R--TECHNICAL SERVICES CONTRACT (TSC)

NASA/Stennis Space Center (SSC) plans to issue a noncompetitive Request for Proposal (RFP) to Lockheed-Martin Space Operations, Stennis Programs, at Stennis Space Center (SSC), MS for a one-year extension of a significant portion of the existing Test and Technical Services Contract (TTSC) NAS13-650 covering the period from September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004. The existing contract is being descoped by the removal of propulsion test operations support services. These services are being competitively procured under a separate Test Operations Contract (TOC). The descoped TTSC will now be referred to as the Technical Services Contract (TSC). This extension allows for the continuation of the following support services: information technology (IT) management and support services; analytical laboratory services, including environmental services, measurement standards and calibration services, and gas and material analysis; and technical services for research and development, administrative, and institutional program activities in a broad range of science, engineering and technology requirements. These services support the SSC missions and test article contractors in the testing of liquid, hybrid, solid and other propulsion systems, subsystems, and components. Most of the analytical services directly support NASA's rocket propulsion testing programs. The IT services and other technical services support NASA, SSC resident agencies, and commercial customers.The statutory authority for this action is 10 U.S. C. 2304 (d)(1)(B). NASA/SSC intends to acquire these services on a noncompetitive basis from Lockheed-Martin Space Operations, Stennis Programs, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (a)(2)(ii). Award to any other prime contractor would likely result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling NASA requirements. The one-year extension to the existing TTSC is justified because: (1) a new contract structured is necessary in order to properly accommodate the changing environment at SSC; however, SSC needs another year to let the requirements resulting from the rapidly evolving environment emerge, mature, and be assessed; (2) a simultaneous change to two separate contracts will be disruptive to the SSC at critical stages of several ongoing propulsion programs and the on-going Earth Science Applications (ESA) redirection; and (3) a change to two contracts would be disruptive to customer services at this critical time of solidifying an expanding resident agency and commercial customer base. The RFP will be released during the first quarter of calendar year 2003. The Government does not intend to acquire commercial items using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. See Note 22. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". All responsible sources may identify their interest or capability or submit a proposal; however, this notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Any referenced notes can be viewed the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html