NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 215, Greenbelt, MD 20771

B -- SYSTEM STUDIES AND ANALYSIS FOR THE CROSS-ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DUE 021199 POC Catherine A. Cavey, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 286-3721, Fax (301) 286-1720, Email catherine.a.cavey.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#CETDP1999. E-MAIL: Catherine A. Cavey, catherine.a.cavey.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA/GSFC plans to procure system studies and analysis for the Cross-Enterprise Technology Development Program (CETDP) to support the selection of the best possible technologies for NASA's use in the years 2005 and beyond, from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). The Cross-Enterprise Technology Development Program organizes and recommends funding options for technology development across all NASA centers and within Academia and Industry through competitive NRA's and partnering. The CETDP System Study will analytically develop an investment strategy based on NASA's needs as traced from the NASA Strategic Plan and other high level policy documents. The collective insights of NASA scientists and technologists, Industry, DOD and other government technologists will form the basis for system studies and conceptual designs that examine potential new NASA programs. The best industry standard decision support tools shall be used to collect scientific and technical insights, to determine consensus, to evaluate the technologies, to understand the challenges to be met and to derive a prioritized list of technology funding recommendations. The contractor shall provide three or more analytical studies and process improvement analysis: Systems Identification Study, Program Context Study and Investment Strategy: The Systems Identification Study is a survey of top level NASA documents such as the NASA Strategic Plan, the Space Science Strategic Plan and the Human Exploration and Discovery Strategic Plan. These strategic plans are supplemented by interviews and meetings with NASA strategic planners (scientists, engineers and managers) to establish NASA strategic missions. These missions are analyzed to establish far term technologies that will support these strategic missions. The Program Context Study establishes where it is most appropriate to develop the strategic technologies. The process of establishing the "Context" will be to analyze NASA capabilities, priorities and unique needs as well asthose of other governmental agencies and industry. >From this analysis it will be possible to establish the desirability of maintaining or establishing NASA in-house capabilities. This could include cooperating with other agencies or industry to develop the desired technologies. The Investment Strategy Studies will use the best available industry standard decision tools to analyze the results of previous studies and analyses to establish different funding options that support NASA's technology goals. The Lessons Learned Study will establish steps for process improvement. It will analyze the previous studies and their conclusions and make recommendations for how to make future studies more accurate, defensible and easily explained. In developing a systems analysis approach to new technology selection, NASA has evaluated the best current industry and DoD approaches to technology portfolio management. NASA has selected DoD's "War Games" analysis and visualization as the best possible approach for selecting along term technology investment portfolio. The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has participated and hosted numerous "War Game" analytical efforts for almost 30 years. In that time, APL has developed a unique, formal and systematic analysis process using widely-accepted collaborative tools for program sponsors, resource managers, policy makers, and other decision makers to explore alternatives and develop concepts and strategies for complex, multi-dimensional efforts. APL's process is unique in its ability to combine in-house technical expertise in multiple scientific disciplines to this process; it has also created a collaborative facility tailored to this process that integrates many of the simulation, visualization, networking, and decision support aids that were developed over its 30 years of support to DoD. This facility, process and its tools are easily adapted to support exploring proposed science missions and technologies. These science missions and technologies are complex, cross multiple disciplines and are extremely conceptual in nature. Each requires formulating portfolio strategies that accomplish the mission goals, but which must be developed with only immature technological concepts. These concepts need to be derived from a diverse group of experienced technologists and scientists. APL has a mature and proven process (developed for DoD) for facilitating the collaboration of this diverse group, and developed tools and a process to collect and analyze their thoughts and discussions. APL's process organizes subjective and qualitative assessments associated with this type of concept driven gaming and exploration, to provide a quantitative and non-biased assessment of the groups view. This information is critical to NASA's long term investments in research and development. By leveraging APL's expertise, NASA can save substantial costs as it begins its new approach to technology selection: adapting these APL developed tools and processes. APL has and continues to develop tools for DoD that allow participants in simulated "War Games" to analyze and visualize the effects of new or proposed weaponry as an effective deterrent against current or forcasted military threats. A military threat represents a complete scenario of possible events associated with a hostile military initiative for a defined purpose by a military adversary. Similarly during simulated "War Games" the effects of new or proposed weaponry on forecasted campaigns can be assessed and visualized. There is much similarity between proposed science missions and forecasted military campaigns. Each has a defined set of objectives and steps to achieve these objectives. Each can be strengthened or even enabled by the addition of new technology items. In addition to APL's capabilities in "War Game" analysis and visualization, APL has a rich history of researching, analyzing and developing new technology in support of NASA sponsored initiatives. Specifically, APL has extensive expertise and experience in space science, engineering, and technology, as well cost and affordability analysis. This integration of a proven APL- developed analytical process with financial, technical, and space systems technologies expertise make APL uniquely qualified to provide NASA with the required capabilities to effectively develop its space technology investment strategy. This unique combination of capabilities in applying DoD War Game analysis and visualization and understanding of NASA's unique technology requirements makes APL the only possible provider of the required analysis and visualization. NASA/GSFC intends to award this contract under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)-Only One Responsible Source. There are no other known sources that possess the comprehensive background required for performance of this effort. The work will be issued by task assignment to APL under contract NAS5-97271, which is cost plus fixed fee. Any qualified responsible source may submit a written response which will be considered by the Agency. Firms desiring consideration must provide a written technical narrative statement of its capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet this requirement. The response shall be sufficiently detailed to permit agency analysis of the data to establish its bona fide capability to meet all of the requirements. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Interested firms have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing their qualifications/capabilities to the identified point of contact at the above address via facsimile at (301) 286-1720 or e-mail to Catherine.A.Cavey.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. The use of faxed or e-mail requests rests solely with the interested party. No collect calls will be accepted. Responses received after 15 days or without the required detailed information will be considered nonresponsive to this synopsis and will not be given consideration. A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html. Posted 01/22/99 (D-SN290523). (0022)

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