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Sole Source for the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Science Support Center (SSC) at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)


Maryland, United States
Government : Federal
RFP
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NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Science Support Center (SSC) at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Caltech shall provide science operations system engineering, design, science research support, and scientific community engagement and public outreach support for the WFIRST Project. Caltech will be part of a mission team that GSFC leads and includes other participants, such as the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), international partners, and other support contractors. NASA requires science operations support for WFIRST during the design phase for the Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) technology demonstration, and the science data pipeline design for the Microlensing Survey, and significant portions of the grism and prism data obtained from the Wide Field Instrument (WFI). The contractor shall examine the WFIRST Science, Mission, Ground System, and Observatory requirements and complete the detailed flow down of the Science Support Center and its subsystem requirements.



The contractor shall provide products and services required to support the design and preliminary development of the CGI technology demonstration observation plans, the CGI Level 1 science data processing, the WFI Microlensing Survey high level science data product generation, high level grism/prism science data product generation in partnership with Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), General Observer (GO)/Guest Investigator (GI) proposal ingest and Peer Review management, GO/GI grant administration, and exoplanet science community engagement and public outreach leveraging the existing inventory of software, systems, and processes from large infrared survey missions (Spitzer, WISE, Herschel, Euclid, etc.). The contractor shall conduct trade studies as necessary to support the design of an efficient and effective SSC that is integrated into the larger ground system design with a focus on overall science productivity.

NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole-source Request for Proposal (RFP) to Caltech. The estimated period of performance on this cost-no-fee (CNF) contract is from approximately December 2019 through September 30, 2021.


The rationale supporting the use of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) is justified because Caltech is the only organization qualified to perform the subject requirements based on:


Caltech's unique knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise gained on NASA's large survey missions, including Spitzer, Kepler, WISE, Herschel, and Euclid.


The WFIRST observatory is being designed and developed on a challenging schedule. The mission Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) and Critical Design Reviews (CDRs), and the instrument and spacecraft PDRs and CDRs will take place during the planned period of performance of this contract. Only an experienced contractor with extensive, state-of-the-art expertise in astronomy, science operations (including observation definition, science data processing and analysis, and archive use), optics, detectors, systems engineering, and outreach will meet the required elements of the contract statement of work needed to meet the mission requirements within the defined mission timeline. Caltech is the responsible source that has the expertise to successfully achieve the challenging objectives of the Science Support Center for the WFIRST program.


Caltech has had extensive experience with NASA infrared survey science missions, including Spitzer, and WISE (and NEOWISE), and is preparing for significant and challenging ground system support for the Euclid mission. Caltech also has had extensive Kepler exoplanet data analysis experience. Ground system design and eventual science support execution at the WFIRST SSC are based on many similar aspects of these missions. WFIRST will execute pre-planned extensive sky surveys, and individually targeted observations. Many critical observation planning, and data-handling activities will be very similar to those performed on Spitzer, and Kepler. Euclid will provide experience processing and analyzing large-scale science data, including crowded-field grism and prism spectroscopic data, in association with LAM that is a WFIRST international partner. Caltech's direct experience provides an advantage to meet the Government's needs. The utilization of these mission-proven concepts, methodologies, software, and science-driven systems engineering approach are essential to the successful execution of WFIRST's science mission. The reuse of tools and organizational expertise ensures maximum cost efficiency, and application of lessons learned. This is the only available path that optimizes the resources required during WFIRST's mission design phase, and provides a proven path for science productivity to NASA and the astronomical community.


Caltech's experience covers all of the functional areas required to support the WFIRST SSC due to vast experience with:


1)    Science observation definition and planning
2)    Instrument commanding
3)    Science data pipeline design, development, and operations
4)    Science data calibration
5)    Exoplanet science community engagement and support
6)    Public outreach
7)    Collaboration with domestic and international project partners


Caltech's specific experience and inventory of tools are unique and makes Caltech the only responsible source for this work.


Statutory authority for this procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)--Only One Responsible Source. However, organizations who believe they can provide these services without any detrimental impact to the program schedules supported by this work should fully identify their interest and capabilities within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 5:00 p.m. local time on May 8, 2019. 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.


The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.


Julie Anne Janus, Senior Contracting Officer, Phone 3012864931, Email julie.a.janus@nasa.gov

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