18--GLOBAL PRECIPITATION MEASUREMENT MICROWAVE IMAGER INSTRUMENT

NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source Request for Proposal (RFP) to Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation (BATC) for the fabrication of the second Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) Instrument. BATC will manufacture, test and deliver the second GMI flight instrument, support instrument integration on the spacecraft, and provide launch and post-launch support. The GMI contract was awarded through full and open competition to BATC on March 22, 2005, to develop the GMI Instrument flight unit #1 for the Core spacecraft. In order to achieve full potential of the GPM mission it is paramount that the two instruments on Core and Constellation spacecraft be identical in performance. Since BATC is currently under contract to develop the first GMI flight unit for the Core spacecraft, they are uniquely qualified to produce the second instrument for Constellation spacecraft. The Government will incur cost savings with this sole source procurement as the nonrecurring design and development cost associated with the production of the second instrument is avoided and all lessons learned will be applied during the assembly and test. In addition to the cost savings described above, this sole source will enable NASA to avoid unacceptable schedule delays to fulfilling mission requirements. Complex instruments such as GMI, normally have a 48-month developmental schedule and since the second flight instrument is needed in early 2012, BATC has the unique knowledge and understanding of the GMI instrument to provide the instrument in time to support the launch. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)-Only One Responsible Source. However, organizations that believe they can provide the instrument without any detrimental impact to the program schedules, may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 3:00 p.m. EST on September 5, 2007. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. 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. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.