Science technology design development test and evaluation in support ofascends concept development

NASA/LaRC has a need to obtain services that are necessary in support of instrumentconcept development for the Active Sensing of CO2 over Nights, Days, and Seasons(ASCENDS) mission.Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii) and (iii), NASA/LaRCintends to purchase the services from ITT Industries Space Systems Division of FortWayne, Indiana. NASA/LaRC has partnered with ITT over the past three years as the onlysource capable of producing the key measurements to meet the ASCENDS mission concept. NASA/LaRC has a need to further extend the capabilities of ITT's proprietary measurementtechnology and instrumentation to develop, improve, and enhance the measurements ofatmospheric CO2. This will be accomplished through a systematic series of airborne fieldexperiments based on ITT's highly specialized equipment and services. The scope of workwill include (1)development, improvement, maintenance, and implementation of algorithmsfor ASCENDS retrieval of CO2 mixing ratio, including required ancillary measurements, anddiagnostic algorithms for validation and maintenance of analytical models; (2)developmentof numerical models for ASCENDS-related measurements; (3) analysis and interpretation ofdata from satellite, aircraft, balloon, and ground-based instruments for understandingand validation of ASCENDS models and algorithms; (4) mission, payload, and instrumentoperations support for ASCENDS airborne and ground systems not provided by theGovernment; (5) logistical support and ground facilities to personnel and equipment whileconducting ASCENDS field missions and experiments; (6) engineering and technologydevelopment support in the development of ASCENDS sensors and instruments to meet missionneeds and objectives; (7) instrument/sensor design to translate research objectives andscientific requirements into viable ASCENDS instrument concepts for ground, aircraft, andspace flight research applications; (8) instrument/sensor development for analyticalstudies, concept development, design verification, assembly, modification, anddevelopment of ASCENDS instrumentation systems.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 October 25, 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.All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.An Ombudsman has been appointed; Cynthia C. Lee. Direct inquires to the Office ofProcurement Deputy Director, Panice Clark, NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 134,Hampton, VA 23681-2199; Phone (757) 864-2426; Facsimile (757) 864-8541. See NASASpecific Note "B".Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.