SOURCES SOUGHT
X -- NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION SEEKING POTENTIAL INDUSTRYINTEREST AND USES FOR SOME NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FACILITIES
- Notice Date
- 1/24/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336414
— Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/John F. Kennedy Space Center, Procurement, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
- ZIP Code
- 32899
- Solicitation Number
- NOA-RFI-OP-OS11-01
- Response Due
- 2/24/2011
- Archive Date
- 1/24/2012
- Point of Contact
- Marco Pochy, Contracting Officer, Phone 321-867-8567, Fax 321-867-1188, Email marco.l.pochy@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Marco Pochy
(marco.l.pochy@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE AND REQUEST:The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) John F. Kennedy Space Center(KSC) is seeking to identify potential industry interest in, and proposed uses for some,agency real property assets located at KSC in Florida. This announcement describes NASAassets that are currently or will soon become underutilized as a result of the transitionfrom the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) to the future mission activities authorized byCongress in the NASA Authorization Act of 2010.KSC also seeks through this announcement to ensure broad awareness and visibility of theanticipated opportunities for Public-Private and Public-Public Ventures (PPV) betweenNASA and industry or non-federal public entities. Such ventures are defined aspartnering tools in NASAs Real Property Management Program to leverage underutilizedAgency real property to maximize utilization and efficiency. NASA may use a PPV to granta partner an interest in real property for a specified term through an instrument such asa lease, a use permit, or other form of legal agreement authorized by the NASA Space Actof 1958 and the Commercial Space Launch Act. In addition to PPV agreements, NASA maypursue other approaches, as described in this announcement, to enable others to usefacilities for which KSC has a current or future need to support NASAs mission. It is NASAs intent to ensure fairness to all parties and to ensure best value to theGovernment in granting use of NASA facilities in a manner that optimizes its support forthe agencys missions and objectives, and the U.S. national space policy.To meet these purposes, NASA requests written responses to this announcement to assistKSC to achieve the following objectives:1.Identify and document specific interest from industry and non-federal publicentities in pursuing a real estate agreement with NASA for use of KSC facilitiesidentified in this announcement.2.Assess the extent of overall interest by industry and non-federal public entitiesin using underutilized NASA assets on KSC to engage in activities supportive of NASAsmissions and purpose.3.Provide data to support KSCs planning for federal spaceport infrastructure andfacility utilization.4.Enable determination of how underutilized capacity at KSC may be made availablein a fair and responsive fashion to industry and/or non-federal public entities toadvance agency and national objectives.KSC is continuing to assess and identify, in cooperation with the cognizant NASA programoffices and mission directorates, which KSC assets are required to meet existing andfuture agency requirements. Therefore, facilities identified in this announcement thatare anticipated to be partially or fully available for other users may subsequently bedeemed by NASA as unavailable due to the agencys own facility needs. The Government will apply selection criteria and make facilities and other assetsavailable only if deemed in the Governments best interests. NASA reserves the right toproceed with development and negotiation of one or more proposed PPVs or other partneringand facility utilization agreements with respondents to this announcement, withoutfurther notice, if it determines that it has met the purposes, intent, and objectivesidentified in this announcement.NASA is not precluded from entering into real estate agreements with other federalentities for use of KSC facilities identified in this Notice of Availability regardlessof expressions of interest and proposed use that may be received from industry ornon-federal public entities pursuant to this announcement.NASA will be under no obligation to proceed with any PPVs or any other partneringarrangements with regard to the anticipated availability of underutilized facilities atKSC. In lieu of using a PPV to grant a partner a real property interest through a lease orother instrument, NASA may employ Space Act authorities to allow use of facilities forspecified purposes without granting the user any real property interest. For example,KSC may take such an approach on a facility operated by KSC for both NASA and non-NASAusers on a regular basis.If NASA determines that a facility is going to become idle with no known current orfuture NASA mission support requirement, but still of value in support of NASAs purposeand national space policy if used by others, NASA may decide to divest the agency of theasset by transfer to another federal agency, or to others through established realproperty disposition processes administered by the General Services Administration (GSA). BACKGROUND:As directed by Congress, NASA will retire the Space Shuttle Program in FY 2011 after 30years of operation. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 directs that NASA proceed withdevelopment of a new Space Launch System that can access cis-lunar space and the regionsof space beyond low-Earth orbit.The NASA Administrator is further directed to carry out a program to prepareinfrastructure at KSC for this transition, to enhance the overall capabilities of theCenter, and reduce the long term cost of operations and maintenance while taking measuresto provide multi-vehicle support, improvements in payload processing, and partnering atKSC. The Act also restated the commitment by Congress to the development ofcommercially-developed launch and delivery systems to the International Space Station forcrew and cargo missions.NASA is challenged as a key element of this transition to re-scope and, as appropriate,down size its infrastructure and facilities foot print to most efficiently support themissions within expected funding levels. KSC capabilities and assets that will becomeidle or underutilized for near-term NASA requirements, may be re-purposed and used by thecommercial space industry and others in direct support of NASAs mission and purpose.KSC seeks to strategically identify, develop, and align the Centers distinctive spacetransportation assets and capabilities with other government and commercial spacemarkets. KSC seeks to expand partnerships, customer base, and regional economicopportunities consistent with the NASA mission. KSC wishes to promote and enable thewidest and fullest utilization of KSC assets and facilities to advance the nations goalsfor space exploration and development and maximize the nations investment in the federalspaceport. These efforts are targeted to enhance space launch and processinginfrastructure and capabilities available to both the commercial and government launchand space services industry.PRIORITY USES FOR AVAILABLE FACILITIES:For the facilities identified in this announcement, NASA intends to give priorityconsideration to prospective uses and users for available facilities which align with thefollowing:Entities which operate or directly support space launch or space user missionsfor the U.S. Government at Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station;Entities which operate or directly support commercial space launch or commercialspace user missions, whether or not the U.S. Government is a customerNASA will consider other technical, operationally-compatible uses and users which aredetermined to directly or indirectly support its missions and purposes if underutilizedcapacity remains available.USES THAT NASA WILL NOT CONSIDER:For the facilities identified in this announcement, that may be available for potentialPPVs or other partnering arrangements, NASA will not at this time consider responsesthat:Fail to show any relevance to NASAs mission or purpose and U.S. Governmentinterests, or fail to demonstrate a need for use of the requested KSC asset that cannotbe met more appropriately at other locations outside the restricted area or off Center;Are deemed incompatible with the current KSC Master Plan, land use policies,environmental conditions, or pose a negative impact on NASAs mission;Request any proposed transfer of title to land, proposed residential uses, orproposed operation of commercial agricultural uses;GOVERNMENT's RIGHT TO APPLY CRITERIA: NASA reserves the right to apply criteria for assessing the best fit for alternativeuses and users which may be considered for the facilities identified in thisannouncement. Such criteria may include, but not be limited to:The extent of alignment with NASAs mission, purpose, and the long termdevelopment objectives and plans for the Kennedy Space Center as a multi-user spaceport; Benefits to KSC, NASA, and other U.S. Government interests;The alignment of the proposed use and occupancy need dates with the facilitysintended purpose, configuration, and availability dates;An assessment of the financial capability of the proposed user, as well as theprospects for programmatic funding for the activity (whether serving a government orcommercial customer base);An assessment of the environmental, safety, and security impacts of the proposeduse and user;Potential for and degree of expected positive contribution to sustainment ofKSCs technical workforce;Risks to KSC, NASA, and other U.S. Government interests.GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO DISPOSE OF FACILITIES:This announcement does not preclude the Governments option to dispose of one or more ofthe identified facilities should it determine that there is no current or future needrelated to a NASA mission or purpose, and that it is in the Governments best interest todispose of the facility rather than to retain it. Such disposal may include, but not belimited to:Declaring facility improvements excess to the Governments needs and disposing inaccordance with the established processes of the General Services Administration (GSA);Deconstruction of the facility to enable re-development of the site at somefuture date;Abandonment in place.IDENTIFICATION OF FACILITIES ANTICIPATED TO BE AVAILABLE:This notice encompasses only the facilities as described in the following categories andlisting. All of these assets are located within the secured and restricted-access areaof KSC, generally referred to as inside the gates. Support facilities such asoffice/administrative space and warehousing/logistics space existing as a portion of anoperational/processing facility or in separate buildings in close proximity to anoperational/processing facility, are considered ancillary uses required to support otheruser operations or business at the spaceport. Priority consideration for suchoffice/administrative space or warehousing/logistics space will be as identified inassociation with the priority activities referenced above, in lieu of standalone usesunassociated with other spaceport operational activities.KSC SPACE VEHICLE PROCESSING AND LAUNCH FACILITIES:Launch Complex 39A This launch complex was constructed for the Apollo Program andmodified for the Space Shuttle Program. The complex includes the launch pad, variousfluids and gases systems including dewars for Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen and thefixed and rotating service structures for the Space Shuttle.Launch Complex 39B This launch complex was constructed for the Apollo Program andmodified for the Space Shuttle Program. The complex includes the launch pad, variousfluids and gases systems including dewars for Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen andstandalone lightning protection towers. Use of this facility will likely be on a sharedbasis with other users.Vehicle Assembly Building This facility was constructed for the Apollo Program andmodified for the Space Shuttle Program. It contains four high bays, some of which may bemade available to non-NASA users for launch vehicle processing and preparation. Use ofthis facility will likely be on a shared basis with other users.Launch Control Center (LCC) This facility was built to support the Apollo Program andwas then modified to support the Space Shuttle Program. It contains four firing rooms,engineering support areas and administrative offices. The firing rooms, which areessentially control rooms, contain numerous enclosures, computing hardware, software(e.g. operating systems, command/control applications, displays, operating systems,databases), networks, communications equipment, configuration management, informationtechnology security, and other ancillary tools and engineering processes in support ofexisting and future spacecraft processing and launch.Orbiter Processing Facilities 1 and 2 These buildings were constructed for processingof the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicles.Each one contains a control room for vehicleEnvironmental Control Systems, high bay and the ability to process hazardous fluids andgases.Orbiter Processing Facility 3 This facility was constructed for processing the SpaceShuttle Orbiter vehicle. It contains one high bay and a control room for vehicleEnvironmental Control Systems.Adjacent to the high bay within the building is an areafor engine processing known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine Shop. Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) The SLF is a single, 15,000 ft concrete runway that isoriented to the southeast and northwest with runways designated 15 and 33 on the approachcompass. Uses for horizontal launch and recovery, other space related testing andoperations, and supporting compatible or special-purpose aviation operations can benegotiated on an as available basis. While the SLF will be available to multiple users,several associated support facilities and adjacent sites may be made available forqualified users as dedicated assets.OFF-LINE PROCESSING FACILITIES:Solid Rocket Booster Assembly and Refurbishment Facility (SRB-ARF) This facility wasconstructed to support the Space Shuttle Program. It contains high bays and controlrooms for the processing of unfueled solid rocket booster segments. It also containsconnected office space for administrative personnel and an area for testing of hydrazinepowered devices.Processing Control Center This facility was constructed to support off-line testingoperations for the Space Shuttle Program. It is three stories tall, contains rooms withraised flooring to support computer systems as well as administrative space.Rotation Processing and Surge Facility (RPSF) This complex of three buildings wasconstructed to support the Space Shuttle Program. The main facility contains an overheadcrane for the rotation of fueled solid rocket booster segments while the two otherbuildings provide for storage of solid rocket booster segments. Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) This facility was constructed to support theSpace Station Program.The facility contains high, intermediate, and low bays,laboratory space including command and control test-beds to support off-line testingoperations and administrative areas.Hypergolic Maintenance Facility (HMF) This facility contains several buildings in theKSC Industrial Area. They include hazardous explosion-rated processing buildings,storage areas, waste staging and hypergol support buildings and associated engineeringcontrol rooms.Canister Rotation Facility (CRF) This facility was built to support the operations andmaintenance associated with the canisters used to transport payloads to and from theSpace Shuttle processing areas. It contains a high bay with 100-ton bridge crane and alow bay that housed the Canister Transporter.Thermal Protection System Facility (TPSF) This facility was constructed to support theSpace Shuttle Program.The thermal protection system or Shuttle tiles, are manufacturedand repaired in this facility.This facility will likely be made available to multipleusers as a provided service.Parachute Processing Facility (PPF) This facility provides for the cleaning (washing)of parachutes from Space Shuttle missions in an outside wash rack and for the repair ofthese parachutes within several rooms.KSC PAYLOAD PROCESSING FACILITIES:Multi-Payload Processing Facility (MPPF) This facility contains three major structures,the main building itself which contains a high bay, a low bay, an equipment airlock andtwo control centers. There is a communications room connected to the high bay and anannex area with administrative offices.Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) This facility has three main structures:the high bay, in which hazardous operations may occur, a support building which containscontrol rooms and a transporter storage building. This facility will likely be availablefor operations to multiple users on a shared basis during specific intervals when notrequired for planetary mission processing. There are known periods of mandatoryGovernment use between 2011 and 2015 and additional periods may be identified at a laterdate.MISCELLANEOUS FACILITIES:Merritt Island Launch Area (MILA) This complex of facilities was developed to housetelemetry tracking equipment and antennas. It contains several buildings includingcontrol rooms, administrative and conference rooms and support buildings. The area alsocontains several large tracking antennas.Far Field Antenna Testing Range - The Far Field Antenna Testing Range, located in theNortheast area of the HMF of KSC, is certified to test antennas from 100 MHz to 18 GHz. It can test a variety of antenna types, which include Parabolic, Dipole, Strip-line, QuadRidged Horn, Mono-pulse Phased, etc. The range is a variable distance/height testingfacility, and can test antennas up to 450 pounds using traditional methods integratedwith an advance computer measurement system. The range was first used during the Geminiand Apollo Programs, after which, the building was left unattended. In 1992, thebuilding was retested and reopened in 1993. The facility has been used to test Shuttleantennas, such as the S-Band Quads, Heim-GPS, TACAN L-Band, MSBLS, Radar Altimeter, EVAAirlock, and Payload Bay UHF Antennas.This facility has also been used to testnon-Shuttle antennas such as the Dipole Telemetry and GPS Positioning Antennas for theB1-B Strategic Bomber, Commercial Phased Array Antenna Systems for E-Systems, andMulti-Band Multi-Antenna Array for Advanced Systems Development. As of 2011, allpositioning and test equipment is fully functional and calibrated.Additional Non-Real Property Assets: These assets, while not real property, may also bemade available to qualified users on a dedicated basis. They are included here forcompleteness and to provide potential users the opportunity to notify NASA of theirinterest in these assets.Mobile Launch Platforms (MLPs) 1, 2 and 3 These structures were constructed for theApollo Program and modified for the Space Shuttle Program. They are used for theassembly and launch operations of vertical launch vehicles. They may be made availableto individual users for dedicated launch systems or to multiple users.Mobile Launcher (ML) This structure was constructed for the Constellation Program forassembly and launch operations of the Ares 1 vehicle. This structure may be madeavailable to individual users for dedicated launch systems or for multiple users.For additional information on these facilities and assets, please go tohttp://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov and go to the link Kennedy Space Center ResourcesEncyclopedia under Whats New.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. Thepurpose of this NOA/RFI is to determine industrys level of interest in quantity and typeof facilities.Additional information, if forthcoming, will be synopsized in the NASAAcquisition Internet Service (NAIS) and FedBizOps. It is the responsibility of potentialusers to monitor NAIS for the release of any additional information or synopsis. This NOA/RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will theGovernment pay for any information solicited. Since this is a NOA/RFI, no evaluationletters and/or results will be issued to the respondents.Instructions for Responses:Potential users interested in the described KSC assets shall submit statements ofinterest electronically, via e-mail, to the primary Point of Contact (POC) listed below. The statement of interest shall consist of a one page summary and additional pages ofsupporting detail as needed. Responses shall contain a minimum font size of 12. Tofacilitate a prompt review, the one-page summary shall clearly identify facility needsand planned utilization of assets. The one page summary shall include: (1) Company information. Specify organization name, address, primary POC and telephonenumber, business size and type, and product or service line.(2) Assets. Identify the specific asset requirements and their proposed use.(3) Timetable. Identify when the assets are needed for the proposed use and for whatduration.Please note that if you have previously responded to a NASA RFI or submitted a writtenrequest for the use of any of the KSC facilities or assets listed in this NOA/RFI, youmust provide a response to this NOA/RFI that reaffirms your interest. Include in yourresponse a reference to your previous written response to a NASA announcement, ororiginal written request without repeating it in its entirety.Responses are required no later than February 24, 2011. Information received after thisdate will only be considered if deemed in the Governments best interest. Pleasereference this NOA/RFI in any response. Respondents are cautioned to mark anyinformation confidential if it is to be treated as proprietary. All electronic responsesshould be sent to the POC, identified below, with the message line 'Response to KSCNotice of Availability dated January 24, 2011.'Any questions you may have are to be submitted in writing, via email, to the POC listedbelow. Point of Contact: James Balljames.e.ball@nasa.gov
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