NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center [NASA/GSFC] has a requirement for Research in Interplanetary Trajectory Optimization for Planetary Defense.

NASA/GSFC intends to purchase the services from The Catholic Universtiy of America [CUZ]. CUA has expertise in using and developing trajectory design tools for missions to near-Earth asteroids using low-thrust electric propulsion. CUA has performed both tool development and mission design for the DESTINY, PROCYON, and Hayabusa 2 missions, the only missions to Near-Earth objects using low-thrust electric propulsion that were designed and flown from Japan. Competition is impractical as to the best of NASA/GSFC's knowledge no other vendor has the expertise needed to fulfill the requirement.

The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to [email protected] not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on 12 noon on March 31, 2016. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.

Oral communications ARE NOT acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

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.