National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 284.6, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

99 -- NASA SPECIAL STUDY PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY -- TRACKING AND DATA RELAY SATELLITE SYSTEM COMMERCIALIZATION CONVERGENCE STUDY POC Jeffrey C Lamke, Contracting Officer, (301) 286-8778.. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is conducting a feasibility study of the convergence of the NASA Space Network (SN) with a commercial system for purposes of reducing total costs to the Government for NASA scientific and manned space mission data relay services. The NASA SN consists of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) constellation, White Sands Complex, and Network Control Center. SN operations consist of TDRS control, user satellite data services, user satellite tracking services, TDRS satellite tracking, NASA voice and data services, and the management, maintenance, operation and upgrade to all associated equipment and facilities. This special notice requests information from parties qualified to provide NASA with the SN services and who wish to participate in this study. NASA will not reimburse any respondent or study participant for any costs incurred as a result of this announcement or participation in this study. Parties wishing to respond to this synopsis are requested to submit a capabilities statement describing their existing communications satellite operations, communications satellite experience, and concept for convergence of the NASA SN service requirements with a commercial system. The capabilities statement shall not exceed 4 pages (excluding cover sheet). Innovative approaches must maintain the capabilities of the current SN, or show significant costs savings for a reduction of capabilities (any reduction of capabilities must be clearly identified). NASA will consider all information provided by respondents with experience in operating large satellite communications systems, and with the financial and programmatic resources in place to perform all operations tasks. Acknowledgement of receipt of information will not be made. This information shall be forwarded to the NASA contractor conducting this study, bd Sytems, Inc. of Torrance, CA. bd Systems may or may not contact respondents to this special notice for additional information. This is not a request for proposal and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses may be submitted by FAX to (301) 286-1721 or by mail to the Contracting Officer listed above at mail Code 285. Responses must be submitted within 15 days of the publication date of this synopsis. (0090)

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