Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-1 (TSIS-1) Mission Operations and Data Processing

NASA/GSFC has a requirement for the continued mission operations and data processing of the Total and Spectral solar Irradiance Sensor-1 (TSIS-1) system currently in operation on the International Space Station (ISS). NASA GSFC intends to issue a sole source contract for this effort from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Under this contract, the scope of TSIS-1 operations efforts are as follows: Develop TSIS-1 command procedures, scripts and command uploads for on-orbit operations of the sensors. The uploads will be a routine weekly effort, but urgent uploads may be necessary for flight anomalies and changing ISS activities. Validate and transfer command procedures, scripts, and command upload to the POIC for upload to the ISS after validation. Receive and monitor sensor operations, health, and science telemetry. Analyze sensor performance, including state of health monitoring and long-term trending. Maintain the Spectral Radiometer Facility and the Total Radiance Facility with standards for flight model comparisons. Investigate and resolve on-orbit anomalies that affect TSIS-1 performance parameters and/or anomalies that threaten TSIS-1 health and safety. Under this contract, the scope of TSIS-1 data processing efforts are as follows: Process, manage, analyze, and distribute TSIS-1 science data products. Facilitate scientific analysis of algorithms, calibration data and data products. Reprocess entire or partial mission data sets when algorithms or calibrations have major updates. Maintain all processing software, calibration data, science data products, and other information under configuration control. Conduct formal versioned software releases and maintain unique data product versions for each sensor. Maintain traceability between software, calibration data, data products and production job parameters. Provide data backup and archiving. Retain all data products for the life of the mission and demote data that are more than two versions old. Maintain the ATBD for the TSIS-1 sensors. The rationale supporting the use of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 is justified because LASP is the only organization qualified to perform the subject requirements based on the following: TSIS-1 instrument subsystems are unique in which specialized expertise is required to produce, integrate, and troubleshoot anomalies within these subsystems. LASP is the only vendor that has the unique capabilities to provide mission operations support to TSIS-1 as they were responsible for designing, developing, and providing the subsystem flight hardware, software, test procedures, interface control documents, and operational procedures for the TSIS-1 Instrument currently in operation on the ISS. No other institution has the knowledge of the TSIS-1 instrument operations, flight instrument design and calibration, and anomaly response resolution to be able to continue the mission operations and data analysis phase. Acquisition from a source other than LASP would result in technical risks and substantial duplication of costs related to parallel operations because contractors other than LASP would not be familiar with the technical details of the TSIS-1 subsystems and instruments and as such, they may not recognize issues in a timely fashion or understand the depth and extent of the issue. A slow or ineffective response would result in additional costs to the Government, and risk loss of, or damage to, the TSIS-1 instrument itself. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Pavi Tumbapura at pavithra.s.tumbapura@nasa.gov no later than 5pm EDT on March 30, 2022. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf