A -- NATIONAL POLAR-ORBITING OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE SYSTEM (NPOESS) DOWN-SELECTION CALL FOR IMPROVEMENTS, CONICAL MICROWAVE IMAGER SOUNDER (CMIS)

Notice Date

October 18, 2000

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, SMC -- Space & Missiles System Center, 2420 Vela Way, Suite 2420, El Segundo, CA, 90245-4659

ZIP Code

90245-4659

Solicitation Number

F04701-01-R-0001

Response Due

November 7, 2000

Point of Contact

Robert Graham, Contracting Officer, Phone (310)336-4539, Email robertg.graham@losangeles.af.mil -- Garth Arevalo, Seconday POC, Phone 310-336-4560, Email garth.arevalo@losangeles.af.mil

E-Mail Address

Robert Graham (robertg.graham@losangeles.af.mil)

Description

The Government will release a Call for Improvement (CFI), F04701-01-R-0001, on or about 2 Mar 01 leading to the selection of a contractor for continued development and production options for Phase II of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System's (NPOESS) Conical Microwave Imager Sounder (CMIS). Proposals will be due 30 days after CFI release (on or about 2 Apr 01). After a full and open competition, the Government awarded multiple Phase I contracts for Sensor Payload and Algorithm Development for CMIS on 30 Jul 97. The Phase I incumbent contractors will have completed their Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR) prior to release of the CFI. From proposals submitted in response to the CFI, the Government intends to down-select to a single Phase II contractor to complete the instrument development through delivery of flight units for NPOESS. The CFI will be conducted as a full and open competition. The Government will evaluate fairly and fully all responsive proposals submitted in response to the CFI. However, offerors are advised that it is unlikely a non-incumbent will be selected to perform the Phase II effort. To be selected, a new competitor must demonstrate a PDR-level instrument, algorithm maturity, and risk reduction in their CFI proposal. Therefore, to facilitate communication during the process, potential offerors shall submit to the contracting officer by 7 November 2000 a letter of intent to develop and produce CMIS sensors. At this time, the Government will schedule a pre-solicitation conference with any interested offerors on or about 29 Nov 00. For offerors not currently under contract for CMIS development, the Government will request a contractor-funded PDR-level presentation, as a part of any CFI response. While the Government intends to select a Phase II contractor shortly after PDR, the Government reserves the right not to select and to either extend the parallel development efforts to a future selection milestone (e.g., CDR) or cease further development activity. The CFI will be released via the NPOESS home page on the World Wide Web (http://www.ipo.noaa.gov). The Government has an Electronic Library containing NPOESS-related documentation necessary for CFI preparation. To gain access to this library, send an e-mail to datamanager@ipo.noaa.gov containing point of contact, organization, e-mail address, and phone number. The NPOESS Integrated Program Office (IPO) intends to release Draft Request for Proposal 1 (DRFP) for CMIS on or about 9 Nov 00 to encourage industry participation in developing the CFI and will request contractors to respond with comments on or about 22 Nov 00. The IPO intends to release a DRFP 2 for CMIS on or about 13 Dec 00 and will request contractors respond with comments on or about 5 Jan 01. Industry is encouraged to comment on any element of the DRFPs with the understanding that responses are voluntary, and the Government is neither negotiating nor calling for offers during this process. Potential offerors are advised the Government reserves the right to incorporate suggested changes into the final CFI without identifying the submitter or obtaining approval. The Government will not make its responses to submitted comments available to industry and may not make them available to the submitter. The DRFP will be released through the NPOESS electronic library. You are advised that an Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from potential offerors during the down-selection phase of the acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is to assist in communicating offeror concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate Government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality regarding the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in proposal evaluation or in the source selection process. The Ombudsman, Mr. William Orzech, can be reached at (310) 363-0588. Note 26 is included in this message.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www2.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=P&ProjID=F04701-01-R-0001&LocID=901)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001020/ASOL015.HTM (D-292 SN5046F5)