A.  INTRODUCTION

1. This is a Sources Sought synopsis being conducted pursuant to FAR Part 10, Market Research.  This is for planning purposes only and there is no solicitation available at this time.  Section B will give a brief description of the Performance Work Statement.
2. This is an initial step in the planning process for the San Vito Solar Observatory O&M Support follow-on acquisition currently titled Operations and Maintenance of San Vito Observatory at San Vito Dei Normanni Puglia, Italy.
3. The 55th Contracting Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, seeks potential sources to perform operations and maintenance services to the 557th Weather Wing for the San Vito Solar Observatory located in San Vito Dei Normanni Puglia, Italy.
4. The North American Industrial Classification Systems (NAICS) code is 541990, with a size standard of $16,500,000—All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.

B.  OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE OF SAN VITO SOLAR OBSERVATORY  REQUIREMENTS

1. Objective: The Contractor shall provide all tasks required for operations and maintenance of the solar observatory equipment. 
2. Tasks: Performance Work Statement (PWS) tasks may include, but are not limited to, provide solar optical and radio observations, analyses, and reports using the Solar Observing Optical Network (SOON) telescope (AN/FMQ-7),  Radio  Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) telescope (AN/FRR-95), Solar Radio Spectrograph (SRS) A/F24U-10  and their associated computer subsystems and communications servers.  Conduct integrated, continuous (weather permitting) optical and radio solar observations.  Perform preventative, scheduled, and unscheduled maintenance of all equipment.  Manage and supervise the observing, analysis, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and services necessary to provide solar observation, maintenance services, except for specific Government Furnished Property and Services.  Provide minimal communications assistance on the Next Generation Ionospheric Network (NEXION) system.  
3. Period of Performance:  It is anticipated that the contract period will be a base period of one year (15 November 2021 thru 14 November 2026) and four one-year option periods.  
4. Security:  The minimum investigative requirements IAW AFI 31-501, Table 3.3, for all contractor personnel is a National Agency Check, Local Agency Check (NACLC).  In addition, the contract manager and alternate shall have a US SECRET clearance.  The contract manager shall initiate a suitability determination investigation request through 55th/IP, Offutt  AFB, prior to any contractor personnel being granted LAN access.  Only contractor personnel receiving favorable trustworthiness approval will be granted LAN access.

C.  INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

1. All businesses capable of providing these services are invited to respond.  Any information provided to the government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is voluntary and the Government will not pay for any information submitted.  Respondents are requested to submit capability packages electronically, as described below.          i.  Capability packages shall be one electronic copy.  Capability package files should be in MS Office format (Word, Excel or PowerPoint) or Adobe .pdf format, and should not exceed 5 MB on one email.  All packages shall contain UNCLASSIFIED material only.

                   ii.  Capability packages should not exceed 5 pages, each single side counting one page, 8.5 x 11 inch, with one-inch margins, and font no smaller than 12 point Times New Roman.  All capability packages must be received no later than 4:00 pm (Central) on 11 March 2021.

                 iii.  Capability package responses shall be sent via email to:  justin.pedersen.3 @us.af.mil AND [email protected].

2.  Respondents must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) official website of the U.S. government located at www.sam.gov.

                 i. Small Business:  Small business respondents to this announcement should indicate whether the respondent is a small business, 8(a) concern, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUB Zone small business, small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business or historically black college or university (HBCU) or minority institution (MI) (as defined by the clause at DFARS 252.226-7000).

                ii.   All interested parties who believe they can meet the requirements identified in Section B “Operations & Maintenance of San Vito Solar Observatory Requirements” above, are invited to submit, in writing, information describing their capabilities.  At a minimum, the capabilities packages shall include information regarding the company’s experience and ability to meet this requirement.

D.   GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY:

            This Sources Sought Notice is a non-commercial solicitation per FAR Part 12, and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach.  Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought is strictly voluntary Questions on this synopsis shall be submitted via email to only the contract administrator or contracting officer. Discussions will not be conducted telephonically.  PRIMARY CONTACT:  Gale Murphy (402-232-0363), Contract Administrator, [email protected], ALTERNATE CONTACT: Justin Pedersen (402)294-9600, Contracting Officer, [email protected].