Notice of Intent to Sole Source - OPPA Strategic Advising

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Satellite and Information Acquisition Division (SIAD) located at 1325 East-West Highway Silver Spring Metro Center Building 2 (SSMC2) Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, intends to award a cost-plus-fixed-fee task order on a sole source basis in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-3, - Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services. The proposed source is The MITRE Corporation, located at 7515 Colshire Drive, McLean, VA 22102. The requirement is to provide support for advanced planning and systems engineering and acquisition activities for NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information service (NESDIS) Office of Projects, Planning, and Analysis (OPPA) from a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) to ensure unbiased, broad-based professional, conflict-free, and critical assessments. The analytical support required is in direct support to NOAA's Observing Systems Council, NOAA's Senior Leadership, and NOAA's collaboration with other Federal Agencies and external groups. This task order will supply experienced systems engineering support for all phases of OPPA satellite projects, in addition to monitoring and reporting progress and conformance to appropriate practices and specifications. The MITRE Corporation currently supports OPPA's Space Weather Follow-on (SWFO) program, Argos-4 HoPS, MetOp, and new technology efforts such as Solar Sails and low earth orbit demonstration satellites. Continuation of these efforts will provide the government with continuity in program support. The anticipated period of performance will be from September 20, 2021 through September 19, 2022. Specifically, The MITRE Corporation will perform the following activities: Task Order Management MITRE will submit monthly cost / technical progress reports on the 15th day following the close of the reporting month and will include a summary of any trips taken during the reporting month. MITRE will provide task management plans, nondisclosure agreements, and personnel security forms. Technical Management Support MITRE will provide technical engineering for the set of subtasks below: Provide expert advice for systems engineering which support the assigned satellite project across mission, spacecraft, instrument suite, and ground components Provide expert advice which support the development of mission, spacecraft, observatory and recommendations for systems engineering requirements. Assist with recommendations in the generation and evaluation of related documentation Provide recommendations which support the definition of spacecraft / observatory / subsystems, trade studies, integration and test planning, and operations planning for the future OPPA mission(s) Provide expert advice which support the development of interface control documents and verifying proper implementation for instruments, space and ground segments Provide support in monitoring and controlling; expert advice for external interface documents Review project documentation and submit comments and recommendations Support preparation of and present technical information for technical meetings / reviews / briefings Provide recommendations for hardware and software build and integration plans, procedures and witness execution Review and provide assessment of contractor cost, schedule and technical performance Provide recommendations and expert advice for, testing and implementing the project ground segment, mission operations center, communication networks, science data processing and storage Participate in Test / Failure Review Boards Provide recommendations for shipment of the Observatory and GSE to the launch site Provide research and assessment of the launch site checkout, integration and test of flight and ground systems, including adequacy of the launch site facility Attend and participate in program status meetings, telephone conferences, peer reviews, and major project reviews for spacecraft, instruments, launch vehicle, mission operations system, and science data system. Provide recommendations for responses to, and in closing, requests for action from major system, subsystem, peer reviews and working groups Provide recommendations for project waivers and deviations Provide recommendations for lessons learned presentations post launch Provide recommendations for written and oral reports Provide Space Weather studies and document technical findings (i.e. UCLA, Space Sciences) Procurement Support and Evaluation MITRE will support requirements definition, flow down, validation and verification. An evaluation and recommendation of the Satellite Tool Kit modules to be leased in support of this SOO. Procurement is subject to the COR concurrence. Strategic Management Support MITRE will provide Strategic Management support in advising and developing OPPA's many projects/programs and initiatives. The MITRE Strategic Management support will be primarily put to use on NOAA's new Space Weather Observations (SWO) portfolio and a joint NOAA-NASA program office for space-based projects in the SWO portfolio. This support is to include critical assessments of advanced planning, systems engineering, acquisition activities and approaches, space weather architecture studies and trade spaces, and identifying promising areas of technology initiatives to meet NOAA's space and ground mission objectives. Evaluation and Audit For OPPA programs, MITRE will: Identify risk elements, assess and recommend mitigations, support mitigation execution and participate in the Satellite/Instrument Risk Board. Review and evaluate detailed functional and environmental test plans and procedures for instrument, space and ground segments and witness test execution This requirement requires the unbiased, broad-based professional, conflict-free, and critical assessment provided by an FFRDC, and, as such a full and open competition for this work would not be appropriate. This notice is published for informational purposes only and is not a request for competitive quotations. However, any firm who believes they can meet this requirement may submit a response in writing. Responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating the company's ability to meet the above requirements. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Written responses must be received no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after publication of this synopsis to the person listed as the Government point of contact in this announcement. All questions must be submitted in writing to the attention of the Government Contract Specialist. If no responses are received, the Government will proceed with the sole source negotiation. NOTHING HEREIN SHOULD BE MISCONSTRUED AS A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS, QUOTES OR BIDS. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE OR WILL BE ISSUED. The National Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 541330, and the size standard is $16.5M.