4.03 PWS .pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

IERS CONVENTION

UNITED STATES NAVAL OBSERVATORY (USNO)

1.0 BACKGROUND

The U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) provides precise time & time interval (PTTI), Earth orientation and astronomical data and advice to all Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and user organizations. The Earth Orientation (EO) Department, within the USNO, generates and provides Earth Orientation Parameter (EOP) data for the DoD, the Global Positioning System (GPS), U.S. Federal agencies, and various international organizations, including the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). The EO Department is responsible for collecting EOP observations made by GPS receivers and very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). It is also responsible for providing EOP products to users as part of its Combination and Prediction process. The EO Department is an active participant in the IERS and is responsible for the Rapid Service / Prediction Centre.

As an additional part of the EO Department participation in the IERS, the EO Department is, in part, responsible for maintaining and upgrading the IERS Conventions. The Conventions define the standard reference systems used by the IERS; they contain conventional models, constants, and standards. The GPS wing does base some of its ICD content regarding EOPs and Time based on the IERS Conventions.

In addition, USNO is tasked with assisting the GPS wing with answering questions regarding EOPs and Time. Part of that responsibility involves reviewing complex Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and complex Requests for Change (RFCs). Often, parts of the ICDs are written based on the content of the IERS Conventions.

USNO has received requests from DoD organizations for maintaining and upgrading the IERS conventions and reviewing ICDs and RFCs on a regular basis. The current (2010) version of the IERS Conventions reflect a significant update from the previous 2003 and 1996 versions. Intermediate updates to the conventions are planned from 2019 through 2025 and a major update to the IERS Conventions is planned for some time during or after 2024. Web based documentation and software must be updated and maintained between whole version updates.

2.0 SCOPE

USNO is seeking personnel with EOP contractor expertise with knowledge and skills needed to:

a. Continue with maintaining and updating the IERS 2010 Conventions.

b. Contribute to the planning and execution of the update to the IERS Conventions expected to begin after 2023.

c. Review ICDs and RFCs for consistency with the IERS conventions and other EOP and Timing Products

d. Develop training plan to teach Conventions team members in covering several aspects listed in a through c above (Note: writing alternatives to existing RFCs may be asked.) The contractor shall investigate and reply to any incoming questions regarding the current conventions, ICDs, RFCs, and communicate effectively with other IERS experts and/or GPS wing personnel to ensure the successful propagation of changes, clarifications, and updates to the existing conventions. The contractor shall be a single entity or a small group that shall have the combined skills and knowledge. Use of EOP C/P personnel to do some small programming or data gathering tasks in support of this contract may be permitted on occasion. Such permission shall be obtained from the EOP C/P Division Chief or the EO Department Head.

3.0 REQUIREMENTS

The contractor shall provide the following services:

1. Participate in and/or manage updates to the IERS Conventions especially regarding Chapters 1, 4, 5, and 7 (namely, “General definitions and numerical standards”, “Terrestrial reference systems and frames”, “Transformation between International Terrestrial Reference System and the Geocentric Celestial Reference System”, and “Displacement of Reference Points”, respectively).

2. Provide prompt and accurate response to questions and concerns regarding the 2010 IERS Conventions as posted on the IERS Conventions webpage and mirror site, especially regarding Chapters 1, 4, 5, and 7.

3. Review background technical papers related to the underlying theory provided in the Conventions.

4. Interface effectively with international colleagues who share IERS ownership and responsibilities.

5. Create training classes and/or documents to develop the skills of fellow IERS conventions co-workers to provide backup to your knowledge, skills and contacts listed in item one (1) above.

6. Assist USNO personnel with the beginning preparation and execution of the major IERS conventions update coming in the near future.

7. Perform duties as specified for an Editor-in-Chief for some of the IERS Conventions Chapters.

8. Assist USNO personnel in responding to concerns and questions regarding ICDs and RFCs.

4.0 FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

1. USNO may provide requested geodetic and Earth Orientation input data to facilitate analysis.

2. Meetings related to the project may occur over the phone or at the USNO DC facility.

5.0 DELIVERABLES

5.1 The contractor shall provide monthly progress reports to USNO. This report shall include progress made for the month, a summary of any problems or areas of concern for which government assistance or guidance is desired, a description of work planned for the following month, and a statement of any anticipated deviation in the contractor’s planned effort to achieve contract objectives, including any change in key personnel.

5.2 The contractor shall provide final versions of code (such as MATLAB or R-scripts) used to generate the analysis, in sufficient detail that EOP personnel could recreate the final results.

5.3 The contractor shall provide a final report documenting the specific questions addressed, the origin of the question, and updates performed as well as copies of the e-mail interactions with other IERS members regarding changes made on both the IERS website and the IERS mirror site.

6.0 IMPORTANT ITEMS

1. All software and reports generated during the performance of this contract will be the property of USNO. These designs must be ‘shareable’ with other government entities.

2. The software languages used by the contractor for the final versions of code will also need to meet DoD and DoN restrictions (e.g. DADMS) or will require only minor modification to run on DoD approved systems. E.g., FORTRAN or MATLAB code developed in a windows environment, which may be non- DADMS or non-DoD approved, should be easily recompiled and run on DoD approved systems.

7.0 QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR PERSONNEL

7.1 Personnel Qualifications:

The contractor shall possess the minimum qualifications:

• The Contractor must have 15+ years’ experience in analyzing Earth Orientation Parameters and IERS related contacts and experience.

• The Contractor must have 15+ years in reviewing ICDs and RFCs produced by the GPS wing.

• The Contractor should have a working knowledge of Fortran, C, python, or perl programming languages.

• The Contractor should have knowledge of the structure of the IERS conventions webpages and process of information decimation methods used by the IERS community.

• Knowledge of astronomy and/or geodesy, with a background in physics and mathematics is highly desirable, but not required.

8.0 COMBATTING TRAFFICKING IN PERSON (CTIP)

The Department of Defense (DOD) has a zero-tolerance policy regarding trafficking in persons. Prescribes overall federal regulation implementing 22 U.S.C. 7104 which applies to all acquisitions. Requires government contracts to (a) Prohibit contractors, contractor employees, subcontractors, and subcontractor employees from engaging in trafficking in persons during the period of performance of the contract.

9.0 OPTION FOR FOLLOW-ON WORK / ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT

Given the need to prepare and execute the plans for a major update to the IERS Conventions (and finish, tentatively, in 2025); and given the on-going need to ensure ICD and RFC consistency with IERS Conventions, EOPs, and Timing products: there is a need for several option years of work. The optional periods will maintain expertise and continuity at USNO in order to support this major update and related ICD and RFC issues. The exercise of the options will be at the discretion of the Head, Earth Orientation Department and NAVSUP FLC.

10.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Base: 15 May 2024 – 14 May 2025 OY1: 15 May 2025 – 14 May 2026 OY2: 15 May 2026 – 14 May 2027 OY3: 15 May 2027 – 14 May 2028