NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 219, Greenbelt, MD 20771

A -- CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH -- THE GODDARD EARTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER POC William A. Hatchl, Contracting Officer, Phone (301)614-5590, Fax (301)614-5619, Email William.A.Hatchl.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#910-CAN-258. E-MAIL: William A. Hatchl, William.A.Hatchl.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. A Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) is expected to be issued late May 1999 to solicit proposals for a cooperative agreement to create a center of excellence for the Earth Sciences as part of the Earth Sciences Directorate at Goddard. This center will be called the "Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center" (GEST Center). The Center will conduct research on 7 All aspects of the Earth system -the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the ocean-, 7 The composition and structure of the outer planets, 7 The information and computational sciences addressing the unique requirements of NASA for data systems, 7 The technology required to achieve the scientific challenges and the economic affordability of the Earth Sciences. In recent years the level of activities and responsibilities of Goddard scientists has increased substantially as a result of the implementation of very ambitious programs of the Earth Science Enterprise and of the designation of Goddard as the center of excellence for Earth Sciences within NASA. The increase of responsibilities and functions has occurred at a time when the work force has decreased substantially. This situation has resulted in the evolution of the way civil servants scientists have operated. There has been an increasing need for interactive research with independent scientists, away from the more traditional directed research of earlier years. The creation of the GEST Center is the Earth Sciences Directorate's response to this evolving reality. The goal of the GEST Center is to forge new cooperative relationships between the private sector and government scientists to fully exploit the joint development of a comprehensive theoretical and experimental research program in concert with the Earth Sciences Directorate (Code 900). The combination of government in-house and possibly both industry and academic components is a new paradigm to strive for excellence, where Earth scientists, technologists and information technologists in GEST all work cooperatively with civil servants at Goddard. The Center is also expected to become a vehicle to increase the involvement of the university community. This will be achieved through a visiting fellows and graduate student fellowship program aimed in particular to attract university professors on sabbatical leave and through a graduate students fellowship program designed to attract graduate students to do their thesis work on topics relevant to the Earth Sciences Directorate activities. Collaboration among Goddard scientists and private sector is best accomplished through the use of a cooperative agreement. This Cooperative Agreement as an assistance agreement will help facilitate: (a) A collaborative working relationship between GSFC and the Recipient (GEST) Center, (b) An environment for sharing scientific ideas, and (c) The stimulation of research in general areas while encouraging private sector use of the research results. Goddard intends to issue a "draft" Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) late April 1999 to provide potential offerors an opportunity to suggest changes to the CAN in order to promote a clearer understanding of its objective. Prior to the release of the final CAN in May 1999, Goddard intends to hold a preproposal conference for all interested parties to attend. Another synopsis will be posted prior to the issuance of the draft and final Cooperative Agreement Notices. Posted 03/16/99 (D-SN309213). (0075)

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