NASA/GSFC Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) plans to issue a Request for Quote (RFQ) for a variety of airborne platforms, with proven performance histories in conducting airborne science research and range support to include radar surveillance and telemetry relay capability in accordance with the Statement of Work provided with the RFQ. These aircraft are to accommodate light and heavy-lift instrumentation payloads, on fixed wing and lighter-than-air craft. NASA will provide all payload instrumentation. Both manned and unmanned aerial platform systems are sought to support the NASA Suborbital Science Program of the Science Mission Directorate (http://suborbital.nasa.gov) activities supporting the NASA Strategic Plan. These services will occasionally be conducted in partnerships with other NASA collaborative partners such as the Interagency Coordinating Committee for Airborne Geosciences Research and Application. NASA seeks only existing platform capabilities with proven records of airborne science operations, accessible at a fixed daily and/or flight hour rate over the next 5 years. THIS IS NOT A TEST PROGRAM DEVELOPING NEW PLATFORM OR INSTRUMENT CAPABILITIES. From time to time, the contractor for the platforms listed shall be responsible for conducting the complete engineering, fabrication, and installation required for integrating payloads in the vehicles--from the preliminary design, to fabrication of required structure, and any aircraft modifications, through the entire installation process. This effort will be open to all qualified businesses. NASA/GSFC WFF intends to award multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements. The Government intends to acquire these services under FAR Part 12. The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 481219 with a size standard of $6.5 million. All qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. The anticipated release date of the RFQ is on or about October 26, 2006 with an anticipated offer due date of on or about November 27, 2006. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Numbered Note B which can be accessed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html . The RFQ 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 Prospective Offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It is the Offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the RFQ and amendments (if any). Potential Offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the RFQ and amendments (if any). All contractual technical questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail to Andrew. S.
[email protected] within 5 days of the posting of this notice. Telephone questions will not be accepted.