SOURCES SOUGHT
99 -- ROBOTICS VEHICLE AND GRAPHICS SIMULATION SERVICES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- Notice Date
- 4/12/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541511
— Custom Computer Programming Services
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BH
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- NNJ13470997L
- Response Due
- 5/3/2013
- Archive Date
- 4/12/2014
- Point of Contact
- Audrey C Montgomery, Contract Specialist, Phone 281-792-7510, Fax 281-483-4066, Email audrey.c.montgomery@nasa.gov - Miyoshi J. Thompson, Contracting Officer, Phone 281-244-1683, Fax 281-244-2931, Email Miyoshi.thompson-1@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Audrey C Montgomery
(audrey.c.montgomery@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Software, Robotics, and Simulation Division (SRSD) is considering a follow-on compeition to the current Robotics & Graphics Simulation Services (RGSS) contract, NNJ09HB89Z, ending May 27, 2014, in combination with the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) human-in-the-loop simulation modeling work supporting SRSD on the current Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Contract (RPOC), NNJ12HB20C, ending July 15, 2015. The contract name for the follow-on for the below scope is Robotics, Vehicle, and Graphics Simulation Services (RVGSS). NASA/JSC is hereby soliciting information regarding potential sources for RVGSS. This synopsis additionally serves as a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit comments from industry regarding acquisition strategies. Industry is invited to provide feedback on the specific areas requested in the RFI, as applicable. The overall scope of RVGSS includes: RVGSS will support simulation model development, integration, verification, analysis, and documentation of Trick-based non-real-time (NRT) and human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulations, including models for: on-orbit robotic manipulator systems; advanced future robotics; rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking interaction of space-based vehicles; guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) of space-based vehicles for different flight phases; and astronomical object surface interaction. The primary purpose of these simulations is to address NRT and HITL engineering analysis, operations, and training requirements.Use and knowledge of the Trick Simulation Environment is a primary requirement, as well as experience with space-based robotics, vehicles, and astronomical object surface interaction.The RVGSS contract will provide articulated multi-body dynamics, contact dynamics, orbital dynamics and environment, GN&C, and surface interaction modeling and the corresponding expertise to address a variety of complex and advanced dynamic analysis scenarios. The RVGSS will also provide for the development and maintenance of 3D graphics capabilities to meet simulation real-time HITL scene visualization requirements, excluding Virtual Reality. Use and knowledge of the Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) rendering software, development of the Engineering DOUG Graphics for Exploration (EDGE), and state of the art real-time computer graphics technologies is required. Potential requirements that may be incorporated in the statement of work include: 1.Project Management: Provide all management, supervision, programming, technical, and administrative support, as well as technical disciplines, skills, and documentation necessary to ensure effective and efficient accomplishment of the total contracted effort. 2.Robotic Simulation Services: Provide simulation development, integration, verification, analysis, documentation, and troubleshooting support for space-based robotic systems simulation models, including articulated multi-body dynamics, contact dynamics, and dynamic state transition management. 3.Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking Simulation Services: Provide simulation development, integration, verification, analysis, documentation, and troubleshooting support for space-based vehicle rendezvous, proximity operations, capture, and docking simulations, including orbital dynamics and environment modeling, combined articulated multi-body/orbital body dynamics modeling, vehicle GN&C modeling, and capture/docking mechanism and contact dynamics modeling. 4.Astronomical Object Surface Interaction Simulation Services: Provide simulation development, integration, verification, analysis, documentation, and troubleshooting support for space-based vehicle surface interaction with astronomical object simulations, including soil/regolith/rock interaction modeling with lander or rover vehicles, robotics systems, and other anchoring type mechanisms. 5.Graphics Simulation Services: Provide development and support services for 3D graphics capabilities needed for simulation visualization and engineering analysis, including but not limited to graphics communication library capabilities, various model format loaders, and user specific customization. NASA/JSC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SD-VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for the requirements described above. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, SDB, 8(a), WOSB, VOSB, SD-VOSB, HUBZone, and HBCU/MI business set-aside based on responses hereto. The Government is attempting to determine if a competitive market exists for the requirement, so all qualified vendors with the specialized capabilities described above are encourage to respond. The Government is especially interested in gauging the capabilities of small businesses to fill the requirements. Interested offerors/vendors having the required specialized capabilities to meet the above requirements should submit the following: 1. A capability statement indicating the ability of the vendor and any subcontractors, including small businesses, to perform all aspects of the effort described herein. 2. Input regarding contract type, performance incentives period of performance with supporting rationale. 3. Potential organizational conflicts of interest. Interested offerors/vendors must also include the following in their response: 1) Name and address of firm; 2) Size of business; 3) Average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees; 4) Whether they are large, or any category of small business; 4a) If categorized as a 'small business', list any socio-economic representations for which the business is certified (e.g. SDB, WOSB, VOSB, etc.); 4b) If categorized as a 'small business', specify whether the business is certified participant in the SBA 8(a) program; 5) Number of years in business; 6) Affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners; 7) Potential teaming partners: prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); 8) List of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact - address and phone number). Request for Information on Potential Procurement Approach: To assist in contract strategy, the following RFI questions are offered for your consideration.In your response, indicate which aspect you are addressing. Provide any feedback concerning contract type, along with rationale. 1.Provide feedback concerning overall contract option implications and potential strategies for direct and indirect cost control, overall management structure, IT implications, etc. 2.Address your companys overall skills, experience, and capabilities to execute this proposed contract. 3.Provide inputs on the advantages and disadvantages of combining the contracts along with rationale. 4.For each of the 5 potential requirements listed above, indicate whether your firm would serve as either the prime contractor or a subcontractor.If your firm is planning to perform as prime on a particular requirement, please state what percentage, if any, would your company subcontract to other firms if your company was awarded this requirement. 5.Given the requirement summary detailed above, what percentage of incumbent workforce does your company typically retain given similar requirements? 6.JSC anticipates using price/performance tradeoff (PPT) source selection procedures for this effort. Given the nature of work contemplated in the requirements summary, please provide your comments as to what criteria would most effectively distinguish one firms technical capabilities from anothers. Please explain. 7.Identify barriers to competition that could be mitigated to foster a more competitive environment for this procurement. 8.Please provide your view regarding what type of contract provides the best approach for this type of work. a.How should the risks versus rewards be shared by the Government and contractor? How does the proposed contract type incentivize the contractor to perform high quality work at a reasonable price? Discuss your views specific to this contract regarding incentive fees, award fee, and/or other appropriate incentives for contractor performance in terms of: 1) fixed price requirements; 2) cost type requirements. b.Suggest any portions of this procurement for which fixed price contracting could be utilized. Discuss your rationale for each and your thoughts on the feasibility of each. c.In addition, how can NASA design/structure the fixed price portions of the contract to: 1) ensure outstanding environmental compliance and performance is maintained; 2) protect the ability of the contractor to respond rapidly and effectively to facility or operational anomalies; 3) maintain the flexibility needed to handle unplanned work without invoking excessive cost or contracting delays (the duration of such unplanned work may vary from a few hours to several days); and 4) ensure that small business goals are met or exceeded. Discuss all alternatives you would like NASA to consider. 9. What metrics could NASA use to monitor the contractors accomplishments for efforts over and above standards stated in the contract? The Government anticipates the North American Industry Classification System code for this effort to be 541511, Custom Computer Programming Services, which has a small business size standard of annual revenues of $25.5 million or less. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.The Government is under no obligation to issue a solicitation or to award any contract on the basis of this RFI. The Government intends to review the responses submitted by Industry. No evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents. This data will not be shared outside the Government; however, the Government may use this data to develop future requirements. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. Data that is submitted as part of a companys response that is marked proprietary will not be reviewed and will be returned to the respondent. The Government intends to release the names, addresses, and points of contract of all respondents unless specifically requested not to do so by the respondent. This information will be provided on the RVGSS procurement website as an interested parties list. You are requested to provide electronic responses (limited to 25 pages using no less than 12 point Times New Roman font) via e-mail to audrey.c.montgomery@nasa.gov. Any questions shall be submitted, via email, to Audrey Montgomery at audrey.c.montgomery@nasa.gov. All questions and responses to this synopsis shall be submitted, via email, to Audrey Montgomery at audrey.c.montgomery@nasa.gov no later than May 3, 2013. Please reference NNJ13470997L in the subject line of any response. The current RGSS and RPOC statements of work and other pertinent documents are located at the procurement website: http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/rvgss/. These documents are for information and planning purposes only and to allow industry the opportunity to comment, as well as promote competition.
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FBO.gov Permalink
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- Record
- SN03035447-W 20130414/130412234413-903aa3eea89de07874a20340e6887254 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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