Description
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for the continuation ofContract NAS5-00132 with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for the Plasma andSuprathermal Ion Composition (PLASTIC) Investigation on the Solar Terrestrial RelationsObservatory (STEREO) Mission. The UNH is currently performing both the flightoperations, which includes spacecraft mission planning, scheduling, and engineeringparameter review and trending, as well as the science operations which includesinitiating all commands to the instrument, planning all instrument modes and turn-ons,data dissemination to the co-investigators and to the general scientific community. NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole-source Request for Proposal (RFP) to the UNH. Theestimated period of performance of this cost-no-fee (CNF) contract extension will be for32 months from February 1, 2010 through September 30, 2012. The UNH is the onlyorganization currently qualified to perform the subject requirement for the followingreasons: 1) This procurement will enable the science and flight operations activities tobe merged and carried out at UNH with a substantial university undergraduate and graduatestudent educational involvement. Only UNH possesses the high level scientific expertise,the detailed knowledge of the PLASTIC instrument and STEREO spacecraft, the capability tocarry out the operations in a manner in which the scientific operations and the flightoperations can be merged. 2) UNH scientists and engineers are unique in theirfamiliarity with the PLASTIC instruments and STEREO spacecraft and the flight computersoftware systems. From 2000-2006, UNH designed, fabricated, calibrated, tested, andintegrated the science instruments and flight computers on the PLASTIC instrument for theSTEREO spacecraft. Under contract NAS5-00132, UNH has successfully carried out thescience operations of the PLASTIC instrument on the STEREO spacecraft since their launchin October 2006. The PLASTIC instrument is a state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind instrument. In addition, UNH developed software for: testing the instruments on-orbit, generatingcommands to operate the instruments, checking telemetry received for health and safety ofthe instruments, processing the raw data so that scientists can manipulate, display, andanalyze the scientific data received, and producing summary data. This effort requiresthe detailed understanding of the instruments and flight computer and all relatedsoftware. Since no other organization was involved with these activities on an in-depthlevel, no other organization currently has the knowledge and experience to perform therequirement. 3) UNH scientists have helped lead the effort in the community to analyzethe energetic particles and fields data from the STEREO spacecraft, and are currently theonly organization with the capability to carry out the combined scientific and instrumentoperations in conjunction with the educational opportunities. Statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)--Only OneResponsible Source. However, organizations who believe they can provide these serviceswithout any detrimental impact to the program schedules supported by this work, shouldfully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication of thissynopsis.Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform theeffort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local timeon May 12, 2009. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for thepurpose 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 opencompetition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretionof the government. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be consideredby the agency.The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note26. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notesmay be viewed at the following URLs linked below.