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TITLE:  Dear Colleague Letter - Operation and Management of the JOIDES
   Resolution Drill Ship (nsf12084)
   
DATE: 5/31/2012

   NSF 12-084

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

   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 ([1]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

   Formal Announcement 
   of Re-competition        May 2012

   Solicitation Issued      August 2012

   Full Proposals Due       Jan 2013

   Evaluations and 
   Negotiations             Feb 2013 - Nov 2013

   NSB Approval             Dec 2013

   Notify Ship owner of 
   contract renewal         April 2014

   New Operations Award 
   Starts                   September, 2014

   NSF Contacts:

   James F. Allan ([2]jallan@nsf.gov; 703-292-8581
   Rodey Batiza ([3]rbatiza@nsf.gov; 703-292-8581)
   Tom Janecek ([4]tjanacek@nsf.gov); 703-292-8581)
   James Beard ([5]jbeard@nsf.gov; 703-292-8581)



References

   1. http://www.iodp.org/isp
   2. mailto:jallan@nsf.gov
   3. mailto:rbatiza@nsf.gov
   4. mailto:tjanacek@nsf.gov
   5. mailto:jbeard@nsf.gov