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

66 -- PURCHASE OF STAR FIELD STIMULATOR SOL 410-25967-920 DUE 051799 POC Mary E. McKaig, Contract Specialist for Simplified Acquisition, Phone (301) 286-4240, Fax (301) 286-1720, Email Mary.E.McKaig.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#410-25967-920. E-MAIL: Mary E. McKaig, Mary.E.McKaig.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA/GSFC plans to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the purchase of a Star Field Stimulator. The deliverable ground support equipment (GSE) (i.e., the stimulator) shall include test equipment which will be capable of producing an output signal directly through the sensor for end-to-end testing. The stimuli shall be capable of producing outputs over the entire sensor range, and shall be acceptable for use in a thermal vacuum environment. The stimulator must be capable of producing a fixed star field image that can be acquired by the sensor. A set of control electronics, thermal vacuum cables, and power supplies required shall also be provided for the GSE. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). NASA/GSFC intends to purchase the stimulator from Lockheed Martin of Palo Alto, CA. Lockheed Martin is currently working under a contract to provide two (2) autonomous star trackers (AST) and one stimulator for the MAP Project. However, the stimulator is designed to work with only the one AST, which would leave the MAP Project one stimulator short during spacecraft testing. Thus, a second stimulator needs to be purchased. Since the stimulator must attach directly to the AST for testing, the contractor would need to be familiar with the AST to correctly design a stimulator that would work. As Lockheed Martin keeps their AST and stimulator designs proprietary, it would be impossible for any other contractor to design a stimulator that would correctly interface to the AST. Because spacecraft testing requires both of the MAP AST's to be tested similarly and consistently through the test program, the two stimulators must be interchangeable. Both AST's would be equally test and stimulators could be switched between AST's without concern for not testing appropriately. Given MAP's stimulator delivery date of June 1998, only Lockheed Martin has the adequate resources to finish the job by the required time. 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. Interested firms have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities with respect to provided the item mentioned above within the time-frame needed. 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. Oral communications ARE NOT acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". Posted 04/26/99 (D-SN324436). (0116)

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