NASA/APL NAS5-97271 new horizons phase E extension

NASA/APL has a requirement for the continuation of contract NAS5-97271 with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) for the continuation of the New Horizons Mission operations. JHU/APL is currently performing this requirement, which includes the daily ground station operations of the Mission Operations Center (MOC) for data collection, spacecraft health and status monitoring, system and subsystem engineering, navigation planning and execution, instrument operations, operations planning and execution, and science data analysis and dissemination to the scientific community and the public.

NASA intends to issue a sole source request for proposal to JHU/APL. The estimated period of performance of the extended Cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contract will be two years and nine months, from December 31, 2018 through September 30, 2021.

JHU/APL is the only organization qualified to perform this requirement based on the following rationale:  JHU/APL has the exclusive knowledge of how to effectively operate the New Horizons spacecraft and manage all aspects of the extremely high value, one-of-a-kind, NASA Science Mission, to explore Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. The JHU/APL has operated and maintained the New Horizons spacecraft from launch in January 2006, through the successful completion of the historic flyby of the Pluto-Charon system in July 2015, to the recent completion of the down link of all the Pluto Encounter Science data in October 2016. The Kuiper Belt Extended Mission (KEM) is dependent on the highly specialized and unique capabilities of JHU/APL, which includes: 1) Ground and flight systems; 2) Software, products, procedures, and tools necessary to operate the New Horizons spacecraft and obtain the required science data; 3) Mission critical, one-of-a-kind-equipment, such as the New Horizons Operations Simulator; and 4) Highly skilled and experienced engineers and scientists that have detailed knowledge of all the New Horizons spacecraft systems and subsystems, necessary to maintain the health and safety of the spacecraft and obtain the critical science data.


The statutory authority for this procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)--Only One Responsible Source. However, organizations who believe they can provide these services without any detrimental impact to the program schedules supported by this work should fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on December 1, 2016. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose 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 open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered by the agency. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.