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A -- NATIONAL POLAR-ORBITING OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE SYSTEM (NPOESS) SENSOR PAYLOAD AND ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT SOL F04701-96-R-0012 POC Technical Information: LtCol Raymond M. Leong, (310)336-4414. Contracting Officer: William S. Trombetta, (310)336-4460. The Government is seeking qualified sources to perform selected sensor payload and algorithm development efforts in support of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). The program's objective is to develop a single, cost-effective, space system capable of providing weather and environmental data for U.S. civil, military and international objectives. The Government's current acquisition approach is to award multiple contracts from a single RFP based on full and open competition for sensor/algorithm development. The Government intends to award one or more contracts for each sensor or suite. The five sensor payloads are the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), Conical Microwave Imager Sounder (CMIS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) and GPS Occultation Sensor (GPSOS). Additionally, the NPOESS program office is considering the inclusion of separate Space Environmental Suite (SES) and Cross-sensor Algorithm development efforts (currently reserved status). The Government currently intends to down-select to a single contract for each sensor or sensor suite at the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) milestone for the VIIRS, CMIS, OMPS and CrIS, and at the Critical Design Review (CDR) milestone for GPSOS. This down-selection process will require a Call for Improvements (CFI) proposal prior to evaluation and selection for continued NPOESS development and production options. Based upon final foreign disclosure review, potential foreign sources will not be excluded from participation. Performance of these contracts will, however, require access, handling and storage of information at the Secret level. A draft RFP is anticipated for release in November, 1996. Interested, qualified sources are invited to submit an unclassified Statement of Capability (SOC), not-to-exceed 10 pages in length, within thirty days of the publication of this synopsis. The SOC should demonstrate the interested source's ability to perform the following minimum requirements: Sensor requirements analysis, preliminary design, science algorithm development, risk identification and mitigation, technology demonstrations, sensor development, production and sustainment and cost/schedule analyses to minimize program risk, experience with relevant sensor technologies, including their development and integration into space systems of remote sensing payloads, sensor in-house design capability and instrument analysis, manufacturing facility and subsystem integration for space hardware, integration experience of sensor instruments to a satellite, and the delivery of operational algorithms for processing of instrument data, experience with end-to-end demonstration of sensor and algorithm performance, and, a description of previously developed sensors which indicates experience in program management, systems engineering, configuration management and quality assurance disciplines. Interested sources (or their team members) who are engaged, or plan to be engaged, in NPOESS-related efforts (e.g. Operational Algorithm Teams, Internal Government Studies, Advanced Technology Support Program) should be aware of our concern regarding the potential for organizational conflicts of interest and the possibility that it could preclude them from further consideration or participation. You are requested to include as an attachment to the SOC any known or potential conflicts of interest and your proposed mitigation approach. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 3761 applies to this acquisition. Information concerning the NPOESS program, including release of the draft RFP for industry review and comment, will be made available through the SMC home page. The World Wide Web home page for the NPOESS acquisition can be found at the following address: http://www.laafb.af.mil/SMC/PK/NPOESS/rfp.htm. Future announcements concerning this acquisition will be made via the CBD and the SMC home page. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the Program Manager or the Contracting Officer, but to communicate offeror concerns, issues, disagreements and recommendation 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 nor in the source selection process. The Ombudsman, Mr. Les Bordelon, can be reached at (310) 363-3818. This sources sought synopsis is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal. See Note No. 26. (0284)

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