Added: May 15, 2008 2:18 pm
The Fleet Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, intends to solicit on a sole source basis Engineering & Maintenance support services from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory. The contractor will provide engineering support for the U.S. Naval Observatorys Mark IV Interagency Correlator. Engineering & Maintenance support services are provided to implement upgrades to the Washington Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Correlator system. The Correlator is essential for meeting the mission requirement of providing hi-precision Earth Orientation for the Department of Defense. The engineering support for this system consists of: 1. Assistance in diagnosis of system problems with contractor personnel that will assist personnel at the Mark IV Correlator in Washington. 2. Backup correlation for the USNO Correlator.
3. Repair of Spare parts. 3. Special processing consultation When complex geodetic experiments may be processed on the Interagency Correlator; or, when difficulties encountered with the VLBI data collection experiment need to be compensated during VLBI data processing. 4. Maintenance of an equipment depot at the contractors facility (MIT/Haystack observatory) for replacement Mark IV Correlator parts/modules. 5. Hardware and software development support-improvements. Low level development effort to improve the software to process geodetic data on the Mark IV Correlator and maintain information assurance compatibility 6. Related special studies. Additionally:6.a. There are options for six (6) new Mark V playback systems6.b. Installation of equipment related to electronic VLBI (e-VLBI)6.b.1. Continued e-VLBI support6.c. A new Correlator computer control system. 6.d. Continued support services.
The acquisition will have options for an additional four years of Engineering and Maintenance support services. The Navy intends to solicit for a Cost Type Contract. This procurement is a sole source acquisition with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the only known provider of these services. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTATIONS. The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 541370. Numbered Note 22 & 26: 22. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within forty-five days (thirty days if award is issued under an existing basic ordering agreement) after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
26. Based upon market research, the Government is not using the policies contained in Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, in its solicitation for the described supplies or services. However, interested persons may identify to the contracting officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government's requirement with a commercial item within 15 days of this notice.
