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NSF 12-084

Dear Colleague Letter - Operation and Management of the JOIDES Resolution Drill Ship

This document has been archived.

DATE: May 31, 2012

Over the past decade, the NSF has participated in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, designed to address a wide variety of important scientific objectives as described in the Program's Initial Science Plan (http://www.iodp.org/isp). The primary US contribution to this international program has been the operation of a leased drilling vessel (D/V JOIDES Resolution).

To ensure the nation is receiving the greatest value for its substantial investment, it is the intent of NSF to competitively solicit proposals for the operation and management of the JOIDES Resolution drill ship to support the future International Ocean Discovery Program. Re-competed tasks will include onboard science operations, down-hole measurements, core and data repository management, management of the ship leasing subcontract with Overseas Drilling, Limited (ODL), and integrative logistical, planning and management support. NSF expects a solicitation to be issued before the end of August 2012, with at least a 120 day window for proposal submission. All proposals will be reviewed by an external panel convened by NSF, with suggestions regarding evaluation criteria welcome before August, 2012. Contingent on availability of funds from NSF and its international partners, NSF would seek approval from the National Science Board in December 2013 for a Cooperative Agreement to continue support for operation of the JOIDES Resolution beyond FY 2014. A tentative timeline is shown below:

Event Estimated Date
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Formal Announcement of Re-competition May 2012
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Solicitation Issued August 2012
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Full Proposals Due January 2013
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Evaluations and Negotiations February 2013 - November 2013
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NSB Approval December 2013
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Notify Ship owner of contract renewal April 2014
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New Operations Award Starts September, 2014

 

NSF Contacts:
James F. Allan (jallan@nsf.gov; 703-292-8581
Rodey Batiza (rbatiza@nsf.gov; 703-292-8581)
Tom Janecek (tjanacek@nsf.gov); 703-292-8581)
James Beard (jbeard@nsf.gov; 703-292-8581)