FBO_Announcement_1.pdf

Intent to Award Notice – 140G0124Q0249 Page 1 of 1

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for a Landsat 8 Satellite Operations Simulator (SOS) high fidelity simulator Programmable Telemetry Processor (PTP).

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Sioux Falls, SD Landsat Operations has a requirement for high fidelity simulators capable of emulating as much of the operational satellites as is reasonably possible.

The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the Landsat 8 Satellite Operations Simulator (SOS) high fidelity simulator Programmable Telemetry Processor (PTP). Therefore, the USGS intends to make an award to Parsons Government Services unless the USGS is contacted by any vendor who believes they can provide a service that can meet the needs of this requirement. Vendors are invited to contact the Contracting Officer, Brian Baker via email at bfbaker@usgs.gov no later than 1:00 PM EDT, Monday, July 29, 2024, with an affirmative answer.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (FAR 13.1)

The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications:

1. Landsat Operations has a requirement for high fidelity simulators capable of emulating as much of the operational satellites as is reasonably possible. At present the Landsat 8 Satellite Operations Simulator (SOS) high fidelity simulator Programmable Telemetry Processor (PTP) is inoperable which has a significant impact on the operability of the SOS’s ability to execute Solid State Recorder, and Science Instrument (Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS), and Optical Land Imager (OLI)) Operations. This request is to procure a modern PTP from the original vendor of the Landsat 8 SOS (Parsons), built pre-launch (<2012), and adapt specialized parts unique to the original PTP into a modern PTP to restore the Landsat 8 SOS to its full capability.

2. Prior to moving forward with this request USGS investigated alternative sources of legacy hardware including the open market and cannibalizing retired USGS and NASA missions. Additionally, USGS reached out to the spacecraft vendor to determine if any of their other customers in the public or private sector had spare components which could be procured by USGS. Finally, USGS reached out to the original PTP vendor regarding procuring a 1:1 replacement. The PTP vendor replied a direct 1:1 replacement was no longer available through them, and advised they could replace with a later generation PTP. Included in the installation of the later gen PTP they would include support in installation to ensure full functionality was restored to the L8 SOS including transferring some internal components from the old PTP to the new. This plan was evaluated by USGS technical leads, along with the spacecraft vendor and flight operations support for viability and deemed acceptably low risk and would restore the L8 SOS to full capability. No other known sources of supply exist.

3. The Government must fully ensure compatibility to pre-existing hardware and functionality. The Government shall conduct continuing and future market research to identify alternative products from other manufacturers to meet these needs. At such time when other sources become available, the Government will vigorously compete the procurement of these requirements to the maximum extent practical.