NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 214.4, Greenbelt, MD 20771

A -- MISSION OPERATIONS AND SCIENTIFIC DATA ANALYSIS DUE 021799 POC Thomas Russell, Contracting Officer, Phone (301)286-2885, Fax (301)286-0341, Email Thomas.S.Russell.1@gsfc.nasa.gov -- Tammy E. Seidel, Contracting Officer, Phone (301)286-4931, Fax (301)286-0341, Email Tammy.E.Seidel.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#410-02456. E-MAIL: Thomas Russell, Thomas.S.Russell.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. This is a notice of intent to award a contract on a sole source basis to the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for the mission operations and data analysis (MO&DA) effort supporting the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) Mission. The proposed acquisition will require JHU to provide three years of MO&DA support. The FUSE Mission will investigate basic physical processes in the Universe by conducting high-resolution spectroscopic research in the far ultraviolet spectral region (905 to 1195 Angstroms). For the MO&DA phase, JHU shall be fully responsible for managing and operating the FUSE mission and ensuring it meets its intended scientific requirements. JHU shall provide the facilities, systems, services, and personnel to operate the flight qualified satellite it developed in order to perform the necessary scientific measurements to meet the objectives of the FUSE Mission. The ground segment will be operated and maintained to ensure the health and safety of the satellite and ground station, which will be located at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. JHU shall plan and execute observations, and provide processed science data from investigator specified targets to the members of the science team and guest investigators for scientific analysis. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source. JHU was responsible for designing, developing, and building the FUSE spacecraft and science instrument, for designing and developing the ground system and control center for science and mission operations, and for developing the unique algorithms necessary for the analysis of the science data to be generated by the instrument. JHU has been working on the FUSE mission since 1982. JHU, under the leadership of Dr. Warren Moos, the FUSE Principal Investigator, has successully completed the FUSE detailed concept study, the FUSE definition study and the FUSE design phase. The FUSE development phase is now nearing completion and launch is scheduled for May 1999. MO&DA activities are scheduled to commence July 12, 1999. The FUSE mission therefore represents over 16 years of study, definition, design and development effort by JHU from concept to spaceflight hardware, ultimately leading to launch in May 1999 and subsequent capture and analysis of the science data. Because of JHU's intimate involvement in the FUSE program from inception, JHU is considered uniquely qualified and the only source with the experience, expertise, and extensive knowledge of the total science program, the instrument design, and the spacecraft and ground system requirements to be able to perform the MO&DA effort, which is the heart of the science investigation, and the culmination of all previous efforts, within the current schedule. Interested firms desiring consideration have 15 days from publication in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) to submit their qualifications/capabilities. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after 15 days without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract, on a full and open competititive basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. See Note 22. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html. Posted 02/02/99 (D-SN293525). (0033)

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