ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION WORK FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH RACK (MSRR), MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE GLOVEBOX (MSG), LIFE SCIENCE GLOVEBOX (LSG), AND INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SERVIR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND VISUALIZATION (ISERV) SYSTEM PATHFINDER
NASA/MSFC has a requirement for engineering and integration work for the Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR), the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), the Life Science Glovebox (LSG),and the International Space Station (ISS) SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV) Pathfinder.
NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. (TBE). NASA intends to continue the sustaining engineering and integration work for MSRR, MSG, LSG, and ISERV currently provided under the Engineering and Integration Work for Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR), Microgravity Science Research Glovebox (MSG) and International Space Station SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization (ISERV) Pathfinder delivery order NNM14AB60D issued against IDIQ contract NNM13A35C with TBE.
In order to replace MSRR, MSG, LSG, and ISERV work currently being performed under TBE's SDOS contract with a new business entity in this environment will require an estimated $1.1 million in duplicated cost to the Government to bring the new contractor up to speed with the flight hardware being developed, as well as the ground and flight operating hardware. This cost would not be expected to be recovered through competition.
Competition is impractical for the following reasons:
A. TBE designed the MSRR in collaboration with NASA. They also developed, built and delivered significant components of the MSRR. The knowledge base constructed by TBE during the design and build phase and over he years of sustaining engineering under both the Syste3ms Development and Operations Support (SDOS/NAS8-02060) and ESP delivery order cannot be quickly replicated elsewhere. TBE has managed and conducted all activities related to the manufacture, assembly, verification, and test for the MSRR project. This has encompassed the development, fabrication, assembly, verification, and test activities of the various items constituting the MSRR Experiment Carrier (EC) and its direct interfaces.
B. TBE, under ESP and SDOS, has worked very closely with the business entity that produced the MSG. The Video Upgrade Equipment (VUE) was an MSG facility upgrade launched on SpaceX-4 in September 2014. The VUE hardware experienced a radiation-induced failure of the solid-state memory drives that was first noticed on August 3, 2016. The MSG VUE is currently being redesigned to reduce the likelihood of this issue reoccurring. MSG hardware is currently operative aboard the ISS and any perturbation in project flow will directly disturb the flow of science coming from the ISS program.
C. TBE, under ESP and SDOS, has worked very closely with the business entity that performed all the analytical integration work for the MSRR's MSL. The combination of knowledge between TBE and that business entity gives MSFC full corporate knowledge of the MSRR/MSL.
D. TBE is integral to the development of the hardware, as well as the development of the documentation necessary to install and operate the Life Science Glovebox (LSG). In addition to the duplicative costs that would be incurred, changing to a new contractor could negatively impact the facility's readiness for launch on H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7 )and the time needed to install and activate the rack on-orbit. The presence of LSG on-orbit is greatly needed by the ISS Program to ease the investigation workload on the MSG. It should be noted that at present, LSG can only be launched on an HTV, and HTV launches are very infrequent (on the order of once every 9-12 months). If the HTV-7 launch window is missed, significant time will be lost and additional costs will be incurred.
E. The new MSFC Sample Cartridge Development (SCA) design has been developed using a TBE design from a previous project. TBE, under ESP and SDOS, has manufactured and integrated the thermal probe SCAs that are used for thermal development testing as well as other hardware to be used during the flight SCA development and qualification campaigns. TBE, under ESP and SDOS, has manufactured many of the parts that make up the SCAs and has procured long-lead items that are required for the SCA project to remain on schedule.
F. TBE, under ESP and SDOS and in collaboration with MSFC, designed, built, tested, delivered, and supported the operation of of ISERV. ISERV was launched on HTV-3 in July 2012 and was removed from the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) in December 2014 after experiencing an on-orbit anomaly. Currently the feasibility of using the ISERV hardware is being assessed. ISERV flight and ground software are unique applications that are critical for successful operations of the ISERV Pathfinder. As the sole developer of this software and with the in-depth knowledge of the ISERV instrument, TBE possesses the critical experience necessary to refurbish or upgrade ISERV.
G. Only TBE has the required skill set to allow the current sustaining engineering and integration work to continue on schedule. Proceeding with TBE allows science from the ISS to continue unabated through the timeframe when the U.S. Government will be reviewing the efficacy of the ISS Program in order to determine whether the life of the ISS should be extended into 2028.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.
Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:00 p.m. local time on 12/7/2017. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.
All responsible sources may submit an offer which 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 .
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
Lynn P. Southgate, Contracting Officer, Phone 2565440303, Fax 2565442934, Email lynn.p.southgate@nasa.gov - Melinda E Swenson, Contracting Officer, Phone 2565440381, Fax 2565442934, Email melinda.e.swenson@nasa.gov
