Inactive

NASA GRC has a requirement for flight testing research into the performance and operability of the U.S. Air Force’s/AEDC High-Altitude LIDAR Atmospheric Sensing (HALAS) System. Based upon the work tha... NASA GRC has a requirement for flight testing research into the performance and operability of the U.S. Air Force’s/AEDC High-Altitude LIDAR Atmospheric Sensing (HALAS) System. Based upon the work that has been completed to date, the purpose of this procurement is to continue critical testing and to secure technical support in preparation for, relevant to and for various program tests in support of DARPA/TTO XSP program. Due to NASA’s technical and operational requirements, only one company meets NASA's needs. The High Altitude LIDAR Atmospheric Sensing (HALAS) system, built by Honeywell Aerospace, has been under development by the US Air Force’s / Arnold Engineering Development Center’s Test & Evaluation/Science & Technology Program (High Speed Systems Test) for many years. HALAS scans and produces the entire atmospheric model of all altitudes simultaneously. This is a very efficient technical capability of Honeywell’s current system. The current balloon-based method relies on measuring atmospheric conditions one altitude at a time. The XSP program is predicated on an operationally responsive capability, of which HALAS is strategically designed to perform. The initial HALAS-produced atmospheric model is produced in 25 minutes. Furthermore, the model can be updated continuously every five minutes. This is vastly superior to the existing balloon method which takes 60 minutes for the initial and each update. HALAS eliminates operability impediments to atmospheric data collection by obviating balloon operations. Balloons take at least an hour to rise through the atmosphere to take measurements, while LIDAR can operate in as little as five minutes. Balloons have been known to burst, freeze up, pass over the horizon, and travel in directions totally unrelated to the intended launch vehicle ascent trajectory. HALAS does not have to contend with any of these issues which are fundamental obstacles to responsiveness. Because of Honeywell’s unique knowledge and expertise to this specific flight test, they are the only offeror that is capable of providing the needed test support. Various modalities (radar, LIDAR, others) have been proposed in the past decades as replacements for balloon-carried windsonde systems for measuring winds aloft and other atmospheric state variables for launch support. These systems typically have failed to meet minimum accuracy, operability, and capability needs. HALAS, however, offers great potential to succeed in each of these areas. NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) intends to issue a sole source purchase order to acquire services from Honeywell Aerospace under the authority of Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 due to only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Brianna Lindsey, Contracting Officer, at brianna.lindsey@nasa.gov not later than 03:00 PM EDT on August 10, 2021. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html