R--PROCUREMENT OF JAPANESE AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY PROX SYSTEMS FORVISITING VEHICLE PROXIMITY OPERATIONS COMMUNICATIONS

NASA/JSC has a requirement for continued support services of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for proximity communications system (PROX). NASA/JSC intends to acquire services from JAXA for continued operational support of their PROX system in order for International Space Station Program to meet its obligations for resupply under international agreements. The JAXA PROX system supports the rendezvous and berthing of Orbital Sciences, Cygnus, which supplies needed cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and disposal of trash. The Cygnus vehicle was designed specifically to use JAXA's PROX system. The JAXA PROX system is an ISS service that was available for commercial visiting vehicles (VV) under the Commercial Resupply Services Request for Proposal. When the Orbital Cygnus approaches close to the ISS, the CVV initiates communications through the PROX antenna with the portion of the PROX system components located on the CVV. The PROX system will relay commands to the CVV and will provide telemetry from the CVV.The PROX system will relay commands to the CVV and will provide telemetry from the CVV. The Orbital CVV consists of a Service Module with a pressurized cargo module, and will be essential to carrying cargo to the ISS. These cargo services have been procured from Orbital via the Commercial Resupply Services contract, NNJ09GA02B, and are essential to allow NASA to continue to provide the capability for the rendezvous and berthing of the Orbital CVV to the ISS through the life of the Orbital contract. The Government does intend to acquire commercial services using FAR Part 12. 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 April 15, 2014. 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. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/p ub_library/Omb.html .