NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001

A -- SPACE SCIENCE STUDIES AND ASSESSMENTS POC Nancy M. Sessoms, Contract Specialist, Phone (757) 864-2471, Fax (757) 864-6131, Email n.m.sessoms@larc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/LaRC/date.html#SS112. E-MAIL: Nancy M. Sessoms, n.m.sessoms@larc.nasa.gov. NASA/LaRC is hereby soliciting information for potential sources to provide space science and earth science studies and assessments. NASA Langley Research Center's Space Science Support Office (SSSO) assists the Office of Space Science in the acquisition of science missions in the Discovery, Explorer, Outer Planets and other related programs. The SSSO assists the Office of Earth Science in the acquisition of related science/applications missions through space-borne projects with an emphasis on small, focused missions to test hypotheses and to address the scientific/applications themes. Working with the Office of Space Science and the Office of Earth Science and their customers, including academia, industry, NASA centers and other government agencies, the SSSO develops efficient methodologies for evaluation processes. The office develops assigned Announcement of Opportunities and NASA Research Announcements, conducts on-site evaluations, and conducts technical, management, cost, and other program factors (TMCO) evaluations of proposals. In addition, upon request, the SSSO conducts science, mission and project independent assessments. The SSSO ensures that the criteria for high quality science return is within budget and that schedule constraints are met. The contractor will be required to provide support in two primary areas, assessments and studies. It is estimated that 40% of the task orders issued will be for assessments and 40% of task orders will be for studies. Award of an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity, cost type contract is contemplated with a five-year period for issuance of task orders. Typical individual task orders may range from $2,000 to $500,000. Assessments include TMCOs, independent assessments, earth and space science, technology and other program assessments. Management support for TMCO evaluations includes: Preparation of explanatory materials, including logistics information; Web-based information management system for TMCO evaluation; Consultants to provide expert evaluationscovering all evaluation factors; Cost assessment capability covering technology development, space systems (including instruments) and related ground systems; and life-cycle costs. Support for Independent Assessments includes: Science, mission and project program assessments; Risk assessments; Environmental impact analysis; Mission trajectory analysis; In-situ resource utilization studies; Cost assessments including estimates and analysis of cost risk and estimates of mission development and life-cycle costs; and Analysis of instrument, spacecraft and launch vehicle designs. This includes subsystems analysis, systems engineering, fabrication and Assembly Test and Launch Operations (ATLO). All aerospace disciplines shall be covered, including aerothermodynamics, Software, Configuration (geometry, etc.), Aerodynamics, Flight Controls, Guidance, Navigation and Control, Communications & data Handling, Propulsion, Structures, Subsystems, Weight and sizing, Operations, Integration, Cost Estimating, Risk Assessment, and System Engineering. Four types of studies are required: management, scientific, technical and engineering. Management Studies will include areas such as the ability to assess the effectiveness of proposed management systems. Scientific Studies will include areas such as sample handling and analysis, payload definition to meet scientific goals, potential science objective of small, low-cost missions, science concepts applicability. Technical Studies cover areas such as instrument and spacecraft design feasibility, mission options and performance expectations, system design analysis to provide realistic micro spacecraft systems, and technologies needed to accomplish specific goals. Engineering Studies cover support that includes advanced propulsion capabilities, potential lander technologies, advanced lightweight optics, and mission feasibility studies. The remaining 20% of anticipated tasks are for administrative support and information management. Administrative support includes conference logisticssupport. Information Management includes development and maintenance of the SSSO homepage and databases such as OSS solicitation database and the SSSO reviewer database. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in the CBD and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Vendors having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation, literature, brochures, and references. Responses must include the following: name and address of firm, size of business; average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees; ownership; whether they are large, small, small disadvantaged 8 (a), and/or woman owned; number of years in business; affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners and/or consultants, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact -- address and phone number). Technical questions should be directed to: Catharine G. Schauer at 757-864-3314 or e-mail: c.g.schauer@larc.nasa.gov. Procurement related questions should be directed to: Nancy M. Sessoms or e-mail: n.m.sessoms@larc.nasa.gov While this request is seeking information and capabilities from all interested parties, NASA is also seeking capabilities from small and small disadvantaged businesses which includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions, and women-owned small businesses for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small and small disadvantaged business subcontracting goals. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses hereto. All responses shall be submitted to NASA Langley Research Center, Attn: Industry Assistance Office, Mail Stop 144, Hampton, VA 23681, no later than September 8, 1999. In responding reference SS112. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://cbdnet.access.gpo.gov/num-note.html and http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html Posted 08/24/99 (D-SN371835). (0236)

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