NASA/GSFC Science Operations Center (SOC) for the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Project

The NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is soliciting information from industry regarding a Science Operations Center (SOC) for the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Project. This SOC's tasks will include science system engineering and ground system development, science planning and scheduling, a data processing pipeline for the Wide-Field Instrument (WFI), science research, a science data archive, and public outreach support for the WFIRST mission. The SOC will be part of a mission team that GSFC leads and includes many participants such as the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC), other support contractors, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The contractor will provide products and services required to execute the science program (excluding the GO proposal call and selection processes), maintain and calibrate the onboard instruments in conjunction with the Instrument Engineering Centers at GSFC (for the WFI) and JPL/IPAC (for the Coronagraph), maintain the associated ground systems, perform pipeline processing of the Wide-Field Instrument (WFI) data, archive and distribute all science data and conduct astronomical research. The contractor should have experience performing science operations for large, facility-class space observatories and be able to exploit the anticipated synergies, in both a scientific and science operations sense, that result from experience operating such existing observatories as well as in the development of science ground systems. The WFIRST Project manages the overall operations of WFIRST for the Science Mission Directorate. The period of performance for this contract is intended to be October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2022. The NASA/GSFC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties that possess the technical capability to provide support for the requirements as a prime contractor or subcontractor, including Large, Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SD-VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for this effort. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses hereto. Potential offerors are requested to submit information in the form of a Capabilities and Qualifications Statement that includes: (1) Addressing all of the functional areas outlined above; and, (2) Summarizing relevant past experience. Capabilities Statements shall not exceed 25 pages. Companies also must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.sam.gov) to be considered as potential sources. The statement of capability shall be UNCLASSIFIED. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary. Your responses will not be returned nor will respondents be notified of the results of the evaluation. The information obtained from industry responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and a future RFP (if applicable). This capability statement should indicate the ability to be the prime contractor or subcontractor and perform all aspects of the effort described herein. It is insufficient to provide only general brochures or generic information. Additionally, your responses must include the following: name and address of firm, size of business; whether they are Large, Small, SDB, 8(a), WOSB, VOSB, SD-VOSB, HUBZone, and HBCU/MI, and affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners. Technical and procurement questions should be directed to: Julie Janus at (301) 286-4931 or Julie.A.Janus@nasa.gov and Kenneth Carpenter at (301) 286-3453 or Kenneth.G.Carpenter@nasa.gov. It is requested that capability statements be submitted as described in the previous paragraphs by electronic mail to: Julie Janus at Julie.A.Janus@nasa.gov and Kenneth Carpenter at Kenneth.G.Carpenter@nasa.gov, no later than 5:00 PM ET on Monday, September 12, 2016. It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and information purposes only and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Upon review of the information provided to NASA, it is the Government's intent to release a "Request for Proposal", which could lead to a contract award. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business based on responses hereto. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B". Questions regarding this notice should be directed to the point of contacts listed below.