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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources to help determine an appropriate acquisition strategy to provide research and development support services for the Earth Sciences Division – Atmospheres (Code 610AT) and the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO, Code 610.1). This announcement is intended to assess industry’s capabilities to assist in developing an acquisition strategy for the requirements previously identified in the Support for Atmospheres, Modeling, and Data Assimilation (SAMDA) II requirement. A final determination to fulfill these requirements with one or more contracts has not been made but is being considered.

Code 610AT conducts a comprehensive atmospheric science research and technology development program directed towards observing, monitoring, characterizing, modeling, understanding, and advancing knowledge of the Earth’s atmosphere. The research program is aimed at understanding the structure, dynamics, and radiative properties of clouds, aerosols, and precipitation; understanding atmospheric chemistry, especially the role of natural and anthropogenic trace species on the ozone balance in the stratosphere and troposphere; understanding the influence of solar variability on the Earth’s climate; and advancing our understanding of the physical properties of the Earth’s atmosphere including its interaction with the Earth’s surface. Code 610AT scientists identify requirements for atmospheric observations via ground, orbital, and sub-orbital instrumentation and missions. Scientists also conceive, design, develop, and implement optical, microwave, radar, and lidar technologies for remote sensing of the atmosphere. Scientists conduct field measurements for satellite sensor calibration and data algorithm validation, and carry out modeling activities for atmospheric radiative transfer, winds, clouds, aerosols, chemistry and transport of trace species, and the development of next- generation Earth system models. This program of research provides support for GSFC to observe, monitor, explain, and predict trends in the spatial and temporal variability of the Earth’s atmosphere. The research also addresses the possible consequences of these trends with respect to climate change, human health, food production, water management, and other issues of societal importance. These research activities are carried out in collaboration across GSFC organizations and with domestic and international partners in universities, private industry, and other government agencies. All of this work supports and is consistent with NASA’s mission in Earth Science.

The GMAO develops, operates, and maintains comprehensive models and data assimilation systems for the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, land surface and cryosphere, including atmospheric composition and ocean biogeochemistry. GMAO models and assimilation systems support NASA’s Earth Science research enterprise and contribute to our nation’s capabilities in climate, weather, and environmental prediction. The data assimilation systems comprise the assembly, pre-processing, quality control and characterization of all the observations being assimilated, the analysis systems which combine model and observation information, and the Earth system models required to interface with the analysis systems. The GMAO effort includes the development and implementation of advanced coupled models (e.g., ocean-atmosphere-land surface, chemistry-climate, ocean dynamics-biology) to support the assimilation systems and to address key scientific questions and prediction goals identified by the NASA Science Mission Directorate. GMAO models and assimilation systems are developed on top of existing software frameworks including the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF) and the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) and rely heavily on leading-edge high end computing platforms. These highly configurable systems are developed and maintained using modern software practices within a complex ecosystem consisting of semi-independent packages, many of which are shared with partner institutions. The GMAO collaborates with Code 610AT scientists and with the external science community in developing and validating its models and data assimilation systems. In particular, the GMAO participates fully in the NOAA/NASA/DOD Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) and maintains a strong collaboration with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). This contract supports the full range of GMAO research, development, and production activities. The vast majority of GMAO activities require extensive expertise on the part of contract support staff in both science and software development.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) GSFC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI), and members of the underserved communities as defined by Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for the Atmospheric Science and Modeling And Data Assimilation requirements. 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.

Interested companies having the required special capabilities to meet either or both above requirements (GMAO and/or Code 610AT) described herein should submit a capability statement of no more than ten (10) pages per section indicating the ability to perform one or both efforts described herein. Your company’s submission should also include a capability statement(s) addressing the company’s ability to perform the work for each prospective requirement (as applicable). Responses must include the following: name and address of the firm, size of business (if small specify the category), average annual revenue for past 3 years, number of employees, ownership, number of years in business, affiliate information (parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime)), and list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact - address and phone number).

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov. Interested firms are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

Additionally, in support of the Executive Order (EO) 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, NASA is seeking to advance equity or remove barriers for members of underserved communities related to this requirement. As defined in the EO, Underserved Communities refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of "equity." Equity means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

NASA seeks input in the following areas:

1. To support the requirements identified in this request for information (RFI)/sources sought notification, what barriers or opportunities exist to engage subject matter experts from industry and academia and how can those barriers be overcome? How can underserved communities be leveraged?

2. To support the requirements identified in this RFI, what barriers or opportunities exist to partner with subcontractors that employ members of underserved communities, as defined above?

3. What other recommendations would you make to enhance diversity and inclusion?

4. What should be considered to encourage full participation and contribution of organizations and individuals (e.g., outreach efforts and innovative partnerships) in performance of this requirement?

All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Joel Rivera at joel.rivera@nasa.gov no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on March 24, 2023.

This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement.

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