NASA intends to award a sole source purchase order to The Elumenati LLC to procure the GeoDome Theatre for the GSFC Visitor Center. The GeoDome theatre will be an educational tool for both the VC and will be available for loan to local partner school systems and museum providers in the GSFC educational region and will be used for training of teachers and informal education providers.
The nature of acquisition requires use of the authority cited. In addition market research was conducted to determine if any other dome vendor met the requirements and none were found.
Requirements:
1. The dome screen shall not be dependent on an airlock and sealed doorway to maintain it's inflation. This is required for accessibility at all times.
2. The dome shall provide comfortable entry and egress for audiences of all ages without the need to crawl through a sealed doorway.
3. A fully open doorway is required for independent wheelchair access without the need for assistance. Unassisted wheelchair accessibility is a requirement for all exhibits in the GSFC Visitor Center.
4. The dome shall remain fully inflated during entry & egress. The dome screen remains fully inflated when audience members enter and leave, providing an uninterrupted immersive experience for all audience members.
5. Multiple Projection Modes Requirement: The projection system shall provide both 180x135 and 180x180 projection throws with a single system, enabling both unidirectional (theatre) and omni-directional (planetaium) seating arrangements.
6. Enhanced Peripheral Immersion Required: Audience viewpoints above the spring line without casting shadows in the projection area when in unidirectional mode is required. This provides enhanced peripheral immersion to naturally mimic the human field of view and enables effective visualization of horizon lines required for planetary surfaces.
7. Shall Support Multiple Real-Time and Non-Proprietary Applications: The API shall enable multiple real-time 3D applications both OpenGL and Direct X to be used in order to utilize both closed and open source third-party applications. It is required to be compatible with a broad range of NASA and GSFC data visualization including the SVS and NEO websites http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov . In addition, it shall have the capability for learning technology platforms to be adapted.
8. The dome shall be portable.
NASA's GSFC intends to purchase the theatre from The Elumenati LLC pursuant to FAR 13.106, for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 4:00PM EST on
July 29, 2008. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated soley 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, based upon responses to this notice, is soley within the discretion of the government.
The government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12 and the Simplified Acquisition Procedures set fourth in FAR Part 13.
An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B".
Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
The FAR may be obtained via the internet at URL: http://www.arnet.gov/far/
The NFS may be obtained via the internet at URL: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/nfstoc.htm
