Clouds and the earth radiant energy systems flight model instrument

Added: Jun 30, 2008 2:27 pm NASA LaRC has a requirement for the development, test and evaluation of the Cloudsand the Earth's Radiant Energy Systems (CERES) Flight Model 6 (FM6) Instrument for flighton the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) C1Mission. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1, "Only One ResponsibleSource and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements", NASA LaRCintends to purchase the FM6 Instrument from Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST)Company as a follow-on acquisition to the CERES Proto-Flight Model (PFM), FM1, FM2, FM3,FM4, and FM5 instruments. The CERES FM6 Instrument is available only from the originalsource of the highly specialized CERES instrument. Any delays in obtaining the FM6Instrument due to learning curves and lack of facilities by other sources will causeschedule delays resulting in budgetary impacts and potential for jeopardizing missionsuccess. NGST is the only source with the specialized calibration facilities andexpertise to satisfy the NPOESS C1 cost and schedule constraints. Inability to meet theNPOESS C1 launch schedule will risk the continuity of accurate weather, climate,hydrological, and space weather forecasts to the civilian and US military communities. Award of this contract effort to any other source would result in substantial duplicationof cost to the Government that could not be recovered through competition. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note26. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform theeffort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local timeon August 13, 2008. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for thepurpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis.A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and opencompetition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretionof the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.