NASA Web Portal Services

General Information

• Document Type: Presolicitation Notice
• Solicitation Number: RFPW-03-HAD-001
• Posted Date: Sep 10, 2003
• Original Response Date: Sep 24, 2003
• Original Archive Date: Sep 10, 2004
• Current Archive Date:
• Classification Code: D — Information technology services, including telecommunications services

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

NASA intends to award a sole-source contract to eTouch Systems, Inc., pursuant to 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source. This procurement is a continuation of work currently being performed, in support of NASA Headquarters, Office of Public Affairs, Media Services Division. The current contractor provides ongoing support and continued development for the NASA web portal. NASA intends to award a contract for a period of 1-year from December 1, 2003, to November 30, 2004, with a 1-year option potentially extending the contract through November 30, 2005. The contractor will continue to work within the framework of the existing design and information technology infrastructure created under the predecessor contract. The contractor provides NASA with hosting, caching and Web streaming services; a comprehensive content management system; statistical data and analysis; professional training & documentation; conversion of NASA Web content in a variety of different formats into the portal content management system and infrastructure; support, including help-desk support and escalation procedures, for NASA’s use of all these services and tools. The contractor will support the continued development and improvements for the graphic design of the portal, the underlying information architecture, the browsable directory structure, the search capability, the customizable “myNASA” feature, the portal’s existing taxonomy and related metadata. eTouch Systems is currently the only vendor, that has the infrastructure in place to provide these services without risking major disruption to NASA’s public presence shortly before a critical Agency mission event. On Jan. 3, 2004, the rover Spirit will land on the surface of Mars, beginning 5 months of mission operations. NASA expects the event to generate levels of interest at the Web site equivalent to the interest generated by the Olympics. NASA expects to distribute hundreds of high-resolution photographs in real-time to hundreds of thousands of users simultaneously, requiring Web traffic throughput capacity as high as 12 gigabits per second.

To be properly prepared for this major event, a new vendor would have to have its infrastructure — including a newly created content management system, search capability, customizable portal components, Web hosting and caching systems, and security and support services — in place and ready for mission simulations and load testing at least 30 days in advance of the landing. This 30-day lead time would include transitioning NASA’s Web content (more than 150,000 pieces of content so far) from the existing content management system into a system provided by the new vendor, who would also have train several dozen NASA employees and contractors in use of the system. In addition, eTouch has established a complex assistance network with other companies and a new vendor would be required to show access to the same kinds of resources. With high visibility events quickly approaching, NASA does not believe that any alternative sources can, within the limited timeframe, take on full contract responsibility without risk of interrupting NASA’s ability to communicate with the public through its Web portal during periods of high visibility for the Agency. Because of the time involved in procuring and phasing-in services from another contractor in such a short time, eTouch is considered to be the only source capable of meeting NASA’s needs. Any other firms desiring consideration are requested to fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days of the date of publication of this synopsis to the NASA’s GSFC office and contact listed below. See Note(s) 22. 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. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Oral communications are acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA specific note “B”. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.

Original Point of Contact

Delia B. Robey, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 286-8109, Fax (301) 286-0357, Email Delia.B.Robey.1@gsfc.nasa.gov

Email your questions to Delia B. Robey at Delia.B.Robey.1@gsfc.nasa.gov