NASA LaRC Solicitation: Draft Teaming Opportunity for the NASA Langley Research Center Hosting Atmospheric Composition Payload
Synopsis – Mar 11, 2011
General Information
Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: HostedPayload
Posted Date: Mar 11, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Mar 11, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: N/A
Current Response Date: N/A
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001
Description
This draft partnering synopsis solicits potential partners to participate in a proposal development activity in response to the second Earth Venture (EV-2) Class Announcement of Opportunity (AO), expected to be released in the Spring of 2011. Earth Venture is a Program element within the Earth System Science Pathfinder Program (ESSP) consisting of a series of new science-driven, competitively selected, low cost missions that will provide opportunity for investment in pioneering Earth science to enhance our capability to better understand the current state of the Earth system and to enable continual improvement in the prediction of future changes. The focus of the investigations is to enable innovation in measurement and observation, demonstrate innovative ideas and higher-risk technologies, establish new research avenues, and demonstrate key application-oriented measurements. For additional information on EV-2 visit http://essp.larc.nasa.gov/EV-2/ In addition, the draft Announcement of Opportunity solicitation for EV-2 is available on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES): http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId= {EF2EDAC6-FDD5-B1F7-1C5E-ACD03EACA010}&path=init Schedule (dates are subject to change):
– Expected AO release– Spring 2011 – Proposals due date–3 months after AO release – Selection of the Investigation (target)–6 months after submittal – Launch within 5 years of selection–2017
Participation in this partnering synopsis is open to all categories of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as NASA Centers and other U.S. Government Agencies. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Other Minority Universities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned small businesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBzone small businesses, and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are encouraged to apply. Participation by non-U.S. organizations is welcome but subject to NASA’s policy of no exchange of funds, in which each government supports its own national participants and associated costs.
Partners are sought for hosting a Langley Atmospheric Composition payload on a commercial satellite to be launched to a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit in calendar year 2017, operating at a fixed location between 85 and 110 west longitude for a minimum of 3 years. The payload must be placed in service at the specified location within 4 months of launch. Options for extended operations until spacecraft end-of-life are requested. NASA LaRC is seeking potential partners having demonstrated experience supporting the following mission elements throughout the system life cycle (Phases A through E):
* Satellite manufacture
* System Engineering support to resolve payload accommodation issues (to spacecraft bus integration, spacecraft system level integration and test (I & T))
* Spacecraft design modifications and accommodations for the payload and data
* Payload integration on the spacecraft
* Environmental Test Program of the fully integrated spacecraft/payload
* Satellite launch
* Mission operations support throughout the mission lifetime.
* Options for commercial transponder lease
* Ground data capture and distribution services options
Potential partners shall provide a brief summary of how they intend to accomplish all required mission elements as identified above. In the event a teaming arrangement is proposed, an appropriate breakout is required to ensure NASA understands how all mission elements are satisfied.
The Atmospheric Composition payload is an Earth viewing, light weight, low power optical system, focused on observing the diurnal variations in chemical signatures at high temporal resolutions. The spacecraft bus must accommodate the science payload requirements listed below:
* Payload Mass (kg)– less than 100 kg
* Payload Power (EOL) Required (W)– Less than 200 W in operation
* Volume (l x w x h)– 0.75 x 0.5 x 0.5 m
* FOV (Sensor)– 4 deg half angle
* Command & Control Uplink–<1kbps
* Science Data Downlink/Band– less than 80 Mbps
* Pointing Knowledge–200 microrad (3 sigma)
* Pointing Control–1.0o
* Launch Date–2017
* Payload Delivery to Spacecraft (Launch – 1 yr)–2016
* Payload Mission Life (years)– 3 year requirement (prime mission), with annual options for 5 and 10 years total
* GEO orbit location– Continental US (85o – 110o W Longitude)
If selected through this synopsis, it is expected that the selected partner(s) will work with NASA LaRC scientists and engineers to jointly develop the proposal. If the proposal is selected, NASA LaRC anticipates issuing contracts or other agreements to the selected partner(s) for performance of the proposed elements.
This partnering opportunity does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts or other agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for the information solicited.
Partner selections will be made by LaRC based on the listed criteria in the following order of importance:
(1) Relevant Experience and Past Performance. The proposer shall include relevant recent experience and past performance in similar development activities. (2) Technical Capability and Staffing Approach. The proposer shall describe their technical capabilities required for the performance of the development activity described herein. In addition please include your staffing approach. (3) Payload Accommodation and Mission Support. The proposer shall demonstrate an understanding of accommodating optical payloads and address the mission element requirements as specified herein. Particularly critical or challenging areas for accommodating optical payloads should be identified along with associated solutions. The I & T flow for the mission element(s) should be discussed and the related support facilities (fabrication, I & T, storage, etc.) identified. Safety and Mission assurance procedures and processes should be identified. The schedule for the spacecraft development, launch, and on-orbit checkout should be discussed. Describe the process and facilities for on-orbit operations and data distribution. (4) Cost and Schedule Control. The proposer shall provide a rough order of Magnitude (ROM) cost for accommodating the payload, through pre-launch, launch and flight operation mission phases. The cost management strategy for the spacecraft development, launch and on-orbit checkout should be discussed. (5) Mission Management and Participating Organizations. The proposer shall provide a fact sheet that provides a brief summary of the proposed teaming arrangements, as applicable. Please also identify your key personnel. Responses to this partnering synopsis shall be limited to 10 pages in not less than 12-point font. Responses must address the aforementioned evaluation criteria. All responses shall be submitted to LaRC electronically via email by 5:00pm EST on (to be determined), to Antol at (Jeffery.Antol-1@nasa.gov), Teresa Hass (Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov) and Brad Gardner (Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov).
Technical and Programmatic questions regarding this draft partnering synopsis should be directed to Jeff Antol at (Jeffery.Antol-1@nasa.gov) and procurement questions should be directed to Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov or Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov. The final version of this partnering synopsis will be issued in the April 2011 timeframe.
Point of Contact
Name: Robert B. Gardner
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 757-864-2525
Fax: 757-864-7898
Email: Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov
Name: Teresa M Hass
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 757-864-8496
Fax: 757-864-8863
Email: Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov
