SOFIA Science and Mission Operations

Added: May 20, 2016 4:47 pm THIS PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE REPLACES NOTICE NNA1679196R DATED 04/18/2016

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Science and Mission Operations. The SOFIA science and mission operations contract provides NASA with an Infrared Science Guest Observer Program that delivers quality science to NASA in the form of astronomical data and quality refereed science papers. NASA and the German Aerospace Center, Deutsches Zentrum Für Luft-und Raumfart (DLR), make available the observatory platform that this contract uses to implement the Infrared Science Guest Observer Program and achieve the science deliverables.

SOFIA is an airborne astronomical observatory consisting of a 2.5-m aperture telescope permanently installed in a specially modified Boeing 747SP aircraft. The observatory, with its open port telescope provided through a partnership with DLR, provides routine access to nearly all of the visible, infrared, far infrared, and sub-millimeter parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. SOFIA's primary mission is to conduct high-quality, high-impact, cutting-edge research in astronomy, astrophysics, and planetary astronomy in a safe and cost effective manner. The observatory is able to directly incorporate new or upgraded instruments over its lifetime.

The SOFIA Program is executed jointly at two NASA centers. ARC is responsible for program and science management, located at Moffett Field, CA. ARC is also responsible for the procurement of the infrared science guest observer program that operates at both ARC and the Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) B703 Palmdale. AFRC is responsible for flight operations and maintenance of the SOFIA aircraft. The aircraft is based in Palmdale, California. Flight operations and aircraft maintenance are not within scope of this procurement. This is a follow-on to contract NAS2-97001, with the Universities Space Research Association (USRA).

A Request for Information was issued for this requirement on 10/9/15 and updated on 12/22/15 under NNA16ZPX001L. All future communications related to this requirement will be issued under NNA1679196R.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.
All responsible sources may submit an offer, which shall be considered by the agency.
The anticipated procurement milestones are as follows:

Release of Draft Statement of Work (SOW) and summary of key procurement information 4/27/16
Industry Day 1 at AFRC 5/4/16 (see separate attachment)
Release of Draft RFP 5/20/16
Industry Day 2 at ARC 5/25/16
Release of RFP 6/13/16
Due date for proposals 8/12/16
Award 1/10/17

NASA will seek comments/input on the draft documents from potential offerors.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at:
http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html.

The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application.

Prospective offerors may notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any).

Information about major upcoming ARC procurement actions is available at http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eis/admin/admin.cgi?center=ARC.