Commercial Aviation Services, Gulfstream Aircraft for Earth Science Research

Request for Information (RFI) Commercial Aviation Services, Gulfstream Aircraft for Earth Science Research The National Aeronautics and space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for Commercial Aviation Services, Gulfstream Aircraft for Earth Science Research. NASA ARC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories for Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUbZone business set-aside based on responses received. Mission Background: The Airborne Science Program within the NASA Science Mission Directorate supports the

science community by enabling access to aircraft to meet project or mission requirements. The Program funds maintenance and operations of government unique, highly modified aircraft at several NASA field centers. Not every instrument or concept requires these high value assets to be owned and operated by NASA. The Program also encourages the use of commercial aviation services for projects where commercial aviation services are available and proven to be safe and reliable. NASA currently operates several Gulfstream aircraft including 3 G-III/C-20s, a newly acquired G-IV, and a GV. Two of the G-IIIs are dedicated to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) missions, while the others have been modified with nadir-viewing ports to accommodate optical systems and LIDAR measurements. The portal designs are owned by NASA and available upon request to U.S. companies that are interested in supporting contracted aviation services for NASA Earth Science. Summary: The purpose of this RFI is to seek commercial aircraft providers that have (or would purchase) a Gulfstream Aircraft that the provider would: Modify with the NASA G-III/GV nadir portal installation Maintain/operate in support of NASA’s Science mission. NASA might provide one-time funding to support necessary aircraft modifications. Information Requested: Responses to this RFI should include: Organization Information: Name and address Point(s) of contact (POC) to include email address and phone number(s) EUI and cage code Technical responses should address the following issues: What aircraft would be available for use? Does the provider currently own the aircraft, or would it need to be purchased? If the aircraft were to be purchased, how many months would the provider need to acquire the aircraft. Where would the aircraft be based? Description of the provider’s maintenance and operation capability, capacity, and history. Would the provider intend to use the aircraft for NASA-only missions or seek to lower operating costs over a wider customer base? Responses should detail all current FAA PART Certifications held. If recent work has been conducted for another Federal Agency, please provide the type of aircraft operated/maintained, location of operations, program executed, flight hours flown per year, and a rough order of magnitude cost. Please also provide the Government point of contact information. Submission Instructions and Information: Responses to this RFI must be submitted to Joshua.d.taggart@nasa.gov no later than 5pm Pacific Time on the date specified. Include the following subject line in the submission: “RFI 80ARC023JDT01, Gulfstream Aircraft for Earth Science Research.” Submissions shall not exceed 15 pages and should be submitted in Microsoft WORD, POWERPOINT, OR PDF Format. Attachments should not exceed 10MB. In the event the information in your response is proprietary, it shall include the proper markings. Responses will not be shared outside the Government. Following receipt and review of the initial submission, as part of its market research, NASA may conduct one-on-one meetings with respondents. These meetings will allow for exchange of information and will provide an opportunity for potential offerors to provide feedback on the Governments preliminary requirements and acquisition approach. This announcement does not constitute a Request for Proposal. Please do not request a copy of the solicitation as one does not exist at this time. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This RFI is subject to review or cancellation at any time. The Government will not pay for information submitted in response to this request and respondents will not be notified of the results. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized on https://sam.gov. it is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf.