UPDATE: October 21, 2021 - In response to this RFI, please provide the following information specified in Attachment 2. Related Experience Requirements. The response due date does not change. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the Deep Space Network (DSN) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Goldstone on Fort Irwin in the Mohave Desert. As part of this effort, JPL periodically awards a DSN M and O subcontract; the current subcontract will reach the end of its tenth year on September 30, 2023. To ensure that JPL continues to receive quality services for competitive value, the M and O effort will be competed for a potential ten-year (five-year base term and five additional one-year award terms) period with an expected start date of October 01, 2023. To help JPL understand the competitive environment, we invite companies that are or may be interested in competing for this opportunity, to respond to this RFI by informing JPL of their interest. Please note that this RFI is not complete in terms of requirements, but rather is being used in assisting JPL in establishing a list of potential bidders. JPL directs bidders to the DSN public homepage at https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/services/networks/deep_space_network/about for more information on the DSN. Synopsis The DSN has thirteen (13) operational 34-meter and 70-meter antennas located at three (3) Deep Space Communications Complexes (DSCCs) around the world: near Canberra, Australia; near Madrid, Spain; and at Goldstone near Barstow, California. JPL employees in JPLs facility in Pasadena provide DSN management and other functional support such as design engineering for the DSN. The DSCCs in Australia and Spain are operated by local contractors and personnel. In addition to the Goldstone DSCC, the subcontract also includes M and O at a subcontractor-leased facility near JPL and at the Space Flight Operations Facility (SFOF) at JPL. The three (3) DSCCs are operated under a Follow the Sun model, with all antennas in the network operated by a crew at the DSCC which has local daylight, handing off to the next DSCC at the end of the local workday. The subcontract requires the Goldstone DSCC operations crews to provide daytime coverage seven (7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five (365) days per year. In addition to the operators, Goldstone is fully staffed, managed and maintained by subcontractor personnel, working in highly specialized disciplines. These disciplines include: Antenna Mechanical Antenna Servo Controls Cryogenically Cooled Low Noise Amplifiers Data Processing and Networking Facilities Maintenance Food Services Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) High Power Transmitters Precision Frequency and Timing Power Generation and Distribution RF Systems Transportation and Logistics Water Distribution and Sewage Systems The Goldstone Facility is located within the borders of the United States (U.S) Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) (see Attachments). As such, there are access requirements to gain entrance to the NTC that must be maintained and supported. There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NASA and the Army that defines the interfaces between the two organizations and requires participation by the M and O subcontractor in the form of regularly scheduled meetings with all involved parties. All personnel of the subcontract must pass a NASA background investigation and must be U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). A challenge with the technical work at Goldstone is the need to recruit and maintain the requisite skilled staff to fill the positions, and working at a remote location in the California high desert (see Attachments). In addition to the recruitment and maintenance of requisite skilled staff, there are specialized safety and environmental procedures that must be developed and kept up-to-date by the subcontractor because there are numerous regulatory agencies which conduct audits of various aspects of the Goldstone DSCC. Security Services The subcontractor is expected to provide security guard services at the Goldstone DSCC twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five (365) days a year (24/7/365 coverage). Leased Facility Notwithstanding the global evolution to increase telecommuting, which JPL supports, the subcontractor is expected to provide a physical work location (leased facility) within a 20-mile radius of JPL that is staffed with the following personnel: Management personnel Mission Planning Scheduling Test Facility Operations Logistics Networking Software Tool Development & Maintenance Technical Documentation, and Operations Engineering for all aspects of the DSN hardware and software infrastructure. Engineering Services The Subcontractor will be responsible for all operations engineering, including: Testing of equipment, Leading delivery and installations at the DSN, Evaluating operational usage and failures, DSN Facilities Design Engineering, including: Civil, Controls, HVAC, and Power and cables for all three (3) DSN DSCCs. 5. Engineering Support Services, including: Drafting, Hardware Assembly and Test, and Documentation. All of the above will be provided to JPL’s Design Engineering staff. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) The NAICS code utilized for this effort is 517919. Disclaimer : It is emphasized that the requested information is for preliminary planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that JPL will solicit you for such a procurement in the future. Neither JPL nor the Government will be responsible for any costs incurred by you responding to this RFI or in furnishing any requested information. Prospective subcontractors are advised that any information provided shall be deemed to be furnished with unlimited rights to JPL, with JPL assuming no liability for the disclosure, use, or reproduction of such data. JPL may exchange information or other technology which may be subject to the export control laws and regulations of the United States, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. 120-130 and the Export Administration Act Regulations (EAR), 15 C.F.R.730-774. Prospective RFI participants agree to fully comply with all such laws and regulations while participating in this RFI process. This RFI is limited to United States-based businesses only. In response to this RFI, please provide the following information specified in Attachment 2. Related Experience Requirements. JPL appreciates receiving your expression of interest and the above requested information on or before November 12, 2021 . Please provide this information by email to
[email protected] . Any questions should be directed to Edgar Murillo at the aforementioned email address.