Description
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for the continuation ofContract NNG05EC87C with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Lyman-Alpha MappingPhotomoter (LAMP) Investigation on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission. SwRIis currently 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 commands to the Instrument, planning allInstrument modes and turn-ons, data dissemination to the co-investigators and to thegeneral scientific community through the Planetary Data System (PDS). NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole-source Request for Proposal (RFP) to SwRI. Theestimated period of performance of this cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) contract extensionwill be for twenty-four (24) months from March 16, 2011 through March 15, 2013. The SwRIis the only organization currently qualified to perform the subject requirement for thefollowing reasons: 1) Only SwRI possesses the high level scientific expertise, thedetailed knowledge of the LAMP Instrument and LRO spacecraft, and the capability to carryout the targeting and operations in a combined manner in which the scientific operationsand the flight operations can be merged. 2) SwRI scientists and engineers are unique intheir familiarity with the LAMP Instrument design, testing and calibration as well as theLRO spacecraft. From 2005-2009, SwRI designed, fabricated, calibrated, tested, andintegrated the LAMP Instrument for the LRO spacecraft, including at the Spacecraft levelafter delivery to LRO. Under contract NNG05EC87C, SwRI has successfully carried out thescience operations of the LAMP Instrument on the LRO spacecraft since LRO launch in June2009. Dr. Alan Stern of SwRI, as a leading expert in his field of planetary geophysics,was selected by NASA Headquarters to lead this investigation, based on an evaluation ofhis proposal submitted under the Announcement of Opportunity for exploration measurementsin NASAs LRO Mission (AO NNH04ZSS003O). The LAMP Instrument is a state-of-the-art,one-of-a-kind Instrument. In addition, SwRI developed software for: testing theInstrument on-orbit, generating calibration target selection, checking telemetry receivedfor health and safety of the Instrument, processing the raw data so that scientists canmanipulate, display, and analyze the scientific data received, and producing summarydata. This effort requires the detailed understanding of the Instrument 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) SwRI scientists have helped lead the effort in the community to analyzethe images and data products from the LAMP Instrument, and are currently the onlyorganization with the capability to carry out the combined scientific and Instrumentoperations. 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 23, 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.