Deadlines Soon: ENX RFI at NASA GSFC, Army offsite tape storage, VA transports, and more

Executive takeaway

This group is a mix of (1) a major NASA RFI shaping a follow-on for ESDIS science data management (ENX), (2) an active Army requirement for offsite tape storage with defined transportation cadence and emergency services, and (3) several facilities/construction items where eligibility constraints matter (e.g., a NAVFAC elevator action limited to a specific MACC group; a VA A-E set-aside for SDVOSBs). If you can respond quickly with clear past performance and operational details tied to the draft SOW/PWS, you can influence acquisition strategy (NASA ENX) or compete on execution readiness (Army tape storage).

What the buyer is trying to do

NASA GSFC: Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Next (ENX) RFI

NASA GSFC is collecting capability statements to inform competition strategy and potential set-aside decisions for ENX—described as the evolution/follow-on to the current EOSDIS Evolution and Development (EED)-3 contract. The stated need covers development and sustaining engineering of software and hardware systems that provide science data management for the ESDIS project, and NASA explicitly invites responses across small business categories and institutions serving underserved communities, aligned to Executive Order 13985. A draft SOW is referenced (and should be treated as the authoritative scope for your response).

Army: Unsecure Offsite Tape Storage and Critical Special Mission Emergency Services

The buyer is seeking an offsite tape storage service for LTO media, including vendor-provided containers and transportation. The addenda clarify a recurring pickup requirement (92 LTO media per week) and a storage facility distance constraint (within four hours / 250 miles) for delivery to/from ALTESS at Radford Army Arsenal, Radford, VA. They also require urgent, non-scheduled pickup/delivery capability under “Critical Special Mission Emergency Services.”

VA A-E: Replace and Upgrade Emergency Power Systems (Durham, NC)

The VA is pursuing an A-E contract to develop complete construction documents and provide construction period services for replacing/upgrading emergency power systems and supporting distribution to critical loads. The scope emphasizes phased design submissions (30/60/90/final) and alignment to VA standards and manuals, including upgrades supporting VA 96-hour requirements.

NAVFAC: Replace Elevator at Dam Neck Annex (restricted competition)

This project involves demolition and replacement of an existing freight elevator and associated machine-room equipment, plus supporting trades (electrical, plumbing, fire protection, dedicated HVAC) and a door replacement. The notice is explicit: only contractors on the specified MACC group can submit.

What work is implied (bullets)

• ENX (NASA RFI): Development and sustaining engineering of software and hardware systems supporting Earth science data management; preparation of a capability statement responsive to the draft SOW; articulation of how your approach supports equity / removing barriers for underserved communities (as described in EO 13985) where applicable.
• Offsite tape storage (Army): Provide offsite storage for LTO tapes; provide all containers and transportation; execute recurring pickup/delivery consistent with the PWS (including transportation of 92 LTO media per week); maintain ability to perform urgent, non-scheduled pickup/delivery under “Critical Special Mission Emergency Services”; operate within the location constraint (within four hours / 250 miles) for delivery to/from ALTESS at Radford Army Arsenal.
• Emergency power A-E (VA): Design narrative, drawings, specifications, and cost estimate at 30%, 60%, 90%, and final; assess generator capacity vs. peak demand and recommend upgrade/replace; design emergency distribution to specified critical systems (HVAC for multiple departments and other critical equipment); coordinate with VA meetings and reviews; ensure compliance with VA standards/design manuals; support VA 96-hour requirements.
• Elevator replacement (NAVFAC): Demo/replace freight elevator and associated machine room equipment; provide related electrical/plumbing/fire protection; provide dedicated HVAC support for elevator replacement; replace one hollow metal door.
• Other items in this batch (limited detail in snippet): NIST sources sought for DIN 7/16 offset shorts; DHA draft RFP for TRICARE Medicare Eligible Program Second Generation; VA project “Relocate Police Dispatch”; VA wheelchair transport services (amendment posted); USACE industry day for SAOC construction.

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid (strong fit):
  • Science/mission IT firms with proven software + hardware sustaining engineering capabilities for large data management ecosystems (for the NASA ENX RFI), able to write a crisp capability statement tied directly to the draft SOW.
  • Records/media vaulting providers with established LTO media handling, chain-of-custody, and scheduled + emergency courier operations within a defined radius (for the Army tape storage requirement).
  • SDVOSB A-E firms (or teams led by SDVOSBs) with electrical/power generation design experience and VA healthcare facility design familiarity (for the VA emergency power A-E set-aside).
• Pass (or deprioritize):
  • Elevator contractors not on the specified NAVFAC MACC group (the notice states only MACC group members can propose).
  • Firms unable to meet the Army’s stated location constraint (within four hours / 250 miles) or recurring pickup requirements defined in the PWS.
  • A-E shops without the bandwidth for phased submittals (30/60/90/final) and coordination cycles typical of VA design reviews.

Response package checklist

• NASA ENX RFI:
  • Capability statement aligned to the draft SOW (verify in attachments).
  • Relevant references/past performance summaries (NASA explicitly invites documentation, literature, brochures, and references).
  • Small business/socioeconomic status information if applicable (NASA is assessing competition level and/or small business subcontracting goals).
  • Narrative on advancing equity/removing barriers for underserved communities as it relates to this requirement (per EO 13985 language in the notice).
• Army offsite tape storage:
  • Technical approach describing storage, media management, and transportation services per the PWS (verify in attachments).
  • Plan for recurring pickup/delivery volumes (including 92 LTO media per week) and urgent non-scheduled requests.
  • Confirmation your facility can support delivery to/from ALTESS at Radford Army Arsenal within four hours / 250 miles.
  • Representations & certifications as a separate attachment (the addendum states this is acceptable and excluded from page count).
• VA emergency power A-E (SDVOSB set-aside):
  • A-E qualifications and design approach for phased deliverables (30/60/90/final) and construction period services.
  • Experience demonstrating compliance with VA standards/design manuals and coordination through VA review comments (verify in attachments).
• Items with limited snippet detail: Confirm required forms, page limits, and submission instructions in the notice attachments and amendments (verify in attachments).

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

• For NASA ENX (RFI stage): Treat this as market shaping rather than price competition. Use your response to describe cost drivers (sustaining engineering, platform/hardware lifecycle, reliability/availability needs, data management scale) and provide non-binding ROM ranges only if the RFI requests them (verify in attachments).
• For Army tape storage: Build pricing research around transportation cadence (weekly 92 LTO media moves), emergency/expedite services, containerization, and vaulting. Review the latest PWS paragraphs referenced in addenda (e.g., 4.1, 4.1.1, 4.1.2) to avoid pricing the wrong volumes or trip frequency.
• For VA A-E: Research comparable VA A-E design procurements with phased deliverables and emergency power upgrades. Pay attention to how the VA structures design fees vs. construction period services and how it expects cost estimates at each design stage.
• General: If amendments exist (as they do for the Army requirement and the VA wheelchair transport), re-check that the “latest PWS” and submission rules are the versions you priced.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas

• NASA ENX: Consider teaming between mission IT/data management primes and specialized subcontractors for sustaining engineering, infrastructure/hardware lifecycle support, and documentation/operations support—structured to strengthen small business participation (NASA is explicitly gathering inputs to set competition/subcontracting goals).
• Army tape storage: Team a vaulting provider with a transportation/courier partner if you can still control chain-of-custody and meet the recurring schedule plus urgent response requirements.
• VA emergency power A-E: Team electrical engineering specialists with firms experienced in VA healthcare facility design reviews; ensure the SDVOSB eligibility and role are consistent with the set-aside.
• NAVFAC elevator: If you are on the MACC, validate which subcontract trades (HVAC, fire protection, electrical) you’ll self-perform vs. sub, given the tight integration around elevator replacement.

Risks & watch-outs

• NASA ENX:
  • No solicitation exists yet; do not request a solicitation copy (the notice states this directly).
  • The draft SOW is the anchor—don’t over-assume scope beyond what’s provided (verify in attachments).
  • NASA may choose a set-aside based on responses; weak small business participation narratives could reduce positioning.
• Army tape storage:
  • Volumes and schedules have been clarified via addenda; ensure your response matches the current PWS (e.g., 92 LTO media per week).
  • Facility distance constraint (within four hours / 250 miles) is explicit; don’t assume exceptions.
  • Emergency services requirement can drive staffing/dispatch readiness—underestimate it and performance risk rises.
• VA emergency power A-E:
  • Design must support VA 96-hour requirements; confirm how you will validate and document compliance within the phased submittals.
  • Scope includes multiple critical HVAC loads and other critical equipment—coordination complexity is non-trivial.
• NAVFAC elevator: Competition is restricted to a specific MACC group; submitting without eligibility is a wasted cycle.

Related opportunities

• Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Next (ENX) RFI
• Unsecure Offsite Tape Storage and Critical Special Mission Emergency Services
• C1DA--Replace And Upgrade Emergency Power Systems, Equipment, And Components
• REPLACE ELEVATOR, BUILDING 355, DAM NECK ANNEX
• V999--Wheelchair Transport Services for the Twin Ports Community Based Outpatient Clinic
• Sources Sought Notice for DIN 7/16 Offset Shorts
• TRICARE Medicare Eligible Program Second Generation (TMEP2) Draft RFP
• Z1DA--621-23-104 - Relocate Police Dispatch
• INDUSTRY DAY: SURVIVABLE AIRBORNE OPERATIONS CENTER (SAOC) CONSTRUCTION

How to act on this

1. Pick your target(s) based on eligibility first (e.g., SDVOSB set-aside; MACC restriction; location constraints).
2. Download and read the latest draft SOW/PWS and all amendments/addenda (verify in attachments), then map your approach to the specific referenced paragraphs.
3. Draft a response that emphasizes execution facts you can prove: volumes, cadence, distance, phased deliverables, and standards compliance—without assuming unstated scope.
4. Submit early enough to correct packaging issues (especially where amendments adjust submission rules, such as reps & certs handling).

If you want help deciding whether to prime, team, or sit out—and to turn the draft SOW/PWS into a compliant response outline—engage Federal Bid Partners LLC.