NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210, Greenbelt, MD 20771

A -- VERY LONG BASELINE INTERFEROMETRY (VLBI) DUE 032599 POC A. Bryan Ball, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 614-5615, Fax (301) 614-5619, Email aball@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov -- Cynthia A. Dean, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 614-5606, Fax (301) 614-5619, Email Cynthia.Dean.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#RFO5-13092257. E-MAIL: A. Bryan Ball, aball@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA/GSFC plans to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Office of Sponsored Programs, Haystack Observatory (HO), Cambridge, Massachusetts for the acquisition of the continued development and operation of the Mark-IIIA and Mark-IV Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VBLI) systems and to fabricate special VLBI hardware and software. This procurement calls for upgrading of the Mark-III data acquisition systems to the Mark-IV standard, and installation of improved recording density electronics for the Mark-III and Mark-IV data acquistion systems, for the improvement and operational use of the Mark-III, Mark-IIIA and Mark-IV correlators, and for the maintenance of VBLI data acquistion terminals already in the field. The Mark-IV function is to improve on the measurement precision to the mm level from the current Mark-III standard of 2 cm on a 4000 km baseline. The Mark-IV will support new recording modes and increased capability of the data-recording system. It will quadruple the existing data rate of the Mark-IIIA acquisition system from 224 Mbits/sec to 1024 Mbits/sec. The authority for other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) -- Only One Responsible Source. All the Mark-III and Mark-IV hardware was developed at MIT HO. The correlators are located at MIT HO, U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington D.C. and Bonn, Germany. Based on this there would be a substantial duplication of costs if correlators were removed or redesigned. Delivery Dates for the Mark-IV correlator is due to be delivered to the USNO by June 1999. If not delivered on time there is a substantial risk for Y2K noncompliance. Therefore, MIT HO has the capability, expertise, and knowledge to meet and perform the cited requirements within the time required for delivery without seriously delaying the scientific program. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Notes 22 and 26. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". Interested firms have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after the 15 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. 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. Firm date for receipt of offers will be stated in the RFO. All qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html. Posted 02/26/99 (D-SN302874). (0057)

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