Hq Electronic System Center, Directorate of Contracting, R&D Contracting (ESC/PKR), 104 Barksdale St, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1806

A -- OPERATION OF THE GOOSEBAY IONOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY AT GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR, CANADA SOL PR FY712196PL3034 POC Karen M. Stone, Contracting Officer, 617-377-5914; Patricia J. Forest, Contract Specialist, 617-377-4019; Dr. B. S. Dandekar, Technical Contact, PL/GPI, 617-377-2761. Research and Development sources are sought to continue the operation and maintenance of the Goose Bay Ionospheric Observatory (GBIO) currently provided by FRONTEC under a subcontract from Canadian Commercial Corporation (Contract F19628-93-C-0215). The Ionospheric Effects Division, Phillips Laboratory Geophysics Directorate, Hanscom AFB, MA operates GBIO at Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, for the study of the high latitude ionosphere. A contract will be negotiated for a continuation of the operation. The contractor will provide manpower, services, technical and administrative support to operate GBIO, operate and maintain instrumentation systems for the geophysical measurements on site for real time transmission to the Air Force 50th Weather Squadron (50WS). Instrumentation systems such as Digital Ionosonde AN/FMQ12, HF Backscatter radar, all sky photometer, ionospheric scientillation measuring receivers, and microprocessor based data acquisition systems will be operated and maintained. Interested potential sources should respond by indicating their ability to meet the following screening criteria, of equal importance: (1) demonstrate working knowledge of radar transmitters, HF-VHF receiver techniques, microelectronics, microprocessors, and ADP equipment (tape recorders, printers, modems, etc.) and general geophysical instrumentation. (2) demonstrate basic knowledge of the ionosphere and aurora as well as on quality control of ionospheric/geophysical measurements. The work load is estimated to be one manyear per year with occasional night duty. Station experiences severe Arctic winter. Transportation and housing will be the responsibility of the contractor. Period of performance is estimated to be thirty-six (36) months to begin in the 4th quarter of FY96. Offerors interested in documenting their capabilities to perform this work should reference Purchase Request FY712196PL3034 in responding to the Deputy for Small Business, Attn: ESC/BC, Mr. Alan Hart, 275 RandolphRoad, Hanscom AFB MA 01731-2818. Information on file at ESC/BC must be supplemented to document the capabilities in the above stated areas. Organizations not registered must submit complete qualifying information. Offerors should list persons from customer firms whom the Air Force may contact to verify applicable work experience and performance. Firms should also indicate their status if qualified as socially or economically disadvantaged. Each offeror responding to this synopsis is requested to submit with its reply a name and telephone number for a point of contact. The Government will solicit those firms meeting the screening criteria in this synopsis. Any offeror initially judged to be unqualified will be provided a copy of the solicitation upon request and any offer such a firm might submit will be evaluated without prejudice. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the program director or contracting officer, but to communicate offeror concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. Interested parties are invited to call Colonel Claude E. Messamore, Jr., ESC/IG, at (617) 377-5106. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have previously been brought to the attention of the program manager and/or the contracting officer and could not be satisfactorily resolved at that level. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes, does not constitute an IFB or RFP, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government. Closing date for submission of responses is thirty (30) days from the publication of this notice. See Numbered Note(s): 25. (0339)

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