Notice of Intent to Sole Source : EPOCH Integrated Product Suite (IPS) Licenses and Support

This notice is not a request for quote, proposal, or an invitation for bid. The intent of this synopsis is to provide notice of a proposed contract action.

EPOCH Integrated Product Suite (IPS) Licenses and Support

This is a notice of intent to issue a sole source contract to Kratos Technology and Training Solutions, Inc., (Kratos) located at 10680 Treena Street, Floor 6, San Diego, CA 92131-2487. 5971 Kingstowne Village Parkway, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22315.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), Mission Operations Division (MOD), Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) is responsible for the management and operations of the Satellite Operation Control Center (SOCC) located in Suitland, MD. The SOCC manages and directs the operation of NOAA's satellites and the acquisition of remotely sensed data. Satellite systems include the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES), and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), among others.  

Portions of the ground system’s architectures for GOES, POES and DMSP were initially custom-developed utilizing Integral Systems, Inc. (ISI) EPOCH and ABE software products as a core component. In addition, an OSPO antenna system upgrade recently incorporated OA PassP software. Components of the ISI product are marketed as the EPOCH Integrated Product Suite (IPS).

NESDIS/OSPO/MOD has a requirement for software technical support, license management, product software fixes, and updates that are critical to the continued operation of OSPO IT systems which are based upon the EPOCH Telemetry and Command (T&C) Server, EPOCH Database, EPOCH Windows NT Client, and Orbit Analysis Systems (OASYS) Electrical Power System (EPS) modules of the IPS. Kratos is currently the sole industry provider for EPOCH IPS licenses and support, thus, Kratos does not have authorized resellers.

A sole source justification was prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 13.501. The statutory permitting this sole source acquisition is 41 U.S.C. 1901, as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a). This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals; however, any vendor that believes it can fully meet the Government’s Requirements may submit written documentation affirmatively demonstrating its ability to meet the Government’s Requirements to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist, listed below, within ten (10) calendar days of the notice’s posted date. Vendor documentation submitted in response to this notice will be considered only to determine whether to proceed with the intended sole source acquisition. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive acquisition based on potential submissions to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Any documentation submitted in response to this notice is strictly voluntary. Therefore, the Government: 1) will not pay for any documentation submitted in response to this notice; and 2) will not award a contract solely based on documentation submitted in response to this notice.