GLOMAS_RFI.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA)

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (GSFC)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) – SOURCES SOUGHT

EARTH SCIENCE DIVISION - GLOBAL MODELING & ASSIMILATION

SUPPORT(GLOMAS)

Reference Number: RFI-NASA-GSFC- GLOBAL MODELING & ASSIMILATION

SUPPORT (GLOMAS)

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for the support of the full range of research and development activities of the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). The GMAO develops, operates, and maintains comprehensive models and data assimilation systems for the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, land surface and cryosphere, including atmospheric composition and ocean biogeochemistry.

Collectively, these Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) models and assimilation systems are configured to support NASA’s Earth Science missions, research activities, and applications.

GEOS systems also contribute to our nation’s capabilities in climate, weather, and environmental analysis and prediction. The data assimilation systems comprise the assembly, pre-processing, quality control and characterization of all the observations being assimilated, the analysis systems which combine model and observation information, and the Earth system models required to interface with the analysis systems.

The GMAO effort includes the development and implementation of advanced coupled models (e.g., ocean-atmosphere-land surface-cryosphere, composition-circulation, ocean dynamics-biology) to support the assimilation systems and to address key scientific questions and prediction goals identified by the NASA Science Mission Directorate. GEOS models and assimilation systems are developed using existing software frameworks, such as the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF); they are presently transitioning to adopt new data assimilation capabilities using the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI); they rely heavily on leading-edge high-performance computing platforms. These highly configurable systems are developed and maintained using modern software practices within a complex ecosystem consisting of semi-independent packages, many of which are shared with partner institutions. The GMAO collaborates within NASA and with the external science community in developing and validating its models and data assimilation systems. In particular, the GMAO participates fully in the Inter-Agency Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) program and maintains strong collaborations with various branches of NOAA. This contract will support the full range of GMAO research, development, and production activities. The vast majority of GMAO activities require extensive expertise on the part of contract support staff in both science and software development. Similar services are currently being supported under Contract NNG17HP01C, Support for Atmospheres, Modeling, and Data Assimilation

(SAMDA).

NASA GSFC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities

(HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI), and members of the underserved communities as defined by Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for (GLOMAS). The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received.

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov. Interested firms are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

Interested firms that possess the capability to meet the above requirement as described in the attached DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW) are encouraged to submit a capability statement indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort. Please explicitly establish how the offeror’s experience relates to the SOW. In addition to submitting a capability statement in response to this RFI, please answer the following questions for informational purposes:

1. From your company’s perspective, what is the biggest challenge facing this effort?

2. What personnel and/or supply chain issues, if any, does your company foresee?

3. What potential subcontracting or teaming opportunities exist with this effort?

4. Based on your read of the DRAFT Statement of Work, what is the appropriate contract type for this acquisition and why?

5. What can NASA GSFC specifically do to promote competition for this requirement?

6. If the results of this market research indicate it is in the Government’s best interest to conduct the GLOMAS acquisition as a competitive procurement, are there any specific evaluation criteria your company feels would be helpful for determining the best value proposal?

7. In support of the Executive Order (EO) 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for

Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, NASA is seeking to advance equity or remove barriers for members of underserved communities related to this requirement. As defined in the EO, Underserved Communities refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the following definition of "equity." Equity means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. NASA seeks input in the following areas:

a. To support the requirements identified in this request for information

(RFI)/sources sought notification, what barriers or opportunities exist to engage subject matter experts from industry and academia and how can those barriers be overcome? How can underserved communities be leveraged?

b. To support the requirements identified in this RFI, what barriers or opportunities exist to partner with subcontractors that employ members of underserved communities, as defined above?

c. What other recommendations would you make to enhance diversity and inclusion?

d. What should be considered to encourage full participation and contribution of organizations and individuals (e.g., outreach efforts and innovative partnerships) in performance of this requirement?

8. Any other questions or comments related to the GLOMAS RFI and RFI attachments.

If the results of this market research indicate it is in the Government’s best interest to conduct the GLOMAS acquisition as a competitive procurement, the Final Request for Proposal is currently anticipated to be issued in the third quarter of 2024 with a targeted contract award date of the second quarter of 2025. This information is provided for planning purposes only and does not indicate a firm commitment from the Government.

All capability statements and RFI responses shall be limited to ten (10) pages and be submitted electronically via email to Contract Specialist Jeffrey Kirk at jeffrey.s.kirk@nasa.gov and Contracting Officer Michelle Padfield at michelle.r.padfield@nasa.gov no later than 12:00PM Eastern on February 9, 2024. NASA GSFC requests any questions or comments about this RFI be submitted to the same points of contact listed above no later than 12:00PM Eastern on February 2, 2024.

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.

Thank you for your interest.