GRC Procurement: Time Machine Required To Bid

Keith’s 25 October note: NASA GRC put out this small business set aside solicitation “Alarm Philosophy Development Workshop” on 25 October 2012. Responses are due a mere 24 hours later on 26 October 2012. The solicitation states “This notice is being issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for an Alarm Philosophy Development Workshop for twenty-five (25) people from November 5, 2012, through November 9, 2012.” GRC says “all responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency” and “Selection and award will be made to that offeror whose offer will be most advantageous to the Government, with consideration given to the factors of proposed technical merit, price, and past performance.”
But nowhere is the “Alarm Philosophy Development Workshop” even described such that someone can submit a bid – assuming that they can even pull one together with only 24 hours notice. Curiously, this formal NASA procurment notice, issued on 25 October 2012, also states “All contractual and technical questions must be in writing (e-mail or fax) to … not later than close of business Wednesday, October 24, 2012.” In other words you need a time machine so as to be able to submit comments required – a day before this notice was even released – assuming that you know enough to submit anything in the first place.
Keith’s 26 October update: Someone must read NASAWatch. This mod was just posted today. A time machine is no longer needed. “You are notified that the following changes are made: Date for receipt of technical/contractual questions is close of business October 29, 2012. Date for receipt of quotations is close of business October 31, 2012. The due date for responses is extended to close of business October 31, 2012.” This mod adds a statement of work that explains what the government will actually spend your money on. Guess what: its all about “alarms”. I sent email inquires to the individuals listed on the original notice but they never responded. They never do.