SOFIA 747SP CPDLC FANS Avionics Upgrade RFQ

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Armstrong Flight Research Center is seeking quotations from 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 the attached solicitation. 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. The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) program at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center has a commercial (see FAR 2.101) requirement for the following excerpt of the draft Statement of Work (SOW): The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is an international science program with joint participation by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and the German DLR (German Aerospace Center). To conduct its scientific mission, SOFIA operates a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft (N747NA), which flies an on-board infrared telescope assembly, collecting astronometric science data during nighttime hours, while flying at altitudes of 35,000-45,000 feet. SOFIA collects science data on very large number of astronomical targets (e.g., stars) in the celestial skies of both the northern and southern hemispheres. The number of targets, and the length of observation time necessary to image each target, requires detailed aircraft flight planning, which results in complex and non-standard flight plans, containing multiple flight segments with varying headings and altitudes, flying over both land and water. In addition, other factors, including weather, and the complexities of telescope pointing, alignment, and tracking, often require changes to the filed flight plan over the course of the flight. Therefore, close coordination with air traffic control (ATC) to complete the scientific observations of the mission is essential. Moreover, since the aircraft performs frequent, high-latitude, oceanic operations (including South Pacific operations) at long distances from the nearest oceanic ATC center, highly reliable aircraft communications, including both line-of-sight (LOS) and over-the-horizon (OTH) communications, are critical not only for successful science operations, but also for the safety of the flight. To meet these needs, NASA is seeking to upgrade the SOFIA cockpit avionics and communications capabilities to include both a Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) functionality to Operate at a Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A standard. NASA's goal is to meet FAA certification and operational authorization/approval standards for the upgraded system. (See Attached RFQ for detailed tasks and objectives) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334511, Aircraft flight instruments (except engine instruments) manufacturing, with a size standard of 750 employees. Estimated award date for this contract is April 22, 2016. Estimated total award value is expected to be between $150,000 and $1,000,000. This modification to the previous notice is the official synopsis/solicitation. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any amendments to the solicitation or synopsis. All responses, comments, and/or questions shall be submitted to Joel B. Lozano no later than March 31, 2016 at 4:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time. Please reference NND1675742Q in any response. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below. www.farsite.hill.af.mil