A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, NPOESS EMD/PRODUCTION ACQUISITION The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Integrated Program Office (IPO) is preparing an acquisition strategy to support a RFP release in June 2001 for the NPOESS Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Production phases. The purpose of this announcement is to invite industry input into further development of the acquisition strategy for the EMD/Production RFP, which may be released in the summer of 2001. NPOESS will replace the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and the Defense Department's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), and will provide a single national polar operational remote-sensing capability for global and regional environmental data for use by military and civil communities. These data will include radiometric observations of the atmosphere and cloud cover imagery as well as other specialized atmospheric, environmental, climatic, terrestrial, oceanographic, and solar-geophysical raw data records (RDRs), sensor data records (SDRs), and environmental data records (EDRs). Information on NPOESS can be found at http://www.ipo.noaa.gov and http://npoesslib.ipo.noaa.gov. In December 1999, the IPO awarded two (2) Program Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) contracts using full-and-open competition for system-level development work for each contractor to separately but simultaneously generate an integrated system design that accommodates the six Government-specified sensor payloads and other payloads necessary to satisfy the data record requirements of the Technical Requirements Document (TRD). The six Government-specified sensor payloads are being developed under separate contracts as follows: the IPO is developing the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), the Conical Microwave Imager Sounder (CMIS), the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), the Ozone Mapper Profiler Suite (OMPS), and the Global Positioning System Occultation Sensor (GPSOS); NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is developing the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS). The IPO contemplates an acquisition strategy wherein the winning offeror under the upcoming EMD/Production RFP will assume total system performance responsibility for NPOESS, including (i) assuming responsibility for the Government-specified sensor payloads as directed subcontracts; (ii) selection of the remaining sensor complement to meet the TRD's data records requirements; (iii) design and production of the complete space, integrated data processing, command/control/communications, and launch or launch support segments; and (iv) other needed support functions such as test and evaluation and logistics support. At this time, the IPO specifically desires industry input on acquisition strategy considerations including identifying risk areas, identifying suggested approaches for the transition of the Government-specified sensors from direct Government contracts to subcontracts under the EMD/Production contractor, industry best practices regarding structuring long-term development and production contracts, and possible incentive or warranty arrangements. Firms interested in providing suggestions or other input are sincerely invited to do so by submitting one-page papers on topics where they may have had experience or otherwise desire to make an input for the IPO's consideration in developing the EMD/Production acquisition strategy. A firm may submit papers on as many topics as it wishes, but each paper should be limited to one page. Papers should be submitted to John M. Inman, Contracting Officer, NPOESS IPO, 8455 Colesville Rd Ste 1450, Silver Spring MD 20910 on or before Monday, June 26, 2000 (john.inman@noaa.gov). Each paper should include the submitter's identity and point of contact information, a statement of the issue or topic, and a discussion of the issue or topic. Pros and cons of any suggested approach are welcome. Opportunities for industry comment will still be available in the future, such as with the draft RFP release, but it is desirable to obtain top-level industry inputs at this early stage where these inputs can be given the greatest consideration. Industry input will help the IPO fashion a sound acquisition strategy, and all comments and suggestions will be considered, but the IPO does not intend to provide detailed responses to each submitter. Where a one-page paper presents a topic or suggestion that the IPO wishes to explore further, the IPO may contact the submitter for a more detailed discussion of the topic or suggestion. Another CBD synopsis will occur before release of the draft RFP. The IPO will not pay for any papers submitted in response to this synopsis. An Ombudsman has been appointed to address concerns from potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The Ombudsman does not diminish the authority of the program director or the contracting officer, but communicates contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate Government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. Interested parties are invited to call Mr Les Bordelon at WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=S&ProjID=Reference-Num ber-NPOESS-IPO-JI-2000-1&LocID=901. E-MAIL: John Inman, jinman@ipo.noaa.gov. Posted 06/05/00 (D-SN461447).

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