FORTALEZA GEODETIC OBSERVATORY (FGO) 12m ANTENNA SHIPMENT, INSTALLATION, TESTING and PRODUCT SUPPORT

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for the delivery and installation of a VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS) antenna at the Fortaleza Geodetic Observatory (FGO) located at the Rádio Observatório Espacial do Nordeste (ROEN) in Eusébio, Brazil, nearly 30 km east of Fortaleza, Ceara ́ State, Brazil.  This requirement includes the shipment, installation/integration, testing, storage, and technical support for the 12m antenna.  The VGOS radio antenna being developed under NASA contract NNG17HS01C consists of a main reflector, a secondary reflector, feed tube, counterweights, a turning head, a pedestal, antenna drives and a control system.  The VGOS radio antenna interfaces with several related VGOS elements that includes the site foundation, electrical power, signal chain, field system, monitoring and archival system, timing, networks, and human interfaces.   The purpose of this contract will be to support all aspects of the integration and deployment of this new antenna.

NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire the services from Intertronic Solutions Inc. in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 – only one responsible source.  Intertronic Solutions created and delivered the previous VLBI antenna under contract NNG17HS01C and is currently producing the second antenna.  Intertronic Solutions has the technical knowledge and experience required to successfully deliver and install the antenna.  Therefore, no other source can provide the services necessary to meet the needs of the FGO 12m Antenna mission.  A period of performance of 13 months is anticipated (3/25/2024-4/30/2025).

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Nathan Freeman at Nathan.A.Freeman@nasa.gov not later than December 1, 2022. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis.  A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf.