Russian Language and Logistics Services (RLLS)

PROCUREMENT OF RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND LOGISTICS SERVICES FROM TECHTRANS INTERNATIONAL Contracting Office Address NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BG Synopsis: NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC) (Agency) has a requirement for Russian language and logistics services to support the International Space Station (ISS) Program operations and on-orbit vehicle for the life of the ISS Program. Requirements include: - Translation, interpretation, and language training for (primarily) the Russian and English languages and other International Partner/Participant (IP/P) languages as required, including real-time mission critical and expedited translations and interpretations; - International logistics in support of ISS operations in Russia and Kazakhstan, including office management and administration for NASA office locations, management of Government housing, inventory management functions for NASA assets in Russia, international shipping logistics, cargo integration at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, ground transportation, and management of the NASA vehicle fleet; - International travel functions for ISS Program participants, including preparing, processing and completing all required physical and logical access paperwork, providing an "ISS International Visitor Access Specialist", highly experienced in all aspects of ISS Program and NASA policies, requirements, procedures and tools, notifying travelers on current international travel related policies, regulations, processes, and resolving issues related to migration forms, lost or stolen passports, ISS Program contractor visas, and other travel requirements. NASA/JSC intends to contract with TechTrans International (TTI) for these requirements on a sole source basis starting October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024. This contract is subject to the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act. These requirements are being procured through TTI, as they are the only proven responsible source that can satisfy Agency requirements. TTI has been under contract with NASA since 1993 (ISS Program inception) as a prime contractor or major subcontractor providing the Russian language and logistics services to the ISS Program and is the only contractor that has provided these services for the ISS Program. TTI was instrumental in setting up the infrastructure currently used by NASA in Russia. They have obtained the required approvals and licenses to operate in Russia and have established, long-term working relationships with the IP and with other businesses/organizations in Russia that are crucial to smooth and efficient operations in Russia (customs, shipping, transportation entities, housing entities, etc.). Additionally, TTI has an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of the inherent safety challenges with performing language and logistics services in Russia and Kazakhstan, including driving in hazardous conditions and managing and transporting up to one hundred visitors traveling simultaneously to Russia/Kazakhstan to support each Soyuz launch. TTI has obtained and maintained "Foreign Company Accreditation" required by Russian Federation law to do business in the country and meets all requirements for U.S. Department of State approvals and clearance. TTI interpreters, translators and language trainers have a high-level of skill and in-depth understanding on all aspects of the ISS Program, including cultural and programmatic sensitivities, required to assist key ISS Program and NASA personnel in communications with Russian organizations and personnel. TTI interpreters working in the Mission Control Centers (Houston and Moscow) have passed stringent certification requirements, which nominally requires a minimum of two years to complete. Additionally, TTI personnel are proficient in the ISS Program acronyms, specialized technical language and terms, and ISS Lexicon and ISS Operations Nomenclature required to provide consistent use of terminology in all language products. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. NASA is issuing this synopsis in order to provide notice of the Agency's requirements and to determine whether any other potential sources have the current capability to provide these services during the required timeframe. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to the Point of Contact listed below. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. The determination of whether or not to acquire these services without completion is solely within the discretion of the Government. Submissions must be provided in writing to the identified Point of Contact not later than 4:30pm Central Daylight Time (CDT) on December 18, 2018. Responses cannot exceed three (3) pages. Any pages exceeding this threshold will be discarded and will not be evaluated. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All respondents may submit a capabilities statement that 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 . For purposes of determining small business goals for this procurement, entities from the various small business categories that may be interested in subcontracting opportunities may submit their information via email to the identified Point of Contact no later than 4:30 pm CDT on December 18, 2018. Responses must include the following: name and address of firm, size of business; average annual revenue for past three (3) years and number of employees; ownership; whether they are large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and/or woman-owned; number of years in business; affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact - address and phone number). Technical questions should be directed to kristi.m.duplichen@nasa.gov . Procurement related questions should be directed to jon.prihoda@nasa.gov . 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 (NAIS). It is the potential responder's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.