B -- ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS OF APPLYING THE LANGUAGE PROCESSING METHOD TO REDUCE EXPERIMENT CYCLE TIME FOR THE NASA MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH PROGRAM"

Notice Date

October 2, 2000

Contracting Office

NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

ZIP Code

35812

Solicitation Number

8-1-0-S1-D0920

Response Due

October 13, 2000

Point of Contact

Valerie N. Holmes, Contracting Officer, Phone (256)544-0314, Fax (256)544-9354, Email valerie.holmes@msfc.nasa.gov -- Sherri W. Stroud, Contracting Officer, Phone (256) 544-0329, Fax (256) 544-9080, Email sherri.stroud@msfc.nasa.gov

E-Mail Address

Valerie N. Holmes (valerie.holmes@msfc.nasa.gov)

Description

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a special study for assessing the results of applying the Language Processing Method to Reduce Experiment Cycle Time for the NASA Microgravity Research Program. This announcement constitutues the only solicitation, which is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). Quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The research effort requires the contractor to assess the results of applying the language processing method to reduce experiment cycle time for the NASA Microgravity Research Program. A major problem that faced the NASA Microgravity Research Program (MRP) in 1992 wsa that it normally took seven years from acceptance of an experiment proposal or Principal Investigator selection to the conduct of the flight experiment. It was decided by MRP that this was a major issue to be addressed at a large planning conference which was subsequently held in Hilton Head, South Carolina in November of 1992. It was also decided early in the process to utilize a contemporary Total Quality Management (TQM) method to address this issue. The results of that conference were subsequently reported in two Total Quality Management (TQM) Journals. AS a result of the conference several major changes and many smaller ones were made to the MRP Flight Development Process. In 1999 the MRP conducted a follow-up study to assess the effectiveness of applying the Hilton Head results to shorten the flight experiment develeopment time. The purpose of this task is to analyze and document results of applying this novel TQM methodology used at the 1992 MRP Planning Conference and to assess the effects that the conference changes had on the MRP flight development process over the past seven years. The tasks will cover the effort required to develop and deliver up to three peer reviewed journal articles, coordinate with the journals, receive and address the journals comments, and to format the articles as per the selected journal requirements. Upon completion of the work, the contractor shall deliver to MSFC the journal articles per the selected journal requirements. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the special study from Scientific Management, Inc., Gloucester Point, VA 23062. This sole source requirement is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106 for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on October 13, 2000. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. It is the quoter's responsibility to monitor this site for the release of amendments (if any). Potential quoters will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this notice, the on-line RFQ and amendments, if any. Questions regarding this acquisition must be submitted in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 4:30 p.m., local time on October 10, 2000. The provisions and clauses in the RFQ are those in effect through FAC 97-19. The procurement is a total small business set-aside. See Note 1. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. The DPAS rating for this procurement is DO-C9. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html

Web Link

Click here for the latest information about this notice (http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=62#8-1-0-S1-D0920)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001004/BSOL003.HTM (D-276 SN502943)