NASA /ARC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for Research and Technology Development Services (R&T). The Office of Science Directorate (Code S) at NASA/ARC conducts research and technology development, manages programs and projects, develops missions, and serves the Science Community in Space Science and Astrobiology, Earth Sciences and Space Biosciences. This procurement is for providing scientific, engineering, technical, and documentation support for the various areas of research and technology development work within, but not limited to, the Office of Science Directorate at NASA ARC (Code S). Examples are Life Support Technology Development, Infrared Detector Technology Development, Cryogenics Research, Radiation Research, etc.
This procurement is a follow-on requirement. The current R&T cost-plus-award-fee contract number is NAS2-02091 with Enterprise Advisory Services Inc. The current end date of the contract is November 30, 2008 and the total contract value is $34M. Use the links at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/agency/ to request information through the FOIA office. The follow-on will continued to be performed at Ames Research Center (ARC), Moffett Field, California. In this synopsis, NASA ARC is soliciting information about potential sources and preferred contracting approaches for the above services.
REGARDING THE COMBINED NOVEMBER 27, 2007 STRAD and R&T SYNOPSIS: Determination has been made to conduct two separate procurements: one for Space Technology Research and Development (STRAD) and one for Research and Technology (R&T). All potential offerors who responded to the combined sources sought need to fully respond again to this Sources Sought to ensure they address the separate R&T requirement.
Once the acquisition strategy is finalized, a presolicitation synopsis will replace this synopsis and will include the latest Interested Parties listing.
PURPOSE OF THIS SYNOPSIS
This notice has two purposes:
1) To request information on capabilities of potential offerors to provide the services in order to determine if this will be a small business set-aside. Information received as a result of this notice will be considered by the Government and used for acquisition planning purposes only.
2) To request information from interested parties regarding their preferred contracting approach including contract type, to provide the services. All acquisitions methods are being considered by the Government including the use of a Government-wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC).
NOTE: You may respond to either or both sections of this synopsis.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED WORK BACKGROUND:
The Space Science and Astrobiology Division is dedicated to research in astrophysics, exobiology, and planetary science. These research programs are structured around the study of origins and evolution of stars, planets, planetary atmospheres, and life, and address some of the most fundamental questions pursued by science, questions that examine the origin of life and of our place in the universe.
The Ames Earth Science Division is dedicated to the objectives of the Agency's Mission to Planet Earth Program. Focusing on the science issues associated with global change, the Division is particularly concerned with atmospheric and ecosystem science and biosphere/atmosphere interaction.
The Space Biosciences Division provides bioscience knowledge, engineering innovation, and operations capability to extend human presence beyond Earth such as exploration life support and flight systems implementation.
RESPONSES REGARDING POTENTIAL SOURCES STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:
Interested Offerors having the required specialized capabilities/qualifications to support some or all of the work are asked to submit a capability/qualification statement of 10 PAGES or less. There is no required font size and/or type designated for this Capability/Qualification Statement. Figures, exhibits, and diagrams should be readable. Submit your response electronically in PDF format.
The response must include the following:
1) Company name, address, point of contact, phone, fax, e-mail, and website (if applicable) as this information will be posted on the R&T Interested Parties List.
2) Whether your company is Large business, Small business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a)set-aside small business, HUBZone small business, Woman-owned small business, Veteran-owned small business, HBCU/MI, Service-Disabled Veteran-owned small business for NAICS code 541712 size standard 500 employees.
3) Your company’s capability in each of the technical areas. These are:
i) Research and development: Includes research support and management, research facility planning and scheduling and hardware development.
ii) Operations and maintenance: Includes operations and maintenance of research facilities, and instrument and shop maintenance.
iii) Computer programming and data processing: Includes computer programming, data acquisition and data analysis, and software development.
iv) Safety and quality assurance: Includes system safety, reliability and quality assurance in coordination with the NASA ARC Office of Safety, Environmental and Mission Assurance Directorate.
v) Risk management: Includes risk factor identification, risk assessment and mitigation.
vi) Organizational support: Includes support in areas of documentation preparation and maintenance (technical papers, reports, proposals and newsletters), database management, meetings and conferences, proposal writing, educational outreach, and travel.
vii) Contract management and administration: The contractor shall provide the necessary resources, supplies and capability for contract management and administration to meet the requirements; the capability includes surge capability (ability to increase contractor staff to support unexpected activity peaks).
For each technical area indicate what percentage of the technical area you would perform. If you plan to subcontract a portion of the effort please explain which portion, if any, you plan to subcontract.
4) The Contractor will be required to provide qualified management personnel, organizational structure, procedural and administration functions to effectively and efficiently manage the work performed under this contract. Describe your capabilities and experiences in performing and managing the technical areas listed above. Detail your capabilities and experience in working on contracts with multiple tasks and/or projects and include average number of tasks/year managed - Detail your capabilities and experience with and process for acquiring and managing subcontractors - Detail your capabilities and experience in acquiring and managing subject area experts.
5) A list of relevant work performed in the past five (5) years, including contract type, contract number, technical description, dollar amount, period of performance, and a customer reference name and telephone number. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based on responses.
RESPONSES REGARDING THE CONTRACTING APPROACH
The Government is soliciting contracting approaches to the NASA R&T procurement that will enhance competition and provide business opportunities. Therefore, the Government is requesting feedback in the following areas for consideration during acquisition planning:
a) Socio-economic considerations: ARC is interested in your comments on establishing subcontracting goals for Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-owned small business, Small-Disadvantaged Business, Women-owned small business, Veteran-owned small business, Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI), and HUBZone small business.
The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses.
b) Performance-Based Contracting (PBC): ARC is interested in your comments on Performance-Based Contracting (PBC). If you have specific experience with PBC in support of similar contracts, please include your experience and opinion of measurable performance standards as it relates to the technical areas.
c) Contract type: Contract types for consideration, alone or in a hybrid combination, include both Fixed-Price and Cost-Reimbursement contracts, such as FFP, FPI, FPAF, CPFF, and CPIF. Please include information regarding why a particular contract type or combination of contract types might be more appropriate (benefits and impediments), how that proposed contract type would affect costs and how you would propose. ARC will determine the most suitable contract type and is more inclined to select either FFP IDIQ or CPFF type. Please also address possible performance measures for technical, cost, and schedule performance; risk mitigation; employee and asset safety and security; innovative best practices; quality of service to users; responsiveness to changing requirements and budget; and identifying opportunities for technical and administrative improvement.
d) Technical Information: What type of technical information along with the Statement of Work would you like to see with a potential solicitation (e.g., sample tasks)?
e) Contract Content/Structure: Do you have any suggestions or examples of restructuring, simplifications, and clarity in the description of technical areas as well as other types of additional information that would improve understanding or clarity of requirements and terms and conditions?
There is no limit on the page length to your response to RESPONSES REGARDING THE CONTRACTING APPROACH.
YOUR RESPONSE TO THE SYNOPSIS All responses to the Statement of Capabilities shall be received no later than Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 1:00 PM Local PST. Please respond via electronic mail (e-mail) to the Contracting Officer, Trupti Sanghani, at the following address: Trupti.D.Sanghani@nasa.gov. Written questions should also be directed to the Contracting Officer, Trupti Sanghani, at the following address: Trupti.D.Sanghani@nasa.gov. If an interested party requests confirmation of receipt, the Contracting Officer will confirm receipt. In all responses, please reference R&T Services NNA09251287R-ABS in the subject line and on all attachments. Verbal questions will not be accepted. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.
