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This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE and REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) is issued by the NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight to post a Draft Statement of Work and Draft Task Description Document for market research and planning purposes only and shall not be considered to be an obligation by the Government to acquire any products or services. Pursuant to 48 C.F.R. Part 10, the Government is conducting market research to: Determine what sources exist that can satisfy ALL the Government’s requirements.
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.
BACKGROUND
The Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) is one of three global deep space communications facilities that comprise National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Deep Space Network (DSN). The DSN is a communication network of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD). The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program is responsible for the management and operations of the DSN, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), through a NASA contract, has been delegated the responsibility for technical oversight.
The DSN complexes are located at Goldstone, near Barstow, California; near Madrid, Spain; and near Canberra, Australia. The strategic placement of these sites permits constant communication with spacecraft as our Earth rotates. The DSN provides communications services to a wide array of customers to include: deep space missions, lunar missions, relay operations at Mars, Lagrange point missions, and missions in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO).
Each of the complexes is responsible for the management of the whole communication network through NASA’s Follow the Sun Operations (FtSO). FtSO was instituted to allow a single Deep Space Communications Complex (DSCC) to monitor and control all connections in the DSN during that complex’s daylight hours. Each complex is therefore nominally responsible for day prime shift operations support with only minimal off-prime hours.
This requirement will be completed pursuant to the international agreement that entered into force on April 23, 2025, entitled, Scientific Cooperation Agreement Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for the NASA Tracking Station (the Agreement). [Attached.]
The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this requirement is 517810 - All Other Telecommunications and the small business size standard is $40M dollars in average annual receipts.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this sources sought is to identify potential sources with the capabilities to perform the operation and maintenance requirements of the MDSCC. The Contractor will be responsible for managing the activities of NASA’s MDSCC and other facilities in Spain related to its operation, considering local regulations, requirements and practices. The Contractor will also be responsible for remotely operating the NASA facilities outside of Spain that form the other parts of the DSN in accordance with the FtSO, and in accordance with any directions given by NASA to the Contractor. Similarly, MDSCC and the other related facilities in Spain will be remotely managed by NASA or JPL from the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) in Barstow, California, or by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) from the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC) in Canberra, Australia.
INDUSTRY DAY
NASA will be hosting an Industry Day onsite at the MDSCC. This event is intended to inform potential sources about the Government’s MDSCC requirements and to promote an exchange of information between industry and the Government. The Industry Day will also include a tour of the MDSCC facility for potential sources who register prior to the registration deadline.
Attendance is limited to no more than four (4) representatives per potential source to include any teaming arrangements. Please ensure all representatives register prior to the registration deadline. Attendees that do not register prior to the registration deadline may attend but will not be allowed to tour the MDSCC facility.
Date: July 17, 2025
Time: 10:00 am Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Location: MDSCC Training and Visitor Center (TVC) - The TVC is located at the entrance of the MDSCC, in the southern part of Robledo de Chavela municipal district. The address is 28294 Robledo de Chavela, Madrid, Spain.
Point of Contact: Lola Cadierno: [email protected], Executive Assistant to the NASA Representative and Rosalía Toberman: [email protected], Contracting Officer.
Attendee Registration Deadline: 3:00 PM CEST, July 10, 2025. Attendees must submit the following information to the POCs, Lola Cadierno and Rosalía Toberman via email prior to the registration deadline:
1. Full name, Nationality, and ID number (passport, National Identity Document, or other Government Identification).
2. Vehicle licenses plate number.
Note: For access to the MDSCC facility and participation in the tour, attendees must bring the physical ID or passport that matches the number provided to the POC via email.
EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES
The sources sought seeks responses from qualified and interested sources that can demonstrate experience and capabilities in operating and managing a “Space Communications Complex”. Interested firms having the required experience and capabilities necessary to meet the requirement described herein should submit a capability statement of no more than 20 pages, indicating their ability to perform all aspects of the effort. The capability statement shall be submitted in the English language only. Documents in any other language will not be accepted.
In demonstrating your experiences and capabilities, potential sources shall provide:
1. The Company’s information to include:
a. Company’s legal business name and physical address.
b. Size of business pursuant to NAICS Code: 517810 - All Other Telecommunications.
c. Proof of registration in the System for Award Management with Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and applicable Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE) Code.
d. Company’s points of contact including phone numbers and email addresses.
e. Information concerning any expected teaming arrangement, including: the type of arrangement, members of the arrangement and the role of each member of the arrangement. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 9.601 defines a teaming arrangement as:
i. Two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor; or
ii. A potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified Government contract or acquisition program.
2. A detailed description of their capabilities and a summary of their experience on previous and/or current efforts performing the same or similar requirements identified in the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW) titled “Maintenance and Operation of the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex,” and sample “Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex (MDSCC) Operations and Maintenance Task Description Document” (MDSCC/TDD).
3. A detailed description of the support provided for the efforts summarized in paragraph 2, above, demonstrating how the tasks performed under those efforts are the same or similar to the requirements in the draft SOW and sample TDD. The information provided must clearly demonstrate how the company’s previous and/or current effort is the same or similar to the SOW and TDD requirement.
4. Their staffing approach that ensures a qualified staff is obtained and maintained for the operations and maintenance of the MDSCC in accordance with the SOW and TDD requirements. The staffing approach should address:
a. Leadership autonomy of the station director.
b. Any plan to recapture the current MDSCC support staff.
c. Reach-back capabilities to support any staffing shortfalls when they occur.
d. And the current or planned processes that will prevent and/or minimize delays in hiring, onboarding, and training new staff.
All contractor employees shall be capable of effectively communicating, in English, sufficient to perform the duties as stated in the SOW and TDD.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The current contract for this effort, number NNN05AA02C, is between NASA and the Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial. Additional information related to the current contract can be found on the FPDS.gov website.
This is an unrestricted procurement. 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 provided. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the market research.
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
All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Rosalía Toberman , Contracting Officer at [email protected] and Sherry Choo, Contract Specialist at [email protected] no later than 3:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time, August 7, 2025. Please reference “The Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex Sources Sought Notice No. 80NM0025SS002” in any response. NASA intends to publicize a listing of respondents to facilitate teaming arrangements. Should your firm desire not to be included in this listing, clearly indicate this desire in your response.