A--RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR VERY LONG BASELINE INTERFEROMETRY (VLBI) IN SUPPORT OF THE NASA SPACE GEODESY LABORATORY

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) services for the Space Geodesy Laboratory (Code 697). The effort will be performed on-site at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD. The proposed services include providing the following: 1. Coordination of VLBI experiments including requesting and scheduling of observing and correlating resources, generation and distribution of observing schedules and procedures and retrieval of observing logs. 2. Developing, implementing, documenting, and maintaining Field System software and procedures associated with Mark III, Mark IV, VLBA, Mark 5, S2 and various K4/K5 data acquisition operations at field stations. 3. Implementation and maintenance of VLBI stations including logistical support, preparation of standard and custom software, travel, verification of readiness, training, trouble-shooting, and assistance in data acquisition. 4. Preparation of experiments for correlation and processing of correlator output into data bases suitable for geodetic/astrometric analysis. 5. Analysis and monitoring of station, correlator, and source performance. 6. Calibration and analysis of geodetic, astrometric, and special purpose VLBI sessions and other radio interferometric data. 7. Timely generation of VLBI results for Earth orientation, troposphere, celestial reference frame, and terrestrial reference frame. 8. Archiving, posting, and distribution of VLBI data and results. 9. Advancement of the VLBI technique in the areas of instrumentation, calibration, modeling, algorithms, analysis, optimization, simulation, comparisons, combinations, and ancillary data. 10. Design, development, testing, implementation, documentation and maintenance of software and data files for scheduling, data monitoring, data handling, calibration, modeling, simulation, analysis, report generation, visualization, archiving, data distribution, web site, and utility functions. 11. Comparison and integrated analysis of space geodetic data. 12. Development and maintenance of geodetic/astrometric capability of AIPS. 13. Support of IVS activities including the Coordinating Center, the Coordinating Center Director, the CORE Operation Center, the Network Coordinator, Analysis Center, publications, meetings, web site and communications. 14. Documentation of Mark III/IV VLBI systems. 15. Technical liaison services to various elements that support VLBI and IVS activities and operations. 16. Preparation of scientific and programmatic reports, presentations, and papers. 17. Support for the design, development, testing, evaluation, and deployment of the next generation geodetic VLBI station including instrumentation, scheduling, and control. 18. Operation of the VLBI station at the Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory. This procurement is a small business set-aside. See Note 1. NASA/GSFC anticipates awarding a Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee type contract for this effort with an anticipated award date on or about August/September 2006. This procurement is a follow-on effort to requirements currently being performed under contract NAS5-01127. The DPAS rating for this procurement is DO-C9. The Government does not intend to acquire commercial items using FAR Part 12. See NASA Specific Numbered Note 26. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this procurement is 541710, with a corresponding size standard in number of employees of 1,000. The anticipated release date of the RFP is mid to late April with proposals due 45 days later. The actual due date for receipt of offers will be stated in the prospective RFP. Upon issuance of the RFP, all qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by this agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed -- see NASA Specific Note B. This can be accessed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html The prospective RFP and related documents for this procurement will be available via the Internet. These documents will be accessible on the World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet address or URL for retrieving these and other NASA GSFC Business Opportunities can be accessed at: http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=51 Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer, via e-mail to contact@example.gov. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the above Internet site for release of the prospective RFP, related documents, and/or amendments (if issued). In addition, potential offerors are individually responsible for downloading copies of the RFP, related documents, and amendments (if issued). All contractual and/or technical questions shall be submitted in writing, via e-mail. Questions must be submitted to the following e-mail address: contact@example.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.