Description
The NOAA, AGO, NESDIS Acquisition Division anticipates entering into a sole source under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs UN Office to provide secretariat services for NOAA as a participant in an international meetings and workshops. This is being done pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 and of 41 U.S. C. 253 (c)(1) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Office of Space Commercialization (OSC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, is responsible for implementing space-related policies and promotion of capabilities of the U.S. commercial space industry. The Office assists U.S. commercial providers in their efforts to expand their business with the U.S. Government and promotes commercial provider investment by performing economic analysis on space markets. OSC acts as an industry advocate within the executive branch of the Federal Government to maximize the use of commercially available space goods and services, reduce legal and regulatory impediments, and ensure the government does not compete with the U.S. commercial space industry. The December 8, 2004 U.S. Space-Based Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Policy authorized a new comprehensive national policy that established guidance and implementation actions for space-based positioning, navigation and timing programs, augmentations and activities for U.S. national and homeland security, civil, scientific and commercial purposes. This policy established the National Spaced-Based PNT Executive Committee, co-chaired by the Deputy Secretaries of the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation, to manage the dual use (civil/military) GPS and established the National Space-Based PNT Coordination Office. OSC shall be the principal unit for space commerce policy activities within NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The services required by OSC are available from only one responsible source, United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs of the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, with whom the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Space Commercialization is participant and include: 1. Coordinate space commerce policy issues and actions within NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce. 2. Represent the Department in the development of U.S. policies and in negotiations with foreign countries to promote U.S. space commerce. 3. Assist commercial space companies in their efforts to do business with the U.S. Government, and act as industry’s advocate within the Executive Branch to ensure the Government meets its space-related requirements, to the maximum practical extent, with commercially available space goods and services, consistent with national security. 4. Work to ensure the U.S. Government does not engage in space-related activities that preclude, deter, or compete with U.S. commercial space activities unless required by national security or public safety. 5. Seek the removal of legal, policy, and institutional impediments to space commerce. The United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, with whom the U. S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Space Commercialization consults, contributes, and participates in programs of shared interest, shall provide secretariat services for the Director of the National Space-based PNT Coordination Office. The Office of Outer Space Affairs will provide secretariat services for the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) workshops, in which OSC will participate. Accordingly, the services required by OSC are available from only one responsible source, the Office of Outer Space Affairs, which serves largely to provide those services. The workshops currently scheduled, and the objectives are identified as follows: A. United Nations/Morocco/European Space Agency International Workshop on the Use of Space Technology for Sustainable Development scheduled for April 25 through 27, 2007. The objective of this workshop is to increase the awareness of decision-makers on the use of Earth Observation Satellites for environmental monitoring. The workshop participants will exchange views on the space technology applied in their respective countries and define the infrastructure of regional cooperative mechanisms. The possibilities of developing and implementing pilot projects in the region will be considered. B. United Nations/Mexico Training Course on Satellite Technology for Tele-health scheduled for June 25 through 29, 2007. This training course will provide participants with knowledge in operating equipment using satellite technologies for medical/health care applications, as well as hands-on experience of operating diagnostic equipment for tele-health/telemedicine services in hospitals, contributing to the sustainable operation of the telemedicine systems in their respective home countries. The participants will learn about; the tele-medicine concept and systems, including requirements for connectivity with remote areas and efficiency benefits, the infrastructure required to connect the medical centre of excellence with remote hospitals. C. The 1st United Nations Regional SPIDER Workshop scheduled for May, 2007. This workshop will build upon the previous series of workshops in the area of space technology for disaster management; this new series of regional workshops will provide a forum to promote the sharing of knowledge, develop communities of practice and strengthen existing networks. D. United Nations/European Space Agency/National Aeronautics and Space Administration Workshop on Basic Space Science and the International Heliophysical Year 2007 scheduled for June 11-15, 2007. The objective of this workshop is to explore how basic space science and the International Heliophysical Year 2007 are contributing to sustainable development and capacity-building, particular in developing countries. The workshop will review the achievements of the UN/Japan cooperation in donating planetariums and astronomical telescope facilities to developing nations. The workshop will also review the status of deploying low-cost, ground-based, world-wide instrument arrays in operation for Heliophysical Year 2007. E. United Nations/Austria/European Space Agency Symposium on Space Tools for Monitoring Air Pollution and Managing Energy Resources scheduled for September, 2007. This symposium is the second of a series of three consecutive symposia with the overarching theme “Space Applications for Sustainable Development: Supporting the Plan of implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development”. This symposium will examine the benefits of space science and technology and their applications, explore the possibilities to develop and implement pilot projects in the area of monitoring air pollution and energy use, and address the issues related to policy development. F. United Nations/International Astronautical Federation Workshop on the Use of Space Technology for Sustainable Development Towards Food Security scheduled for September 21 through 22, 2007. The Workshop will review initiatives in the area of space science and technology applied to sustainable development of food security that leads to poverty eradication in developing countries that are being carried out by various entities through international cooperation and to look for ways to build synergies among them. G. United Nations/Russia/European Space Agency Workshop on the Use of Micro-satellite Technologies for Environmental Monitoring and Impact to Human Health scheduled for September 3 through 7, 2007. The workshop will review the use of micro-satellite technologies in detecting of potentially dangerous and catastrophic phenomena on the earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere; and in particular, influence of low-frequency disturbances of Earth’s magnetic field on the health of humans and living organisms. The workshop will also address aerospace biomedicine and biology issues, as well as the use of micro-satellites for space education in environmental monitoring. H. United Nations Workshop on Space Law scheduled date in 2007 to be determined. The main objective of the workshop will be to build capacity in space law, particularly with reference to the United Nations treaties and principles on outer space. I. United Nations/Vietnam/European Space Agency Workshop on Forest Management and Environmental Protection scheduled for November 5 through 9, 2007. The objectives of this workshop is to increase the awareness of managers and decision makers dealing with environmental issues of the potential benefits of using space technologies within the area of forest management, environmental security, natural hazard prevention and mitigation. J. United Nations/Argentina/European Space Agency Workshop on sustainable Development in Mountain Areas of Andean Countries scheduled for November 26 through 30, 2007. The primary objective is to discuss how remote sensing, satellite communications and GNSS can be used in projects in sustainable development in mountainous areas, with the aim of developing priorities for building capacity in remote sensing for the benefit of mountainous regions. The workshop program will include case studies in the application of remote sensing to mountain areas of Andean Countries. It is expected that additional workshops will be held during this period and the proceedings made available. Global participation in all workshops is encouraged to increase awareness of space policy and the applications of space-based PNT. The workshops are cost-effective way for the United States to explain its policy and interact with decision-makers from other countries. Offeror is certain they can meet the requirements are requested to submit in writing an affirmative response and technical capabilities. All written responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the above requirements. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bonafide capability to meet the requirements. Failure to submit such documentation will result in the Government proceeding as stated above. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 10-days after publication of this synopsis. All information in response to this notification must be submitted in writing to Contracting Officer.