NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

A -- BOOK-LENGTH MANUSCRIPT REGARDING THE EVOLUTION OF THE ICING SOL W-10-02035 DUE 121599 POC Diane Harris, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 286-4402, Fax (301) 286-0357, Email diane.harris.1@gsfc.nasa.gov -- Lourdes F. Carson, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 286-4309, Fax (301) 286-0357, Email Lourdes.F.Carson.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&;pin=04#W-10-0203 5. E-MAIL: Diane Harris, diane.harris.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. Provide are responses to questions received for Solicitation Number W-10-02035. In addition, the response date has been changed to December 15, 1999. Proposals shall be submitted in writing to: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771 by 4:00pm EST. 1. Question: The RFP suggests that you expect a full-scale history with scholarly apparatus plus a series of interviews to be conducted and completed within a six-month timeframe. This is an impossible task even, I would suggest, for a qualified historian with knowledge and background in the subject matter. At points in the RFP there it mention of quarterly reports and the suggestion that you only expect completion of a bibliography, a book outline, and the oral interviews (including transcriptions) for the project at the end of six months, which is a more realistic goal? Response: NASA is willing to entertain proposals for longer periods if offerors wish to make them. Please keep in mind in doing so, however, that this is a small purchase, and we will entertain no proposals in excess of the amounts allowable under procurement regulations for small purchases. 2. Question: Can you provide us with a little more detail about the precise milestones-past the first six-month period-if, in fact, that is the intent? Response: If an offeror wishes to propose a period of performance for longer than the six months requested in the RFP, then that offeror should also propose a set of milestones-with at least a quarterly reporting requirement-that will lead to a final deliverable at the end of the contract of a publishable historical manuscript. Payments on the contract will only be made in response to invoices made at each milestone and upon acceptance of a specifically-agreed to deliverable at that milestone. 3. Question: Has NASA previously awarded contracts for manuscripts/projects similar to this? Can we obtain a copy of the successful proposal(s) and award notification? Response: Similar contracts have beenawarded by NASA in the past for historical studies. All proposals are proprietary information and may not be made public except through the regulations of the Freedom of Information Act. 4. Question: The notice posted in CBDNet references oral interviews of former NASA employees and perhaps others. Will NASA provide us with all contact information, or will there be people on the list that we will be required to locate? If a list exists, can you provide a copy of the names/addresses of subjects to be interviewed, or at least provide the approximate number of people and their locations? Response: The NASA History Office does not have a list of candidates for oral histories at present, but will provide some assistance to the contractor as to who would be good candidates for interview. It is the responsibility of the offeror to come up with a basic list of candidates for oral history, and such a list's level of sophistication will be used in judging the intrinsic merit of the proposal. 5. Question: The notice referenced a deliverable of "approximately 300 typescript pages". Do you have a target word count for the manuscript? Response: Approximately 70,000-75,000 words. 6. Question: Do you anticipate this book will eventually be converted to CD-ROM format, or even posted on the Internet? Response: This is a work for hire and all rights to it belong to NASA. Accordingly, while no final decisions have been made on methods of presentation, CD/ROM and internet presentation are two options, along with many others, that are available. 7. Question: Should the bid be a proposed hourly rate for all activities? Should we propose "per diem" travel expenses? Can you provide a clearer picture of the travel schedule/duration you anticipate will be necessary? Should our hourly rate include direct and indirect expenses? Or, perhaps, would we be able to bid an hourly rate + travel + other direct expenses? Will copy and similar expenses at the Cleveland and Washington NASA offices be waived, or should we include them in the budget? Response: Generally speaking, the more detail the better for all proposals, including the cost plan. NASA will waive copy charges at its Centers and a Headquarters. 8. Question: Is this item already prepared and the contractor has to edit and prepare for publication, or are you soliciting a contractor to do the research and preparation of this item? Response: NASA is seeking an historian to research and write a publishable history of the Icing Research Tunnel. 9. Question: Of the 300 pages, how many pages of text and how many pictures are expected? Response: We anticipate the contractor will select and write captions for about 100 photos. 10. Question: How many interviews are expected? How many does NASA expect to be transcribed? Response: There is no set number envisioned for formal oral histories. Transcription of 50 percent of those undertaken is consistent with what has been delivered in previous NASA historical contracts. 11. Question: Is it possible to co-author the work? Response: Yes. 12. Question: The solicitation states: "Scope the contractor shall be required to complete this manuscript on a schedule of six-months". Later, the solicitation states: Milestone Schedule: 6 month's progress report, copies of oral history transcripts TBD". These two statements appear to be in conflict. When is the complete manuscript due? What is the exact duration of the contract? If the solicitor extends the contract, will more remuneration be forthcoming? Response: See the response to question one. Posted 12/07/99 (D-SN406490). (0341)

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