NASA/LaRC has a need to obtain services that are necessary in support of instrument concept development for the Active Sensing of CO2 over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS) mission.
Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii) and (iii), NASA/LaRC intends to purchase the services from ITT Industries Space Systems Division of Fort Wayne, Indiana. NASA/LaRC has partnered with ITT over the past three years as the only source capable of producing the key measurements to meet the ASCENDS mission concept. NASA/LaRC has a need to further extend the capabilities of ITT's proprietary measurement technology and instrumentation to develop, improve, and enhance the measurements of atmospheric CO2. This will be accomplished through a systematic series of airborne field experiments based on ITT's highly specialized equipment and services. The scope of work will include (1)development, improvement, maintenance, and implementation of algorithms for ASCENDS retrieval of CO2 mixing ratio, including required ancillary measurements, and diagnostic algorithms for validation and maintenance of analytical models; (2)development of numerical models for ASCENDS-related measurements; (3) analysis and interpretation of data from satellite, aircraft, balloon, and ground-based instruments for understanding and validation of ASCENDS models and algorithms; (4) mission, payload, and instrument operations support for ASCENDS airborne and ground systems not provided by the Government; (5) logistical support and ground facilities to personnel and equipment while conducting ASCENDS field missions and experiments; (6) engineering and technology development support in the development of ASCENDS sensors and instruments to meet mission needs and objectives; (7) instrument/sensor design to translate research objectives and scientific requirements into viable ASCENDS instrument concepts for ground, aircraft, and space flight research applications; (8) instrument/sensor development for analytical studies, concept development, design verification, assembly, modification, and development of ASCENDS instrumentation systems.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on October 25, 2008. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose 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 open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.
Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.
All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.
An Ombudsman has been appointed; Cynthia C. Lee. Direct inquires to the Office of Procurement Deputy Director, Panice Clark, NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 134, Hampton, VA 23681-2199; Phone (757) 864-2426; Facsimile (757) 864-8541. See NASA Specific Note "B".
Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.