RFP5-60747

**ATTACHMENT A**

**NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION**

**GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER**

**WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY**

**WALLOPS ISLAND, VA 23337**

**STATEMENT OF WORK**

**dated 11/12/02**

**FOR**

**IMPLEMENTATION OF NASA\'S BALLOON FLIGHT PROGRAM, OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC BALLOON FACILITIES (NSBF) IN
PALESTINE, TEXAS, AND FORT SUMNER, NEW MEXICO, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT
FOR NASA\'S BALLOON PROGRAM**

**STATEMENT OF WORK**

1.  **INTRODUCTION**

> The objectives of this effort are to:

A.  Provide technical and operational services to meet the continuing
    requirement of balloon flights in support of NASA's scientific
    programs and reimbursable projects, both foreign and domestic, and
    operate and maintain scientific balloon launching and flight
    operations facilities.

B.  Provide engineering services to maintain and enhance technical and
    operational capability as well as provide development and analysis
    support for advanced projects in the NASA Balloon Research and
    Development activities.

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2.  **BACKGROUND**

> The National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF), originally called the
> Scientific Balloon Facility, was established in the early 1960's under
> the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and located
> at Palestine, Texas. Its purpose was to provide a permanent facility
> for scientific balloon flight operations. Since its inception, the
> NSBF has been a Government-owned, contractor-operated facility. In
> October 1982, the NSF ceased funding of the NSBF and the National
> Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) assumed total
> responsibility for the facility and its operation. NASA has continued
> with the philosophy of providing a quality, economical, and quick
> response balloon program.
>
> The NSBF consists of about 21 buildings, two paved launch areas, and
> various calibration and flight support equipment areas, located on
> approximately 475 acres of land, adjacent to the Palestine Municipal
> Airport.
>
> In 1990, NASA leased approximately eight acres of land at the Fort
> Sumner, New Mexico Airport and a 6400 square feet high bay staging
> facility was constructed in 1991. Subsequently, NASA purchased the
> leased land at Fort Sumner and made enhancements to the main facility
> as well as to a hangar which is located adjacent to the NASA property.
> The primary consideration in developing permanent facilities at Fort
> Sumner was to alleviate the flight safety restrictions encountered in
> launching balloons from Palestine, Texas, especially those which would
> traverse towards the more heavily populated areas in the east. The
> balloon facility at Fort Sumner is maintained and operated as an
> extension of the NSBF in Palestine, Texas, which has continued to be
> the main staging site for all NASA balloon flight operations around
> the world.
>
> To date, more than 2,400 scientific balloon flights have been
> conducted by NSBF personnel; about 80% were conducted at the permanent
> launch site in Palestine, and 20% at remote sites within the
> contiguous United States (U.S.), Alaska and Hawaii, and foreign sites
> in Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, Argentina,
> Sicily, India, et al. Over the past five years, NSBF personnel have
> been averaging about 20 scientific balloon launches annually. Although
> some special purpose larger balloons and heavier suspended payload
> weights have been launched by NSBF personnel, standard operating
> limits of approximately 40 million cubic foot (MCF) volume balloons
> and suspended weights of 8,000 pounds are currently in effect. The
> routine launching of balloons with volumes \>25 MCF and with suspended
> weights \>4500 pounds is a unique capability in scientific ballooning.
>
> In 1988, NASA made a decision to develop a near global Long Duration
> Ballooning (LDB) capability for both polar and non-polar applications.
> LDB includes systems required to conduct flights with scientific
> experiments weighing 1500 pounds or more on conventional and special
> purpose balloons for periods of up to four weeks. Operational
> implementation of LDB represents a new capability in scientific
> ballooning. An average of three LDB flights per year have been
> conducted over the last five years from launch sites in Alaska,
> Australia and Antarctica.
>
> In 1997, development of a flight duration capability beyond LDB
> durations began. This new development, known as Ultra-Long Duration
> Ballooning (ULDB), includes a new super-pressure balloon vehicle
> design as well as advanced payload support systems. The ULDB balloon
> vehicle currently under development should enable flight durations
> approaching 100 days. The new payload support systems, developed by
> NASA personnel at Wallops Flight Facility and successfully test flown
> in 2001, marks a new approach in involvement by NASA engineering in
> the development of advanced balloon payload support systems.
>
> Over the last five years (FY 1997 through FY 2001), an average of 20
> balloon flights per year have been conducted. The maximum number of
> flights during one fiscal year was 26. An average of eight flights per
> year were conducted from the Fort Sumner launch site, with four during
> "spring turn-around" and four during "fall turn-around". These flights
> are considered "extended duration conventional balloon" flights, with
> flight durations of approximately 24 hours. Six of the average of 20
> flights per year were conducted from Palestine, Texas. These flights
> typically had flight durations of less than 12 hours, and are
> considered "short duration conventional balloon" flights. All of these
> "conventional" balloon flights included the conventional balloon
> support system known as the Consolidated Instrument Package (CIP).
>
> Half of the remaining six average flights per year were "Long Duration
> Balloon (LDB)" campaigns. These flights were intended to have
> durations from one to four weeks, and included LDB support systems,
> known as the Support Instrumentation Package (SIP), instead of the
> CIP. These flights were conducted from the three LDB launch sites
> located in Alaska, Australia and Antarctica.
>
> The remaining three flights per year were flights from temporary
> launch sites.

3.  **SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS**

> This section introduces and summarizes the requirements of this
> Statement of Work (SOW). Details of the requirements follow in Section
> 4.
>
> To accomplish the objectives of this SOW, the contractor shall:

A.  Provide services, materials, and personnel to support the NASA
    Balloon Program Mission, and operate and maintain the balloon
    facilities located at the NSBF in Palestine, Texas, and at Fort
    Sumner, New Mexico. The NSBF is a Government-owned,
    contractor-operated facility and all capital equipment is owned and
    furnished by NASA. The NSBF consists of about 21 buildings, two
    paved launch areas, and various calibration and flight support
    equipment areas, located on approximately 475 acres of land,
    adjacent to the Palestine Municipal Airport. The balloon facility at
    the Fort Sumner, New Mexico airport includes approximately eight
    acres of land and a 6400 square feet high bay staging facility. The
    contractor shall also ensure the maintenance of the staging facility
    and the demountable building at the Alice Springs, Australia launch
    site. The contractor shall provide facilities support as part of the
    baseline support.

B.  Conform with all applicable government and industry standards,
    procedures and policies.

C.  Provide the operational balloon flight support required to support
    the Flight Operations Mission Model via Indefinite
    Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ). The Flight Operations Mission
    Model is defined in the following table:

<table>
<colgroup>
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<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td><h3 id="campaign">Campaign</h3></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY03</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY04</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY05</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY06</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY07</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Fairbanks</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Lynn Lake</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Sweden</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Fort Sumner</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Palestine</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Fort Sumner</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td>3</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Australia</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Antarctica</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><strong>FY TOTAL</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>15</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>20</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>20</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>22</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>22</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<table>
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<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td><h3 id="campaign-1">Campaign</h3></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY08</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY09</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY10</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY11</strong></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>FY12</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
<td>Q1</td>
<td>Q2</td>
<td>Q3</td>
<td>Q4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Fairbanks</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Lynn Lake</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Sweden</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Fort Sumner</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Palestine</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Fort Sumner</td>
<td>3</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>3</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>3</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Australia</td>
<td>1</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Antarctica</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><strong>FY TOTAL</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>22</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>22</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>22</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>22</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>22</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| ### Campaign {#campaign-2}                | ## FY13    |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
|                                           | Q1         | Q2         |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Fairbanks                                 |            |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Lynn Lake                                 |            |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Sweden                                    |            |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Fort Sumner                               |            |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Palestine                                 |            |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Fort Sumner                               | 2          |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Australia                                 |            |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| Antarctica                                | 2          |            |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+
| **FY TOTAL**                              |            | **4**      |
+-------------------------------------------+------------+------------+

+-----------------------+---+-------------------------------------------+
| LEGEND: Yellow        |   | Enhanced Conventional Missions            |
+-----------------------+---+-------------------------------------------+
| ####### Green         |   | 30 Day Missions                           |
+-----------------------+---+-------------------------------------------+
| ####### Red           |   | 100 Day Missions                          |
+-----------------------+---+-------------------------------------------+
| ####### Blue          |   | One 30 Day Mission, One 100 Day Mission   |
+-----------------------+---+-------------------------------------------+

## TABLE ONE: MISSION MODEL

> The following comments apply to the Mission Model in Table One:

1.  Sweden missions are from Sweden to western Canada and have flight
    durations of five to seven days.

2.  Fairbanks missions are global circumnavigation with recovery in
    northern Canada or Alaska.

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D.  Provide engineering services required to support the operational
    flight program, monitor and verify balloon and material quality
    control, and support engineering projects. To meet this requirement,
    the contractor shall:

    1.  Maintain a continuing operational support, engineering
        activities support, and quality control engineering capability
        at the NSBF in Palestine.

    2.  Provide an engineering analysis and development capability in
        advanced balloon systems at Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops
        Flight Facility (GSFC/WFF).

    3.  Possess an IDIQ engineering development and fabrication
        capability such that, from a given set of requirements, the
        contractor can generate specifications, develop, design,
        fabricate, integrate and test balloon mechanical and electronics
        systems, including launch and ground and flight support systems
        while ensuring continued operations capability.

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4.  **TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS**

# Technical and Business Management and Facilities Support

1.  Quality Manual -- The contractor shall maintain their own Quality
    Manual and implement the requirements, policies, practices and
    procedures referenced therein. The Manual shall include any policies
    and practices the contractor will employ to meet the SOW
    requirements and shall correlate, at a minimum, to the requirements
    and standards contained in this SOW. The manual shall include how
    the contractor will implement a process to maintain written
    fabrication, inspection, maintenance, refurbishment, assembly, test,
    and operating procedures for all systems the contractor determines
    to be mission critical. The manual shall address how the contractor
    will implement the requirement to maintain a monitoring, inspection,
    testing, and quality control program that documents compliance of
    fabricated and procured items with design drawings and
    specifications. The manual shall include general configuration
    management by addressing the contractor's system for the
    identification, control, and verification of, at a minimum, mission
    critical development and reconfiguration products. The manual shall
    also include a risk management plan that identifies, controls, and
    monitors critical processes, products, and performance
    characteristics. This requirement is a baseline requirement.

2.  Health and Safety -- The contractor shall comply with the approved
    Safety and Health Plan. This requirement is a baseline requirement.

3.  Reliability and Quality Assurance -- The contractor shall provide
    and administer a Reliability and Quality Assurance (R&QA) Program in
    accordance with the Quality Manual. The R&QA Program shall cover, at
    a minimum, the following:

    a.  Balloon Film monitoring, inspection, testing, and quality
        control.

    b.  Balloon manufacturing monitoring, inspection, testing, and
        quality control.

    c.  Mission critical flight and ground support hardware and
        software.

    d.  Mission critical operational procedures.

> The contractor shall develop, submit, and implement an annual R&QA
> plan conforming to NASA Balloon Program policies. The R&QA program and
> plan requirements are baseline requirements.

4.  Information Technology (IT) Security and Section 508 Accessibility
    -- The contractor shall develop an IT security plan. The IT security
    plan shall be in compliance with NASA Procedure and Guideline (NPG)
    2810.1 and NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 2810.1 and must include, as a
    minimum, the security measures and program safeguards planned to
    ensure that the information technology resources acquired and used
    by contractor and subcontractor personnel:

    a.  Are protected from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure,
        or misuse of information processed, stored, or transmitted;

    b.  Can maintain the continuity of automated information support for
        NASA missions, programs, and functions;

    c.  Incorporate management, general, and application controls
        sufficient to provide cost-effective assurance of the systems\'
        integrity and accuracy;

    d.  Have appropriate technical, personnel, administrative,
        environmental, and access safeguards;

    e.  Document and follow a virus protection program for all IT
        resources under its control; and

    f.  Document and follow a network intrusion detection and prevention
        program for all IT resources under its control.

> The contractor shall ensure that all applicable services and supplies
> provided meet the accessibility standards issued by the Access Board
> (<http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm>) for Federal Electronic and
> Information Technology (EIT) under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation
> Act (29 U.S.C. § 794 (d)).
>
> The IT Security and Section 508 Accessibility requirements are
> baseline requirements.

5.  Candidate NASA operational flight missions plan -- The contractor
    shall be responsible for the annual development of a candidate NASA
    operational flight missions plan that will include flights for
    reimbursable users of NSBF support services as well as NASA
    sponsored users. The contractor shall perform the following:

    a.  Prepare a yearly flight request package, which includes Flight
        Application Forms for balloon flight services, and submit to
        GSFC/WFF for review and comment.

    b.  Distribute the flight request package to the scientific user
        community and receive the completed applications for balloon
        flight services.

    c.  Generate a candidate NASA operational flight missions plan and
        submit to GSFC/WFF. The candidate flight missions plan will
        include the following information:

        i.  Cost estimates: balloon, helium, campaign costs, batteries
            and misc., for each flight.

        ii. Flight assessment: user requirements (altitude, duration,
            etc.), flight requirements (estimated suspended weight,
            balloon volume, etc.), potential problem areas (operational
            or safety related) and options, and schedule for each
            flight.

        iii. Copies of all flight request packages returned by the
             scientists, including the pre-flight minimum success
             criteria. Any subsequent changes to minimum success
             criteria shall be documented by the contractor and a copy
             provided to GSFC/WFF. Any changes to applications for
             balloon flight services will be documented and a copy
             provided to GSFC/WFF. Copies of any responses to the flight
             request packages which are received by the contractor after
             the candidate NASA operational flight missions plan has
             been generated shall be provided to GSFC/WFF as received.

    d.  Generate a balloon inventory replenishment plan and submit to
        GSFC/WFF along with the candidate NASA operational flight
        missions plan. Any planned use of balloons out of existing
        inventory must be factored into the plan.

    e.  Notify GSFC/WFF of each requested flight not meeting the
        criteria of the "Safety Review for Balloon Programs Conducted by
        the National Scientific Balloon Facility Palestine, Texas" dated
        April 2001.

> The candidate NASA operational flight missions plan and balloon
> inventory replenishment plan requirements are baseline requirements.
> Implementation of the approved flight and balloon replenishment plans
> shall be accomplished via IDIQ task order.
>
> The Contracting Officer's Technical Representative, (COTR), will
> approve the NASA operational flight missions plan and the balloon
> replenishment plan. The Contracting Officer, (CO), will issue task
> orders to the contractor for implementation of the approved flight
> missions plan and balloon replenishment plan.

6.  Equipment and Enhancement Projects -- The contractor shall develop
    an annual comprehensive Equipment and Enhancement Plan for
    non-routine engineering activities. The plan shall include
    maintenance and refurbishment of ground and flight hardware and
    software and any special projects for enhancements and/or
    improvement to equipment or capabilities. The plan shall include
    cost estimates. Development and submission of the annual plan is a
    baseline requirement.

> The COTR will identify which projects, if any, are to have
> implementation plans developed. The contractor shall develop detailed
> implementation plans for the designated projects, and the CO will
> issue task orders for all COTR approved projects or activities.
> Development of detailed implementation plans and implementing the
> plans shall be IDIQ activities.

7.  Agreements -- The contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that
    all International, Federal, State, and local permits, agreements,
    licenses, authorizations, Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), or
    other arrangements (formal or informal) required by the performance
    of the services and support under this contract are kept in effect.
    With the exception of those provided by NASA (e.g., financial
    agreements with scientific user groups, agreements with agencies of
    other governments, etc.), the contractor shall be responsible for
    obtaining and maintaining the above mentioned formal or informal
    arrangements, and providing all coordination and liaison required by
    those arrangements. The contractor shall obtain radio frequency
    authorizations for the United States (US) and US territories through
    the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Frequency Coordinator. The
    contractor shall be responsible for directly obtaining all
    international radio frequency authorizations. This requirement is a
    baseline requirement.

8.  Program Status Support -- The contractor shall participate in, and
    provide technical support for, program meetings such as Balloon
    Working Group (BWG) meetings (two per year), Quarterly Contractor
    Reviews, and other reviews. The BWG is a chartered group of active
    balloon scientists that meet semi-annually to review program
    implementation and make recommendations as necessary. These meetings
    and reviews include presentations and discussions on the
    contractor's implementation status, impacts on the program due to
    proposed requirement changes or budget and funding conditions, or
    any other aspect of the program for which the contractor is
    responsible. This requirement is a baseline requirement.

9.  Investigations -- The contractor shall provide immediate
    notification to the COTR of all incidents involving safety, property
    damage, personal injury, or unusual interest or coverage by the news
    media. The contractor shall provide immediate notification to the
    COTR of any failures, anomalies, or discrepancies involving the
    balloon or flight support provided regardless of the impact upon
    flight success. The contractor shall perform investigations of any
    failures, anomalies, or discrepancies involving the balloon or
    flight support provided regardless of the impact upon flight success
    unless otherwise directed by the COTR. For all investigations, a
    preliminary report shall be provided within two weeks of the
    incident documenting the problem, the cause(s), action(s) taken, any
    outstanding action(s) and recommendations. A final report shall be
    provided within six weeks of the incident. These reports shall be
    submitted to the COTR for approval. The contractor shall presume "no
    comment" and implement their recommendations if the COTR does not
    provide comment within four weeks of receipt of the final report.
    This requirement is a baseline requirement.

10. On-Line Reporting -- The contractor shall establish and maintain an
    on-line reporting system to accumulate, document and submit all
    reporting and documentation required by this SOW. The NASA CO, the
    COTR, the Chief of the Balloon Program Office (BPO) and any others
    designated in writing by the COTR shall have on-line access to the
    reporting system. All reports and documents submitted by the
    contractor or posted on the on-line reporting system shall meet the
    Minimum Interoperability Software Suite requirements of
    NASA-STD-2804E. All reports and documents submitted or posted
    on-line shall also meet the accessibility standards referenced in
    Section 4.A.5 of this SOW. These requirements are baseline
    requirements.

11. Historical Data -- The contractor shall provide, maintain and update
    pertinent historical data relative to balloons; meteorological data
    for the NSBF launch sites; and balloon flight operations
    information. This requirement is a baseline requirement.

12. Management of the NSBF -- The contractor shall be responsible for
    managing the day-to-day activities at the NSBF and providing the
    supervision necessary for the operation of the facilities in
    Palestine, Texas, and Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Unless otherwise
    designated by the COTR, the contractor shall be the principal
    interface and point of contact for all approved users of NSBF
    balloon operational flight support services. Financial arrangements
    and waivers of established criteria with approved users shall be
    administered by NASA. This requirement is a baseline requirement.

13. Facilities -- The contractor shall provide all services necessary
    for the operation and maintenance of the balloon facilities in
    Palestine, Texas, and Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and ensure those
    services are provided at other launch sites required in support of
    the NASA Balloon Program. This shall include, but not be limited to
    the following:

    a.  Lease and maintain facilities and equipment as necessary.

    b.  Maintain buildings and grounds.

    c.  Maintain and schedule the use of the environmental test chambers
        and equipment at the NSBF.

    d.  Perform minor construction projects.

    e.  Provide machine and welding shop services.

    f.  Perform minor repair and routine servicing of Government-owned
        and leased vehicles.

    g.  Provide janitorial, grounds keeping, and custodial services.

    h.  Provide shipping and receiving services.

    i.  Provide facility security.

    j.  Assist scientific user groups in the repair of damaged payload
        gondolas.

    k.  Provide visitor and vehicular control.

    l.  Perform contracting and purchasing activities.

> The Facilities requirements are baseline requirements.

14. Construction of Facilities -- The contractor shall identify the need
    for Construction of Facilities (CofF) projects at the NSBF or
    semi-permanent launch sites. Approved requirements will result in
    the issuance of IDIQ task orders by the CO. The contractor shall
    then provide support for CofF projects, including obtaining
    architectural and engineering (A&E) studies, solicitation of bids,
    subcontracting, day-to-day inspection of projects in progress, etc.
    The identification of needs for CofF is a baseline requirement. The
    other support requirements identified in this section are IDIQ
    requirements.

# NASA Flight Program Operations

> Following the approval of the NASA operational flight missions plan,
> the contractor shall be responsible for implementation of the plan and
> providing the support needed to accomplish the plan. All requirements
> in this section (Section 4.B) are IDIQ requirements. The contractor
> shall be responsible for all phases of balloon flight operations
> conducted by NSBF personnel. Such responsibilities and support shall
> include, but not be limited to the following:

15. Provision of Flight Support Items -- The contractor shall provide
    the following flight support items:

    a.  Balloons and helium

    b.  Flight mechanical and electronic hardware and software,
        including parachutes, flight trains, rigging, terminate systems,
        equipment required for contractor and user flight support
        including tracking, command control, and telemetry, ballast and
        helium valving systems, etc.

    c.  Ground support mechanical and electronic hardware and software,
        including launch vehicles, launch support vehicles, telemetry
        ground stations, test equipment, etc.

    d.  All expendable items necessary for support of the operational
        flight program.

16. Remote Launch-site Operations Support

    a.  Conduct remote site survey(s) to determine the site that will
        best meet the needs of a remote operation from the standpoint of
        weather, facilities, support, safety and scientific
        requirements.

    b.  Provide the user with the necessary documentation and
        information required in preparations for a field operation.

    c.  Plan and perform remote site balloon campaigns.

    d.  Attend and make presentations at Campaign Initiation Conferences
        (CICs). A CIC will be conducted for each major campaign and for
        each LDB and ULDB mission. The CIC helps to establish the key
        requirements and schedule, identify issues, and establish
        metrics for tracking progress.

    e.  For major campaigns, prior to deploying personnel and equipment,
        the contractor shall participate in a Mission Readiness Review
        (MRR) to assess the adequacy of the NSBF planning and the
        readiness of both the NSBF and science group(s) to meet the
        planned mission objectives. The MRR review team will establish a
        list of action items. After closure of action items, the review
        team will make a recommendation concerning proceeding with the
        campaign. The contractor shall provide MRR documentation,
        including disposition of action items, to the BPO. Normally, the
        MRR Chairperson can approve continuance if all MRR action items
        are satisfactorily closed out. Otherwise, the COTR will make any
        final decisions as to continuance of the mission if any MRR
        action items are not adequately addressed.

    f.  Arrange for equipment transportation and ship all necessary
        equipment to the remote launch site(s). Provide transportation
        to the launch site(s) for equipment that is too hazardous for
        commercial shipment.

    g.  Interface with the local authorities at the remote site.

17. Flight-train Certification -- The contractor shall ensure that all
    flight-train hardware, defined to include gondola and all rigging
    but excluding the balloon, has been structurally certified flight
    worthy prior to flight.

18. Handling of Radioactive Sources -- The contractor shall meet the
    requirements of Chapter Five of the NPG 8715.3 for all balloon
    flights that include radioactive materials.

19. User Expendables -- The contractor shall provide the user community
    with primary battery power systems and miscellaneous expendables as
    required to meet the approved operational flight program. This
    support shall include the purchase, maintenance, storage, and
    disposal of these items when applicable (e.g., expended lithium
    batteries).

20. Flight Operations Support -- The contractor shall provide the
    necessary operational support for each flight to meet scientific
    requirements, such as pre-launch support, launch, tracking, command,
    data acquisition, and recovery services. The contractor shall
    coordinate with appropriate government agencies or foreign agents as
    necessary. The contractor shall provide all launch site interfaces
    with the scientific users. The contractor shall provide scheduling
    for flight operations conducted by NSBF personnel. All operational
    support shall be provided in compliance with the criteria of the
    "Safety Review for Balloon Programs Conducted by the National
    Scientific Balloon Facility Palestine, Texas" dated April 2001.
    Operational support shall include, but not be limited to:

    a.  Assemble balloon flight-train systems, ballast systems, and
        gondola/balloon flight-train interface rigging.

    b.  Pull test or otherwise flight-qualify flight-train hardware.

    c.  Prepare, launch, and track radiosonde and high altitude sounding
        balloons for operational and data purposes.

    d.  Forecast all meteorological conditions affecting balloon flight.

    e.  Conduct pre-flight weather briefings.

    f.  Identify launch opportunities and establish launch priorities.

    g.  Monitor launch and in-flight meteorological conditions.

    h.  Conduct all scientific balloon operations including inflation,
        launch, flight control and recovery.

    i.  Prior to and during ascent, coordinate with and provide required
        notifications to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
        and/or other air safety authorities.

    j.  During campaigns, provide timely periodic informal status and
        schedule reports to the COTR.

    k.  Provide immediate notification to the COTR of each launch (off
        the pad report).

    l.  Maintain and operate special launch equipment and vehicles.

    m.  Provide and operate aircraft for balloon flight operations
        support to meet mission, science, and safety requirements. This
        shall include, but not be limited to: locating, tracking,
        communications, commands, reconnaissance, transport of science
        personnel to down-range station(s), and aerial surveillance. The
        contractor shall provide all necessary coordination with
        appropriate civil aviation authorities. The contractor shall
        provide two pilots to operate any provided aircraft.

    n.  Provide and install on-board electronic interface and/or
        equipment required for contractor and user flight support
        including tracking, command control, and telemetry.

    o.  Conduct pre-flight integration, test, and evaluation of
        mechanical and electronic systems.

    p.  Provide and operate ground and downrange stations and data
        recording systems.

    q.  Provide user access to science data networks.

    r.  Monitor and record balloon positional information.

    s.  Select safe impact areas, provide aerial visual surveillance of
        the selected impact area, coordinate termination and descent
        trajectory, terminate flight and perform recovery operations.

    t.  Prior to and during descent, coordinate with and provide
        required notifications to the Federal Aviation Administration
        (FAA) and/or other air safety authorities.

    u.  Coordinate recovery operations with any affected landowner;
        obtain permission to enter private property, determine if any
        property damage occurred on impact or during recovery
        operations, and initiate proper damage claim/payment action.

21. Operational Safety -- The contractor shall generate, maintain and
    implement a Ground Safety Plan and a Flight Safety Plan for testing,
    launch and flight operations.

22. Flight Assessment -- The contractor shall perform pre-flight, real
    time and post-flight assessment of flight performance and
    environmental conditions, including analyses of wind and other
    forecast meteorological conditions, trajectory predictions, and
    descent vector determination for impact of the balloon and flight
    train components.

23. Balloon Flight Summary Document-- The contract shall deliver a
    balloon flight summary document to the COTR after each balloon
    flight. The balloon flight summary document shall contain the
    following:

    a.  Flight Data Summary

    b.  Ground Track Plot

    c.  Altitude Profile

    d.  Flight Summary

    e.  Descent Vector

    f.  Pre-Flight Minimum Success Criteria

    g.  Post Flight Minimum Success Assessment

    h.  Balloon Weight Sheet

    i.  Balloon As Built Spec Sheet

    j.  Balloon Load/Altitude Curve

    k.  Gondola Certification

    l.  Ground Safety Verification Sheet

    m.  Risk Analysis Review

# Engineering Services

> Provide engineering services required to support the operational
> flight program, maintain and enhance capabilities, monitor and verify
> balloon and material quality control, support NASA Balloon Research
> and Development activities, and support IDIQ requirements. To meet
> these requirements, the contractor shall provide the following:

24. Flight Operations Engineering Support -- Flight operations
    engineering support shall be provided at the NSBF and shall include,
    but not be limited to, the following:

    a.  Administer gondola certification programs for all flights and
        pressure vessel certification on all flights that include
        pressure vessels in accordance with National Scientific Balloon
        Facility Recommendations for Gondola Design to certify
        structural flight worthiness of the flight hardware. Provide
        review of user provided drawings and stress analyses, hardware
        inspection, testing as deemed necessary, and provide final
        written certification prior to flight approval. Document and
        make available to users the structural requirements for balloon
        gondolas. All data and records generated by the NSBF or provided
        by the user shall be maintained by the contractor.

    b.  Provide engineering services to NSBF flight operations and
        approved users of the facility to implement the flight program.
        This includes support for conventional, LDB and ULDB flights and
        includes, but is not limited to, environmental test support,
        network support, software support, documentation, failure and
        anomaly reviews, etc.

> The Flight Operations Engineering Support is a baseline requirement.

25. Equipment and Enhancement Projects -- The contractor shall provide
    engineering services for special projects that maintain, refurbish,
    replace, enhance or improve balloon support equipment and/or
    capabilities. These projects shall be implemented per the procedure
    in section 4.A.7. of this SOW. This support may include, but is not
    limited to, the following:

    a.  Implement engineering projects in support of refurbishment or
        improvements to NSBF facilities, launch techniques, and balloon
        flight and ground hardware and software systems.

    b.  Conduct engineering test flights.

    c.  Provide maintenance and flight of special diagnostic
        instrumentation payloads designated by NASA.

> The "Equipment and Enhancement Projects" requirements are IDIQ
> requirements.

26. Reliability and Quality Assurance (R&QA) Engineering Support -- R&QA
    engineering support shall include monitoring, verifying, certifying,
    and enforcement of compliance with specifications for balloons,
    balloon films, mission critical hardware and software, and mission
    critical procedures. Support also includes recommending and
    developing new specifications, procedures and criteria for enhanced
    reliability. Support shall include, but not be limited to, the
    following:

    a.  Ensure documentation and maintenance of, and compliance with,
        written fabrication, inspection, maintenance, refurbishment,
        assembly, test, and operating procedures for all mission
        critical systems per the Quality Manual.

    b.  Ensure documentation and maintenance of, and compliance with,
        mission critical operational procedures.

    c.  Implement the balloon and balloon film engineering R&QA program
        including:

        i.  Verifying manufacturer's compliance with design, testing,
            fabrication, procedures, and specifications for all
            purchased balloons.

        ii. Providing in-plant balloon and film quality assurance in
            accordance with the rationale developed in the annual
            balloon and balloon film engineering R&QA plan.

    d.  Maintain and operate a quality assurance laboratory at the NSBF
        for the purpose of selected testing to verify manufacturer's
        film and fabrication quality control. The contractor shall be
        required to maintain and operate existing laboratory equipment
        and to perform material testing (e.g., uniaxial tensile testing
        at room and lower temperatures, cold brittleness testing, and
        impact testing).

    e.  Maintain at the NSBF, historical data and records of balloon
        specifications, balloon and balloon film fabrication, quality
        control, material testing, and flight performance.

> The "R&QA Engineering Support" requirements are baseline requirements.

27. WFF Balloon Engineering Support -- The contractor shall provide
    continuing engineering support located at GSFC/WFF in support of the
    NASA Balloon Program. The areas of engineering support shall include
    aerodynamics, materials, structural and thermal design and analysis,
    and thermodynamics. Special disciplines will include theoretical
    structures and materials, and applied mechanics of materials. The
    engineering support includes, but is not limited to, the following:

    a.  Provide recommendations and planning inputs for advanced
        projects as a part of the NASA Balloon Program Research &
        Development activity.

    b.  Provide continuing engineering support of new or improved
        balloon flight vehicle systems, analytical models of
        conventional balloon flight systems, new and/or improved balloon
        materials, and characterization and development of procedures
        and specifications of balloon and balloon film manufacturing
        processes. This support includes, but is not limited to, the
        following:

        i.  Continuing development of flight performance and analysis
            models.

        ii. Developing engineering project plans, schedules, and cost
            estimates.

        iii. Developing and conducting tests at the WFF balloon
             materials laboratory and providing analysis of the results.

        iv. Providing continuing thermal analysis of balloon vehicles
            and balloon payloads in support of LDB, ULDB and other
            balloon flight missions.

        v.  Providing engineering field support by monitoring ground and
            flight tests.

> The contractor shall develop an annual WFF Engineering Plan with
> proposed activities. The COTR will identify which activities, if any,
> are to have implementation plans developed. The contractor shall
> develop and submit detailed implementation plans for the designated
> activities. The COTR will approve the detailed implementation plans.
>
> The "WFF Balloon Engineering Support" requirements are baseline
> requirements.

28. Engineering Development and Fabrication Capability -- The contractor
    shall provide additional technical expertise, equipment, and
    facilities that may be required in support of the special tasks for
    the NASA Balloon Program. This limited support shall be provided on
    a IDIQ basis and shall not impact meeting the continuing mission
    operations requirements. These projects may vary from development of
    balloon electrical/electronic and mechanical subsystems to payload
    integration and/or development of complete scientific/test gondola
    systems. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the
    following:

    a.  Provide electrical/electronic engineering design, fabrication
        and acceptance testing for the development of standardized
        instrumentation subsystems and components required for
        engineering test or scientific balloon flights.

    b.  Provide mechanical engineering support for the design and
        fabrication of balloon structural systems and unique mechanisms
        or equipment required for engineering test or scientific balloon
        flights.

    c.  Develop new gondola systems for engineering flights.

    d.  Perform continuing comprehensive thermal analyses and design of
        thermal controls for balloon flight subsystems and/or complete
        scientific test gondolas, including NASA/NSBF flight support
        systems.

    e.  Integrate scientific or engineering test payloads into gondola
        systems or subsystems.

    f.  Provide drafting and technical services required to develop
        drawings, test and operational procedures, and documentation in
        support of the above electrical/electronic and mechanical
        systems.

    g.  Provide technical and operational field support for the above
        systems (or other systems required by NASA) during preparation,
        checkout, and/or flight at various field sites, including
        GSFC/WFF.

> The "Engineering Development and Fabrication Capability" requirements
> are IDIQ requirements.