Naval Research Laboratory, Attn: Code 3230, 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5326

D -- X BAND, DOWNLINK COMMUNICATION SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE CORIOLIS SATELLITE PROGRAM SOL N00173-00-R-JW01 POC James P. Waldenfels, Code 3230.JW, waldenfel@contract.nrl.navy.mil; Contracting Officer John Adams WEB: http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/rfplist.htm, http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/rfplist.htm. The Naval Research Laboratory has a commercial item requirement under SIC Code 4899 for X-Band downlink communication services to support the Coriolis Satellite Program. These communication services include receipt of downlinked stored data (housekeeping and science) by compatible X-Band ground stations and dissemination of that data to subscribers. (Coriolis is planned as a 3-year demonstration/validation mission sponsored by the DoD Space Test Program (STP) and the U.S. Navy. As of this date, the mission is scheduled to launch on December 15, 2001. The primary payload, WindSat, is a polarimetric microwave radiometer that measures surface wind speed and direction over the global oceans. A secondary payload, Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) is a science experiment sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at Hanscom, AFB in Massachusetts.) Performance will be in three phases, the first two of which will be awarded in the basic contract. The design phase commences after contract award and includessupport for Ground Requirements Definition, Interface Control Document development, and Ground Architecture Design. The integration and test phase is scheduled to begin approximately in September 2000. The contractor will implement and test the designs specified in Phase I. In addition, the contractor will perform compatibility testing with the spacecraft. In the operations phase, which will commence with launch (approximately December 15, 2001), the contractor will coordinate schedules, retrieve payload data as a primary or a supplementary provider, process the data, and deliver the data to data subscribers. The contractor's role as a primary or supplementary provider, as well as the length of the operations phase, will be determined under options. The operations phase with the contractor as the primary provider (in brief, contacts for all orbits of interest as directed, with likelihood of a high percentage of orbits deemed of interest) is planned for a period of three years under three annual options. Additional options will cover potential years four through six. A parallel sets of options for the same years will cover a supplementary role (coverage of about four orbits per day plus emergency orbits) instead of the primary role. The roles will not be mixed. A detailed sow will be issued with the solicitation. Multiple awards are not anticipated. Contract performance will be unclassified. Performance will be at the contractor's site(s). There is no incumbent contractor as this is not a follow-on requirement. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by NRL. Publication of the RFP on the web is anticipated on December 20, 1999. Due to a tight program schedule, proposals will be due approximately 17 days after the solicitation is issued; the planned closing date is January 6th. The anticipated date for the start of contract performance is February 7, 2000. Advance versions of key sections for comment and advance preparation may be available prior to release of the RFP. The same advance versions will be provided to all such requesters by e-mail, and formal questions of general interest will be addressed by amendment of the RFP. If interested, or to request other information regarding this solicitation, contact James P. Waldenfels, Contract Specialist, at (202) 767-3003 (e-mail: waldenfels@contracts.nrl.navy.mil). 18. http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/rfplist.htm 19. Click here. Posted 12/14/99 (W-SN408469). (0348)

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