of the maintenance and operation of this DAAC respondents should review the provided references. These documents serve as a backdrop against which respondents must frame and pose the appropriate advanced information technology topics for further consideration: Reference URL
1. NSIDC Website
2. ESDIS Project Website
http://spsosun.gsfc.nasa.gov/eosinfo/Welcome/index.html
3. EOSDIS DAAC Website
http://nasadaacs.eos.nasa.gov/about.html
4. ESDIS Master Document System
https://romulus.gsfc.nasa.gov/htbin/cm/emdshome.cgi
5. Sample Statement of Work
http://romulus.gsfc.nasa.gov/nsirfi/nsi_documents.html
Table 1
The ESDIS Project encourages responses from businesses or other groups interested in the opportunity of providing a snow and ice DAAC site. The responses should demonstrate the operational reliability and robustness of the proposed approach, as well as simplicity and straightforwardness for users and the DAAC. The responses should show how the system could adapt to growth in the user community, changes in systems interfaces, and changes in technology.
Interested offerors/vendors having the required specialized capabilities to meet the above requirement should submit a capability statement of five (5) pages or less indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort described herein, which conforms to Annex 1, “Template For NSIDC DAAC Continuing Maintenance and Operation Submittal”. The paper should clearly address their level of knowledge in the cryospheric sciences, and past interactions with this user community. The approach should provide a portion or all of the needed capabilities. Comments and suggestions for improving the snow and ice DAAC are always encouraged and solicited.
Technical questions should be directed to:
Ms. Jeanne Behnke ESDIS Project, Code 423 Goddard Space Flight Center Tel. (301) 614-5326 Fax (301) 614-5267 E-mail: Jeanne.Behnke@nasa.gov
Procurement related questions should be directed to:
Ms. Gail Boger Mail Stop 423 Goddard Space Flight Center Tel. (301) 614-5298 Fax (301) 614-5267 E-mail: Gail.D.Boger@nasa.gov
This synopsis 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. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. Annex 1
TEMPLATE FOR NSIDC DAAC CONTINUING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION SUBMITTAL
1. Background and Description of Proposed Approach Describe in adequate detail the specific approach to implementing the snow and ice DAAC, which is being proposed for ESDIS Project consideration, the current state of its development, how interfaces to DAAC-based systems would be implemented, the comparability of your approach with or its use of current and/or anticipated commercial approaches. You should provide an Operations Concept (“a day in the life” scenario) illustrating the use of your approach.
2. Operational Robustness and Flexibility for Growth and Evolution of Proposed Approach Address the operational reliability and robustness of your proposed approach, as well as simplicity and straightforwardness for cryospheric science users and the DAACs. Describe how your approach to providing the system could adapt to growth in the user community, changes in the systems interfaces, and changes in technology.
3. Science Support for cryosphere user community Describe specific details how the cryospheric science community will benefit from the support the Snow and Ice DAAC will provide. Describe the research organizations available and educational outreach mechanisms in place to assist the cryospheric science community.
4. Cost to Operate
Provide a typical year of the cost to operate the NSIDC DAAC on an annual basis, and transitional cost for hardware migration to a potential new site.
SCHEDULE:
Deadline for Submission: 30 days; due at 4:00pm Eastern
Responses may be sent via electronic mail (in either Microsoft Word or ADOBE PDF format), regular mail, or fax to:
Ms. Gail Boger Mail Stop 423 Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD 20771 Tel. (301) 614-5298 Fax (301) 614-5267 E-mail: Gail.D.Boger@nasa.gov
If you respond via regular mail or fax, please also provide an electronic copy in the above formats in addition to the printed version of your submission.
When responding reference Col2007.
This presolicitation synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. Respondents will not be notified of the results.
An ombudsman has been appointed — See NASA Specific Note “B”. The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/GSFC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=51 It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor the Internet cite for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
Point of Contact
Name: Gail D Boger
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 301-614-5298
Fax: 301-614-5267
Email: gail.d.boger@nasa.gov
Name: Ann L. Kearney
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 301-614-5298
Fax: 301-614-5267
Email: ann.l.kearney@nasa.gov
