NASA Headquarters, Acquisition Division, 300 E St., SW, Washington, DC 20546, Attn: Joseph Kroener (CW, 4A40)

A -- RESEARCH STUDY, RADIO PLASMA IMAGING/SOUNDING IN THE MAGNETOSPHERE POC Joseph F. Kroener, Contracting Officer, 202/358-0597 A - The NASA Headquarters Acquisition Division intends to award a sole-source contract to Hughes STX (Lanham, MD) for the continuation of a research study entitled Radio Plasma Imaging/Sounding in the Magnetosphere. The proposed contract will be for one year with a 1-year option. The estimated maximum value of the proposed contract is $147K. The basis for this sole-source action is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source. The study is to define and develop supporting techniques and technologies to improve the signal to noise ratio for radio plasma imaging and sounding (EPI/S) from space. This includes analyzing radio data from satellites ISSE-1, DE-1, Hawkeye, and Geotail to characterize magnetospheric radio spectral powers and noise characteristics. A 3-year contract was previously awarded to Nichols Research Corp. (NCR) for this study, based on the Principal Investigator's (PI's) proposal in response to a competitive NASA Research Announcement (NRA). However, the option for the remaining two years under the contract was not exercised due to the PI leaving NCR after the first contract year and assuming a similar position with HSTX. The proposed sole-source contract with HSTX is to allow the PI to complete the remaining two years of the study. No other contractor or PI can complete the study without substantial redundant effort, duplication of costs, and loss of time. If the remaining study was awarded to any other contractor or PI, all data analysis and investigative work already accomplished would have to be repeated, thereby causing unacceptable costs and delays in meeting NASA's requirement. Also, since the research topic was originated and proposed by the PI in response to a competitive NRA, to award the remaining study to any other Contractor or PI would improperly disclose the originality of thought and innovativeness of the proposed research, and may improperly disclose proprietary information associated with the proposal. Any responses to this synopsis must be submitted in writing to the contact person identified above no later than 15 days following publication. See Note 22. (0277)

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