Extension to NASA Balloon Operations Contract

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops Flight Facility (GSFC/WFF) intends to issue a contract modification to the NASA Balloon Operations Contract (NBOC) awarded to Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC), pursuant to the statutory authority for other than full and open competition, 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source. This procurement will provide a contract extension for a period of up to eighteen (18) months, comprised of a 14-month core period and two 2-month options, to allow for the continuation of services in support of the Wallops Flight Facility Balloon Program Office (WFF BPO), until the follow-on competitive procurement is awarded. This contract extension will add to the existing Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contract. The competitive follow-on for these services is currently on-going. The 18-month extension will provide sufficient time for the competitive follow-on acquisition to be awarded and will accommodate a 60-day phase-in period. This contract extension is necessary in order to allow for the continuation of these services to avoid disruption to WFF BPO programs and projects. WFF BPO's need for these services is to ensure program continuity and critical mission support, and to avoid significant technical impacts to the objectives of the Science Mission Directorate Strategic Plan. In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(iii), for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of follow-on contracts for the continued provision of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. OSC as the incumbent, is the only responsible source qualified to perform this requirement during this interim period due to its knowledge, experience, expertise, and risk mitigation posture to provide uninterrupted continuation of mission critical support. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 3:30 PM Eastern Standard Time on December 27, 2019. All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail to melissa.barrett@nasa.gov and finale.m.uptegrow@nasa.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. 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 competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/OMB.html.