System Vicarious Calibration (SVC) of the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) Using HyperNAV

NASA HQ has a requirement for the sustained operation and maintenance of eight (8) HyperNav hyperspectral radiometric systems to support System Vicarious Calibration (SVC) of the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Ocean Color Instrument (OCI). The requirement includes conducting eight (8) rotational 60-day deployments per year across three sites (Hawaii; Mo’orea, French Polynesia; and Puerto Rico), maintaining the fleet of eight (8) floats, and operating data processing streams to deliver daily SVC-qualified radiometric products to the NASA PACE Ocean Ecology Lab.

NASA HQ intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire the services from Oregon State University (OSU) under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. OSU is the developer of the HyperNav system under the predecessor contract, 80GSFC22CA050, and possesses the unique and highly specialized knowledge, scientific baselines, hardware, and quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) methods required for this effort. The Government has determined that award to any other source would result in a substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial product or commercial service using FAR Part 12.   

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Patrick B. Dewyngaert, Senior Contracting Officer, at patrick.b.dewyngaert@nasa.gov not later than 11:59PM EST on 2 November 2026. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A decision 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 : https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf