80LARC22R0003_RSES_DRFP_Q-A_v1.0_20220331.pdf

80LARC22R0003

RSES Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP)

Q&A’s

No. Question Answer

In the NIA Cooperative agreement documents that were released to industry, p. 5, section C states that NIA is to “conduct seminars, lectures, colloquia, and visitor programs which support the institutes and NASA’s general mission and objectives, or which stimulate future research initiatives.”

The TSC organization provided in the RSES PWS clearly reflects the disciplines required; however it is not clear in the case of conferences, etc how those disciplines will be applied.

Is it simply attend those types of events, or will offerors have to plan/conduct such events?

Conducting conferences is not in the RSES scope.

The scope of PWS 3.4 includes conducting/attending seminars, lectures, or workshops, etc., as requested by

NASA.

The RSES scope includes a requirement for training pursuant to Draft PWS 3.4, Training, which requires the contractor to “...provide specialized training to Government personnel regarding products including, but not limited to, tools, methods, procedures, and techniques developed and implement by the contractor.”

Who performs the Security Analysis on this software that will be used reused?

NASA is unable to provide a comprehensive response due to the lack of clarity/detail provided. We would encourage industry to review the applicable clauses in the DRFP which may provide the answer. If it does not, please provide additional details for NASA review. For software that will integrate with NASA system, the appropriate NASA Information System Security Official (ISSO) would engage with the Agency OCIO Cybersecurity Service Line to scan the code or web site/application for vulnerabilities with the appropriate tools.

Also, reference PWS paragraph 3.5.3. Finally, the Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) includes a requirements for the contractor to provide an IT Security Management Plan and Software Management Plan. The specific requirements and applicable regulations for these plans will be listed in Exhibit B of the DRFP.

Will the Contractor awarded the contract have access to the Langley Labs during contract performance?

Yes, as needed for RSES performance.

4 How detailed is the SMIRP need to be?

Exhibit B of the DRFP will outline the detailed requirements of the SMIRP.

The same question about open source code? Must it be certified?

NASA is unable to provide a comprehensive response due to the lack of clarity/detail provided. We would encourage industry to review the applicable clauses in the DRFP which may provide the answer. If it does not, please provide additional details for NASA review.

Some GOV agencies gave software (i.e. Overflow II, Nastran). Do we need prior approval for GOTS and COES(8)? Can we use self-healing software?

NASA is unable to provide a comprehensive response due to the lack of clarity/detail provided. We would encourage industry to review the applicable clauses in the DRFP which may provide the answer. If it does not, please provide additional details for NASA review. Generally, the contractor would be responsible for follow the applicable Agency process for acquiring GOTS software and for keeping it patched/upgraded to address any vulnerabilities.

Can we use other Government agencies (i.e., DoD, Inel and Department of Energy) for research?

In most cases, use of other Government Agencies would not be appropriate for the performance of RSES requirements. It is the contractor's responsibility to determine whether the use of other Government Agencies is appropriate for performance on RSES.

I recently saw the subject RFI posting on SAM, and noticed that this is intended to be a total small business set aside. As I work for a large business, I am wondering if there is a similar upcoming RFI/RFP for traditional providers?

We do not anticipate NASA Langley Research Center issuing additional RFIs/RFPs for work similar in scope to RSES.

We request clarity on which of the following elements from the NIA Statement of Work are include in

RSES?

Please see 9a - 9x for responses.

Please note that the Government's responses herein does not substitute for the potential offerors need to fully understand what is included in the RSES SOW regardless of the predecessor contracts.

9a

· Conduct leading-edge research to accomplish broad NASA objectives through stimulating or supporting the acquisition of knowledge or understanding of the subject

The scope of RSES includes "leading edge research" (see PWS 2.0) and related activities that may be required to meet NASA's mission needs via TDN/TOs.

9b

· Support graduate student research projects including those that are conducted with close mentorship by NASA researchers (Includes tuition, stipend, and reasonable faculty advisor support)

"Support[ing] graduate student research projects including those that are conducted with close mentorship by NASA researchers (Includes tuition, stipend, and reasonable faculty advisor support)" is not within the scope of RSES.

9c

· Initiate alliances that include industry or other associate members to concentrate research efforts on specific technical barrier problems

It is the prime contractor's responsibility to propose its approach to address the diverse RSES research needs.

See also PWS paragraph 2.0.

9d

· Recruit graduate students and implement a graduate research assistant program

"Implement[ing] a graduate research assistant program" is not within the scope of RSES.

"Recruit[ing] graduate students" to meet the diverse RSES research needs is at the discretion of the contractor. Specific RSES research may require specialized expertise from academia, including graduate research assistants.

9e

· Recruit world-class professors It is the prime contractor's responsibility to propose its approach to address the diverse RSES research needs.

While specific RSES research may require specialized expertise from academia, including world-class professors, programs like the Samuel P. Langley Professor Program and/or professors in residence are not within the scope of RSES.

9f · Assign other faculty as needed Staffing faculty is not within the scope of RSES.

9g

· Conduct seminars, lectures, colloquia, and visitor programs, which support the Institute’s and NASA’s general mission and objectives or which stimulate future research initiatives

See response to 1.

9h

· Foster and advance the partnership of NASA with the research and education community

See response to 9c.

9i

· Conferences, lectures and seminars by distinguished visitors, local and non-local, in areas of leading-edge research of specific interest to NASA.

See response to 1.

9j

Workshops and conferences for research conducted by the Institute for NASA, or in collaboration with NASA’s research and education interests

See response to 1.

9k

Identify and perform studies for decision makers that provide sensitive information such as architectures, advanced concepts, and systems and technology trades to NASA and other government agencies to enable informed programmatic and technical decisions.

Yes, this work is within the scope of RSES and addressed throughout the PWS that cover the research areas cited. Specific research needs will be defined at the TDN/TO level.

9l Key Emerging Technologies: See response to 9k.

9m

- Campaign Assessment tools to enable Lunar and Mars campaigns

See response to 9k.

9n

- Paradigm-shifting systems based on advanced concepts

See response to 9k.

9o

- Safe and affordable transportation systems that enable travel between Earth and space

See response to 9k.

9p

- Robotic system technologies that enable immersive virtual human exploration

See response to 9k.

9q Required Technical Capabilities: See response to 9k.

9r

- Aerospace systems analysis expertise addressing the full spectrum of NASA mission objectives from advanced aircraft design through planetary exploration

See response to 9c and 9k.

9s

- World Class experts, methods and tools to enable systems analysis in support of any key decision maker

See response to 9c and 9k.

9t - Campaign Analysis See response to 9k.

9u - Mission and Trade Study Analysis

See response to 9k.

9v - Life Cycle Cost and Uncertainty Analysis

See response to 9k.

9w - Risk Analysis See response to 9k.

9x - Technology Assessment/Portfolio Analysis

See response to 9k.