NASA-Ames Research Center, Acquisition Division, Mail Stop 227-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

M -- OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR WIND TUNNEL AND SIMULATOR FACILITIES SOL RFP2-36564(RRG) POC Contract Specialist: Ronnee R. Gonzalez, (415)604-4386, Fax: (415)604-4357; Contracting Officer: Barbara R. McKeag, (415)604- 5086, Fax: (415)604-4646 This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request For Proposal. -- The purpose of the Request for Comment (RFC) is to afford industry an opportunity to comment on any perceived issues with regard to the impact of Performance Based Contracting, issuance of a single solicitation with choices for proposing, and to allow the Govern ment to receive the benefit of industry comments. -- The Government's purpose in providing an opportunity for industry comment is to identify potential problem areas, and provide alternative recommendations in order to enhance the success of this initiative. -- The Government believes industry feedback is important, and is receptive to any and all ideas from industry which would result in eliminating constraining requirements, realizing cost savings, or highlighting potential technical or contractual problem areas associated with this initiative. -- Any comments provided should not be viewed as a vehicle for presenting a specific approach or product intended to be proposed but as an opportunity to improve the final solicitation package. -- A presolicitation synopsis will be issued prior to release of the solicitation. -- This procure ment is for the Operation, Maintenance, Repair, Engineering and Technical Services for Simulator Facilities, Wind Tunnel Facilities, Wind Tunnel Calibration Laboratories, Hypersonic Gun Ranges, Arc Jets, and High Pressure Air and Steam Vacuum Systems at Ames Research Center (ARC). -- The Simulator Laboratories (SimLab) include the Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility (CVSRF) and the Vertical Motion Simula tion Complex (VMSC). The CVSRF and the VMSC include embedded computing systems, graphics systems, real-time software systems, and other specialized sub-systems. The CVSRF is a unique national research tool used primarily to study basic human factors issues critical to developing an understanding of the mechanisms and environmental factors that can lead to human errors in the national aviation system. The CVSRF includes two full-mission flight simulators: a Boeing 747- 400 and an Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator; and an Air Traffic Control Simulator. The VMSC is comprised of several laboratory systems which include the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) and interchangeable simulator cockpits. Further information is available online at: http://scott.arc. nasa.gov/code_a/code_ao/simlabs_AOO-AOS/index.html -- The Wind Tunnel and Related Facilities include, but are not limited to: Subsonic Wind Tunnels, Pressure Wind Tunnels, Transonic Wind Tunnels, Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility, Propulsion Simulator Calibration Laboratory, Balance Calibra tion Laboratory, Ames Vertical Gun Range, Hypersonic Free Flight Aerodynamic Facility, Pressurized Ballistic Range, Electronic Arc Shock Tube, Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, High Pressure Air System, and the Steam Vacuum System. The Services required include management, engineering, mechan ical, electrical, electronics, controls, instrumentation, operations, maintenance, software, graphics, data systems, adminstrative, and clerical. -- The period of performance will be for a 1-year base period with four 1 year option periods. -- Currently, the Government is acquiring these activities on Cost-Plus-Award-Fee, Level-of-Effort (LOE) contracts. Under the successor contract(s), the LOE approach will be replaced with Performance Based require ments and will be restricted to the acquisition of ''out comes or outputs'' where the period of performance and scope will be limited to work and products that can be well defined and priced. In no event will open-ended requirements be issued which lack discrete objectives or deliverables. --Comments are solicited regarding the following: (1) Based on decreasing budgets and a need to maintain facilities and services at prior fiscal year levels, ARC anticipates the negotiation of a ''Performance Based'' contract(s) with an objective, measurable quality assurance surveillance plan, and associated fee structure; (2) Selec tion will be made in a manner most advantageous to the Government and significant emphasis will be afforded to past performance in providing similar services as an evaluation criterion in determining award; (3) A single solicitation with provision for contract award of either one consolidated overall contract or two contracts: one contract for the CVSRF and VMSC facilities and one for the Wind Tunnel and Related Facilities; -- (4) A single solici tation with provision for contract award of two contracts: one contract for the CVSRF and VMSC facilities and one for the Wind Tunnel and Related Facilities; -- (5) Issues and problems regarding (3) and (4) with reference to Organiza tional Conflicts of Interest. Current Organizational Conflicts of Interest clauses for the SimLab contracts preclude contractors who engage in significant commercial design, development or production of aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, avionics systems, or flight controls and display systems. For the Wind Tunnel and Related Facilities, contractors are precluded from designing, developing, or producing aircraft or airframe of the kinds that are tested in the Wind Tunnel Facilities. -- (6) Comments, whether supportive or critical, are earnestly solicited regarding every aspect of the proposed initiative. -- Replies are not mandatory. -- The use of comments received from industry to complete final statements of work and resulting solici tation documents will be at the discretion of ARC. -- Contractors are encouraged to be innovative in their comments related to metrics, as well as possible contract type and management. -- Any subsequent solicitation will be synop sized prior to its release. -- The Government will not critique a potential offeror's comments and the RFC should not be used by offerors to market their products/services. -- The Government does not intend to pay for the information solicited and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of this RFC. -- Proprietary information is not being solicited. -- Information considered proprietary, if any, should be identified as such. -- Response to this synopsis must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer at the above address no later than June 25, 1996. Facsimile transmission to 415-604-4357 or by Internet e-mail to ronee_gonzalez@qmgate.arc.nasa.gov is acceptable. NASA- Ames Research Center has an active Home Page. It is available at the following URL:http://Procure.arc.nasa.gov/Acq/Acq.html via a worldwide web browser such as Mosaic, Netscape, or similar application. The Home Page contains our synopses, subsequent solicitations, information on the NASA acquisitions, and related helpful information. (0163)

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