A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMAITON -- NPOESS SPACE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR 17. The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is the Nation's next-generation military and civil operational meteorological satellite system for satisfying both civil and national security requirements for space-based environmental monitoring. The Space Environment Sensor Suite (SESS) is one of several sensor suites under development for the NPOESS by the Integrated Program Office (IPO). The current acquisition schedule calls for a SESS Critical Design Review (CDR) in mid-FY04 and for seven (7) SESS flight units to be delivered between 3QFY06 and 3QFY14. The SESS is the complement of sensors and algorithms used to provide the set of NPOESS Environmental Data Records (EDRs) assigned to the SESS. In general terms, the EDRs for which the SESS is responsible are: 1) ionospheric densities and temperatures, 2) thermospheric densities, 3) energetic charged particles, and 4) quasi-DC electric and magnetic fields. The SESS Sensor Requirements Document (SRD) sets forth the specific requirements for the SESS. A draft version of the SESS SRD is available from the Government on the Internet at the following website: http://npoesslib.ipo.noaa.gov/s_sess.htm. The SRD is divided into two sections; that is, a unique section specific to the SESS and a common section applicable to all NPOESS sensor suites. This RFI provides interested contractors an opportunity to review the draft SESS SRD and to present their proposed methodologies, sensor and algorithm concepts, capability/capacity to support the effort, and cost estimates for the SESS. Data packages are due by close of business on 19 July 1999 to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Barbara S. Polston, NPOESS/IPO, 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1450, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Contractors are requested to provide their data packages in both hard copy (minimum of five (5) copies) and in electronic format (please contact the IPO Data Manager at: datamanager@ipo.noaa.gov). Following submission of the packages, the IPO would be pleased to host two-hour presentations by interested contractors during late July 1999. The level of detail for each RFI response and optional briefing should be compatible with a two-hour presentation. For more detailed technical information and for scheduling contractor briefings to the IPO, please contact Mr. Mike Crison at (301)427-2121, Ext 104. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids or a Request for Proposals, nor is it a commitment by the Government. The Government will use this information to determine an acquisition approach for the SESS. There are currently three options the Government is considering: (1) Acquiring SESS through competitive procurement; (2) Including the SESS as a part of an NPOESS Total System Performance Responsibility (TSPR) contract; or (3) Acquiring SESS as a leveraged payload (i.e., Government laboratories, other Government agencies). The Government will not pay for any effort expended in responding to this notice. Government personnel and its support contractors will review contractor responses. Please refer all other questions and comments to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Barbara S. Polston, at (301)427-2084, Ext 145, or e-mail her at bpolston@ipo.noaa.gov If the Government decides to solicit offers for the NPOESS SESS, an Ombudsman will be appointed to address concerns from potential offerors during the proposal development phase of the acquisition. See Note 26 WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=S&;ProjID=RFI-57&LocID= 901. E-MAIL: Barbara Polston, bpolston@ipo.noaa.gov. Posted 06/18/99 (D-SN344726).

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