NASA Solicitation: Joint Polar Satellite Systems Spacecraft
Synopsis – Jun 25, 2010
General Information
Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: SC-JPSS1
Posted Date: Jun 25, 2010
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jun 25, 2010
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Jul 12, 2010
Current Response Date: Jul 12, 2010
Classification Code: 18 — Space vehicles
NAICS Code: 336414 – Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Description
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement to implement the restructuring of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). The existing program was managed through a tri-agency organization. This governance is being eliminated, and the primary responsibility for meteorological and climate data collection by the afternoon orbit satellites now resides with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These satellites will provide civil weather forecasting and climate data through a program now called the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). This transition includes assuming responsibility for the in-process builds for four instruments and a ground system along with the need for a spacecraft.
NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source procurement or a non-competitive delivery order under the Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition contract to Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation (BATC) for a BCP 2000 spacecraft to be launched no later than 2014.
The intent of the restructure directed by the Executive Office of the President was to transfer, to a NASA management structure, the existing complement of afternoon orbit instruments and ground system, along with the provision of suitable spacecraft, as determined jointly by NASA and NOAA, to carry these instruments in the afternoon orbit. This spacecraft will serve as a back-up and replacement for, and would utilize the same instruments and same ground system as the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft. NPP was originally intended as a technology demonstration mission. However, delays in the NPOESS program have resulted in NPP being used as an operational “gap-filler” mission. Since NPP was never intended to be an operational spacecraft there is some concern as to its life expectancy. Therefore NASA has determined that the only available course of action that meets the requirement to reduce the risk of a coverage gap in the case of any premature failures of the NPP or its instruments is to procure, on a sole source basis, a suitable spacecraft, designated JPSS-1, that can be launched without unreasonable delay and carry the same suite of instruments as NPP. NOAA and NASA have determined that effectively mitigating the risks associated with NPP requires the launch of the JPSS-1 as early as possible, no later than 2014. NASA has determined that the only suitable spacecraft is a BATC BCP 2000 spacecraft bus, as it is the only spacecraft that can be launched and placed into service at a date sufficiently early to provide meaningful mitigation of this risk. Award to any other source would cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements to ensure data continuity for weather and storm forecasting.
Statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1) – Only One Responsible Source. However, any organization that believes they can provide these items without any detrimental impact to the program mission should fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication of the synopsis.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform any of these efforts in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 2:00 pm EST on July 12, 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.
Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.
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: Sandra L. Marshall
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 301-286-2812
Fax: 301-286-0237
Email: Sandra.L.Marshall@nasa.gov
Name: William H. Bolingbroke
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 301-286-6062
Fax: 301-286-0530
Email: william.h.bolingbroke@nasa.gov
