National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337

B -- NASA SPECIAL STUDY PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY - AUTONOMOUS GROUND SERVICES COMMERCIALIZATION STUDY POC A. Wayne Mears, Contracting Officer, 804/824-1277. Sources Sought: NASA is conducting a feasibility study of using a fully commercial approach to provide the NASA Ground Network's data acquisition and commanding services for low earth orbiting satellites. For this study, NASA is considering satellites orbiting below 1000 kilometers in altitude and operating at S-band with downlink data rates less than 2.5 Mbps. Ground terminals are expected to have a G/T of at least 16 dB/K. This commercial service would provide end-to-end interface between NASA mission satellites and operations centers. The primary objective is to reduce total costs to the Government for NASA Ground Network services. This notice requests information from parties qualified to provide NASA with Ground Network services and who wish to participate in the study. NASA will not reimburse any respondent or study participant for any costs incurred as a result of this announcement or related to the study. Parties wishing to respond to this synopsis are requested to submit a capabilities statement describing their existing satellite communications satellite experience and concept for convergence of the NASA Ground Network service requirements with a commercial system. The capabilities statement shall not exceed 4 pages (excluding cover page). Respondents are encouraged to define a fully commercial approach. However, if NASA resources enhance cost effectiveness, submitted concepts should clearly delineate any operational functions which require Government furnished equipment and/or facilities. Submissions should provide definitive rationale for cost savings. NASA will consider all information provided by respondents with experience operating satellite communications systems. Acknowledgement of information receipt will not be made. Follow-on dialog will occur only at the discretion of NASA. This is not a request for proposal and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses may be submitted by FAX to (804) 824-1974 or by mail to the NASA Official listed above. Responses must be submitted within 15 days of the publication of this synopsis. Collect calls not accepted. (0117)

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