MQ-9 (PREDATOR B) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

NASA/AFRC has a requirement for MQ-9 (PREDATOR B) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT. In order to operate, maintain and sustain the NASA 870, known as Ikhana Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for the long term, NASA AFRC requires the engineering and technical support, which the aircraft manufacturer, has unique knowledge and possesses proprietary information regarding the MQ-9 aircraft and associated ground systems. AFRC requires or may require unique Contractor facilities, specialized training, UAS maintainers, spare parts, tools, support equipment, technical data, software, troubleshooting analyses and evaluations of system failures, maintenance and operations procedures and/or drawings used in the aircraft maintenance and/or design and manufacture to facilitate modification or repair of the aircraft in support of specific Ikhana research projects. NASA/AFRC intends to purchase the above services from General Atomics - Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA_ASI) on a sole source basis under the authority of 10 U.S.C 2304 (c) (1) and FAR 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Suppliers or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements". GA-ASI designed, built, and extensively tested the Predator family of aircraft and associated ground control and support systems. GA-ASI possesses the detailed and proprietary knowledge for all aspects of the vehicle, which is unavailable to any other firm. GA-ASI owns the MQ-9 unique modification drawings and has personnel with the knowledge and history to accurately characterize the aircraft. The personnel and drawings are critical in assisting in trouble shooting problems and proposing solutions to problems as they arise. The data provided to NASA AFRC by GA-ASI is required to be marked SBU, thus limiting public access. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item 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 4:00 p.m. PST on May 26, 2017. 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/pub_library/Omb.html.