SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- FARMS INVESTMENT SOURCES SOUGHT
- Notice Date
- 6/24/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.S, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NNG13FA91SS
- Response Due
- 7/8/2013
- Archive Date
- 6/24/2014
- Point of Contact
- Claudia Canales, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-286-5990, Fax 301-286-1670, Email Claudia.Canales-1@nasa.gov - Dean S Patterson, Procurement Manager, Phone 301-286-8085, Fax 301-286-1670, Email Dean.S.Patterson@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Claudia Canales
(Claudia.Canales-1@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- INTRODUCTION The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to determine the interest of potential partners in financially investing in the development of new technology for an agricultural instrument. Interested parties including Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SD-VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) are asked to provide capability statements. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. NASA is seeking specific information on interest in such a partnership and conditions under which such a partnership would be viable. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), the information requested is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that NASA will take procurement action in this matter. Furthermore, neither NASA, nor the Government will be responsible for any costs incurred in furnishing this information. BACKGROUND NASA is performing market research for the Farmland and Agriculture Remote Measurement Sensor (FARMS) study project and is looking for hardware development and/or software development partners, willing to financially invest in the development of new technology for an agricultural instrument. The investment sought would involve the development of an instrument that will be externally mounted on the International Space Station (ISS) on an Earth viewing docking post. The intent of the instrument is to collect hyperspectral data on crops and farmland for the purpose of increasing agricultural productivity and performing early assessment of crop disease and stress, as well as, conducting farmland output assessment. This instrument will be flown as a proof of concept to assess in-space flight adequacy and efficiency of collected data. Commercial partner(s) will have rights to the data in relationship to their investment and downstream use of the technology if determined that a spacecraft agricultural system has commercial viability. See additional FARMS background information in the attached information sheet titled, 'FARMS Flyer_SSCO. The range of total commercial investment sought is between $20M and $50M. Multiple partners are sought. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS Parties who are interested in establishing an early commercial foothold in very specific agricultural data from space are invited to submit their electronic response to this Sources Sought Notice no later than July 8th 2013, 5pm EDT. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to all points of contact outlined below. The response shall be addressed in 5 pages or less, 12 point font size, one inch margins. Respondents are welcome to submit supplementary information (i.e., descriptions of instrument components, data analysis software). There is no page limit in supporting documentation. Format of the electronic document shall be Microsoft Word (.docx) or Portable Document Format (PDF). All responses shall be marked Sources Sought, FARMS Investment. Respondents are required to address the following items and must properly identify/mark any classified and proprietary information: Organization name, name of corporate point of contact, address, email address, and telephone number Size and type of ownership of the organization Information on the companys capabilities relevant to the described endeavor, including technical and /or agricultural experiences Financial capabilities and history of the company Discuss any models for collaborative investment that would accomplish the Governments objective, and outline a potential long-term business plan (i.e., what business model do you foresee for your investment, what impact would multiple partners have on your business plan?) Discuss the importance/impact of data rights, including exclusive vs. non-exclusive access to the data from space What time frames makes sense for your investment, what time frame is feasible? DISCLAIMER It is not NASAs intent to publicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtained during this sources sought request. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as Proprietary or Confidential will be kept confidential. It is emphasized that this sources sought request is NOT a Request for Proposal, Quotation, or Invitation for Bid; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary. This request is for information and planning purposes only, subject to FAR 15.201(e) and FAR Clause 52.215-3 entitled Solicitation for Information or Planning Purposes. This sources sought request is NOT to be construed as a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the Government will enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information submitted in response to this sources sought. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS). It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. Your response must be submitted in writing via e-mail to all the points of contact as outlined below. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. As part of its assessment of industry capabilities, the NASA/GSFC may contact respondents to this sources sought request, if clarifications or further information is needed. If you have any questions concerning this request please email both points of contact outlined below. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. However, it is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor FedBizOpps and NAIS for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/GSFC/OPDC20220/NNG13FA91SS/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03097626-W 20130626/130624234344-9f0d75d821d3f621419f75f35d2c9645 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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