Press Release

Space Shuttle Laptop Computer Modem Replacement Sought

By SpaceRef Editor

November 22, 2000

Filed under Johnson Space Center, US

Source: Commerce Business Daily

Publication date: 2000-11-24
Arrival time: 2000-11-22

NOTICE TYPE: Solicitation

NOTICE DATED: 112100

OFFICE ADDRESS: NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston
Texas, 77058- 3696, Mail Code: BJ

ZIP CODE: 77058-3696

SOLICITATION NO.: SOL 9-BJ2-57-0-51I

RESPONSE DEADLINE: DUE 120800

CONTACT: POC Venessa L. Jankowski, Procurement Assistant, Phone
(281) 483- 4162, Fax (281) 483-2138, Email
venessa.jankowski1@jsc.nasa.gov — Richard W Bennett, Contracting
Officer, Phone (281) 483-1872, Fax (281) 483-2138, Email
richard.w.bennett1@jsc.nasa.gov

NOTICE TEXT: The Statement of Work (SOW) is to be used for
INFORMATION GATHERING AND PLANNING purposes and to allow industry the
opportunity to verify reasonablesness and feasibility of the
requirement. The SOW provides the requirements and constraints for an
analog data modem that would replace the custom designed modem
currently used in the Space Shuttle laptop computers and mission
support computers in the mission control center. The custom designed
modem currently used in the space shuttle laptop computers is used to
perform point-to-point file transfers between a space shuttle based
laptop computer and a personal computer in the mission control
center. The current modem was designed to be ISA-bus compliant for
compatibility with the laptop expansion chassis currently used on the
shuttle and mission support computers on the ground. With the
imminent obsolescence of the ISA bus and the potential for increasing
modem throughput and performance, NASA is investigating options for
replacing the current modem. The purpose of this RFI is to determine
if a Commercial-off-the-Shelf product can meet NASA requirements or
if NASA must design its own custom built in-house modem. Modem
communication is accomplished over a shuttle air-to-ground voice
channel. The current modem design includes circuitry that makes use
of the V.27 ter 2400 standard fax modulation scheme as a data pump.
1. Information Requested — provide a capabilities statement that
includes: a. Provide comments and/or questions regarding the draft
specificiations. Reference the page and paragraph number in your
submission for each comment/question. b. What industry standards do
you meet for your commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products? (The
government is trying to determine how closely the industry
requirements meet the certification and acceptance requirements for
spaceflight.) c. What testing do you perform on your products? What
testing could you perform to help the governmetn meet the
certification and acceptance requirements for spaceflight? d.
Assuming modifications to the product are needed for it to meet
certification and acceptance requirements for spaceflight, what
modifications as part of your normal production process could you
provide? If not part of the normal production process, identify those
tasks and provide a brief explanation of the feasibility of
performing those tasks by your company. Your response should be not
more than 7 pages (8.5″ x 11″) in length. Your response can be
submitted in either hard copy or electronically. If submitted
electronically, please ensure that the format is compatible with MS
Office 97 or Adobe Acrobat Reader. If other software applications are
used, please contact the Contracting Officer to ensure compatibility.
This synopsis is not to be construed as a committment by the
Government, nor will the Government pay for the information
solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the
review. Any questions regarding this announcement should be directed
to the identified point of contact. An ombudsman has been appointed –
– See Internet Note “B”. The solicitation, Satement of Work, and any
documents related to this procurement will be available over the
Internet at http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/jsc/documents/9BJ257051I. These
documents will be in Microsoft Office 97 format and will reside on a
World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW
browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/JSC
Business Opportunities home page is http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/
nasanote.html