The purpose is to provide the spacecraft, launch services, and ground systems necessary to maintain the uninterrupted flow of remotely-sensed environmental data required to protect life, property, the environment, and to promote economic well being.

Notice Type: Solicitation Number: Sources Sought NEEM0000-12-00006 Posted Date: Response Date: June 25, 2012 July 24, 2012 Agency: Department of Commerce Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Location: National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) Classification Code: A-Research & Development NAICS Code: Standard Size: 541712 500 Employees Disclaimer: This is not a solicitation. This is not a request for quote (RFQ), invitation for bid (IFB), request for proposal (RFP), request for application (RFA) or an announcement of a solicitation and does not assume the government will award a contract or proceed with any of the above solicitations in the near future. The information requested herein is for information purposes and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or awarded. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect cost or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of information. All information considered proprietary shall be marked accordingly. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Properly identified proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with government regulations. The purpose of this announcement is solely to gather information from the market place and any responses received will not be considered an offer by the responding party and cannot be returned. No telephone inquiries will be accepted and requests for solicitation packages will not granted, as no solicitation has been prepared at this time. Synopsis: Sources Sought This is a Research and Development (R&D) Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in conducting market research for the purposes of identifying sources who have demonstrated capabilities in the area of aeronautical and space systems engineering. No solicitation of offers is made by this synopsis. Background: The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) manages NOAA's operational polar-orbiting and geostationary environmental satellite programs. The NESDIS objective is to provide the spacecraft, launch services, and ground systems necessary to maintain the uninterrupted flow of remotely-sensed environmental data required to protect life, property, the environment, and to promote economic well being. The NESDIS organization is responsible for defining user requirements, developing conceptual designs for future satellite systems to meet those requirements, procuring satellite systems and related ground systems, operating environmental satellites, generating environmental satellite products, and issuing licenses for privately operated remote sensing space systems. Specific NESDIS offices and development programs supported within this scope of work include, but are not limited to, the following: - Office of System Development (OSD) - OSD Ground Systems Division (GSD) - Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) Office - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-series (GOES-R) Program - Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program NESDIS coordinates space-related policy issues, programs, and initiatives internally within the Department of Commerce and with International Partners for external program offices, such as for example, the following: - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Program - Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) Program - Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (NPP) Mission (formerly called the NPOESS Preparatory Project) - Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) - Other earth sciences enterprises managed jointly by NOAA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Climatic Data Centers - Spectrum Management - Joint enterprises in polar-orbiting and environmental or meteorological spacecraft between NOAA, JPSS, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMESTAT), and other United States and International environmental satellite providers - The Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) with Meteorological Operational (MetOp) Satellite Program - The Ocean Surface Topography Missions (Jason-2, -3,-CS) - The Taiwan's Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) program Requirements: NOAA requires unbiased, professional, non-personal services in space and ground systems engineering, associated disciplines. The Government is required to perform satellite ground system acquisitions, developments, upgrades, replacements, maintenance, checkout analyses, studies and launch and early orbit activities in support of NESDIS satellite systems. These systems include, but are not limited to: - The Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) Program - The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Program - The GOES-R Program - The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program, and the - Joint enterprises between NOAA and other agencies and International Partners NOAA requires unbiased, professional, non-personal services: - in space and ground systems acquisitions and requirements analysis, including preparation of market research, cost analysis, contract strategy for acquisition activities including support to source selections. - in all activities associated with the launch and early orbit checkout of satellites under the operational purview of NOAA/NESDIS. - for the study, development, enhancement and sustainment of prototype systems including the Multi-Constellation User Terminal (MCUT) and a phased array antenna prototype. NOAA requires participation in the on-going sustainment and upgrades of the ground system for current GOES satellites. These activities include, but are not limited to, ground system sustainment and anomaly resolutions, on-orbit satellite anomaly resolutions, ground system upgrades, training, certifications, and review of plans and procedures. NOAA requires support to ground system development evaluation, analysis, and validation, as well as transition to operations activities. NOAA requires independent and objective requirements and technical analyses in support of the Government Project Manager for the Environmental Satellite Processing and Distribution System (ESPDS), including serving on Integrated Product Teams overseeing ESPDS development efforts. NOAA requires technical and system transition planning support for OSD's operational partners, in particular the Office of Satellite Products and Operations (OSPO), for implementation of research missions into OSPO operations. NOTICE: In accordance with FAR 9.505 through 9.505-4 the Government deems it necessary to incorporate CAR 1352.209-71, "Limitation of Future Contracting" and appropriate Alternate(s) in any solicitation with the above described requirements. Information Requested: Interested companies should describe their capabilities as it relates to the activities below: - Comprehensive knowledge of sponsor needs - mission, culture, expertise, and institutional memory regarding issues of enduring concern to the sponsor: - Adaptability - ability to respond to emerging needs of their sponsors and anticipate future critical issues; - Objectivity - ability to produce thorough, independent analyses to address complex technical and analytical problems; - Freedom from conflicts of interest and dedication to the public interest - independence from commercial, shareholder, political, or other associations; - Long-term continuity - uninterrupted, consistent support based on a continuing relationship; - Broad access to sensitive government and commercial proprietary information - absence of institutional interests that could lead to misuse of information or cause contractor reluctance to provide such information; and - Quick response capability - ability to offer short-term assistance to help sponsors meet urgent and high-priority requirements In addition to addressing technical capabilities, responses must include the following: - Name and address of firm - Size of business (i.e., large, small, small disadvantaged business, woman owned, etc.) - Average annual revenue for the past 3 years and number of employees; - Ownership; - Number of years in business; - Affiliate information; - Parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential subcontractor) 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) - Point of contact - address and phone number; - List of existing Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACS) for which you are currently qualified Submittal Requirements: Submittals must clearly state interested and capable contractors "Shall or "Shall Not" agree to incorporating CAR 1352.209-71 in any solicitations for the above described requirements. Telephone responses are NOT solicited. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. This synopsis is not be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract nor will the Government pay for the solicited information. Please submit your submission via email to the attention of Contact Specialist (CS) Saundra Kpadeh (Saundra.Kpadeh@noaa.gov) no later than August 1, 2012, 5:00pm EST, Silver Spring, MD. The response shall be submitted as Microsoft Word documents, using Version 2007. The response shall be no more 15 single-sided, single-spaced pages (excluding the cover page), and use a minimum font of 12 point (Times New Roman) on 8 - x 11-inch paper. Each page shall be separately numbered. It is the offeror's responsibility to ensure it arrives by the required date and time. For the purpose of establishing timely receipt of a quotation, the time will be established based upon the electronic copy submission. Contracting Office Address: 1325 East West Highway, Room 11402 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Place of Performance: NOAA's Silver Spring, Maryland Office Suitland, Maryland Operations Center NASA Goddard Space Flight Center EL Segundo, California Primary Point of Contact: Saundra Kpadeh Contract Specialist Saundra.kpadeh@noaa.gov Phone: (301) 628-1405