NASA Solicitation: LEO Servicing Studies
Synopsis – Apr 28, 2014
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNG14042814L
Posted Date: Apr 28, 2014
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Apr 28, 2014
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: May 06, 2014
Current Response Date: May 06, 2014
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.S, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Description
NASA is currently assessing the feasibility of servicing and repairing satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in order to extend their useful life. To this end, NASA envisions robotic activities for earth observing satellites in LEO that need fuel, repair, or instrument replacement. Extending the mission life of NASA and other government satellites would extend the data collection capability of the spacecraft that support national or agency missions.
In order to continue this assessment, NASA intends to issue a Request for Quote (RFQ) which may result in the award of up to approximately four firm fixed price study contracts/orders, valued at up to $20K each, with a period of performance of 45 days. The study will provide information on the feasibility of using existing spacecraft buses for refueling Government satellites in Low Earth Orbit. NASA is considering servicing at least one national asset in late Calendar Year 2017. As a result, offerors interested in participating in these study contracts must demonstrate that their available spacecraft buses or other flight vehicles for accessing LEO currently exist and are available for a late CY 2015 payload integration to support the 2017 launch. Therefore, the ability to meet this schedule with existing, proven spacecraft buses capable of performing this type of on-orbit servicing will be the primary criteria for determining the recipients of a study contract.
For these studies, NASA will identify and provide information about existing on-orbit satellites as potential servicing opportunities, and provide information about a Government-provided servicing payload, including interfaces and characteristics such as mass and volume. The Government-provided servicing payload would be transported to LEO by the spacecraft bus and would include a rendezvous and proximity operations system, robotics, propellant transfer system, and tools.
NASA may or may not decide to move forward with future mission planning as a result of these studies. No strategy has been finalized nor do details exist at this time for any potential hardware acquisition.
It is anticipated that the Request For Quote (RFQ) for the study requirement will be posted on or about May 6, 2014 and will be posted in the FedBizOpps or NASA Acquisition Internet Service website at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgibin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=51 . It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor FedBizOpps and NAIS for the release of any solicitation.
Oral communications ARE NOT acceptable in response to this notice.
Point of Contact
Name: Tamika R Seaforth
Title: Simplified Acquisition Spec
Phone: 301-286-8386
Fax: 301-286-1773
Email: Tamika.R.Seaforth@nasa.gov
