Description
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for the continuation ofContract NNG07EK00C with Arizona State University (ASU) Lunar Reconnaissance OrbiterCamera (LROC) Investigation on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission. ASU iscurrently performing both the flight operations, which includes spacecraft operationsplanning, scheduling, and engineering parameter review and trending, as well as thescience operations which includes initiating all target requests to the instrument,planning all instrument modes and turn-ons, data dissemination to the co-investigatorsand to the general scientific community through the Planetary Data System (PDS). NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole-source Request for Proposal (RFP) to ASU. Theestimated period of performance of this cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) contract extensionwill be for twenty-four (24) months from March 1, 2011 through March 15, 2013. ASU isthe only organization currently qualified to perform the subject requirement for thefollowing reasons: 1) This procurement will enable the science and flight operationsactivities to be merged and carried out at ASU with a substantial universityundergraduate and graduate student educational involvement. Only ASU possesses the highlevel scientific expertise, the detailed knowledge of the LROC instrument and LROspacecraft, the capability to carry out the targeting and operations in a manner in whichthe scientific operations and the flight operations can be merged. 2) ASU scientists andengineers are unique in their familiarity with the LROC instrument design, testing andcalibration as well as the LRO spacecraft. From 2005-2009, ASU designed, fabricated,calibrated, tested, and integrated the LROC instrument for the LRO spacecraft, includingat the Spacecraft level after delivery to LRO. Under contract NNG07EK00C, ASU hassuccessfully carried out the science operations of the LROC instrument on the LROspacecraft since LRO launch in June 2009. Dr. Mark Robinson of ASU, as a leading expertin his field of planetary geophysics, was selected by NASA Headquarters to lead thisinvestigation, based on an evaluation of his proposal submitted under the Announcement ofOpportunity for exploration measurements in NASAs LRO Mission (AO NNH04ZSS003O). TheLROC instrument is a state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind instrument. In addition, ASUdeveloped software for: testing the instruments on-orbit, generating target selection,checking telemetry received for health and safety of the instruments, processing the rawdata so that scientists can manipulate, display, and analyze the scientific datareceived, and producing summary data. This effort requires the detailed understanding ofthe instrument and all related software. Since no other organization was involved withthese activities on an in-depth level, no other organization currently has the knowledgeand experience to perform the requirement. 3) ASU scientists have helped lead the effortin the community to analyze the images and data products from the LROC Instrument, andare currently the only organization with the capability to carry out the combinedscientific and instrument operations in conjunction with the educational opportunities. Statutory authority for this firm-fixed price procurement is 10 U.S.C. 304(c)(1)--OnlyOne Responsible Source. However, organizations who believe they can provide theseservices without any detrimental impact to the program schedules supported by this workshould fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication ofthis synopsis. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualificationsto perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30p.m. local time on July 30, 2010. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluatedsolely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on acompetitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed efforton a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solelywithin the discretion of the government. All responsible sources may submit an offerwhich shall be considered by 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.