Status Report

CBD: NASA: Teaming Opportunity for a Mars Aerial Platform Scout Mission (Mars)

By SpaceRef Editor
October 10, 2001
Filed under , ,

[Commerce Business Daily: Posted in CBDNet on October 10, 2001]

From the Commerce Business Daily Online via GPO Access

[cbdnet.access.gpo.gov]

PART: U.S. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS

SUBPART: SERVICES

CLASSCOD: A–Research and Development–Potential Sources Sought
OFFADD: NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry
Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001

SUBJECT: A–TEAMING OPPORTUNITY FOR A MARS AERIAL PLATFORM SCOUT
MISSION (MARS)

DUE 102501

POC Richard J. Siebels, Contracting Officer, Phone (757) 864-2418,
Fax (757) 864-6131, Email R.J.SIEBELS@larc.nasa.gov – Mary
Jane Yeager, Contracting Officer, Phone (757) 864-2473, Fax
(757) 864-7709, Email M.J.YEAGER@larc.nasa.gov

DESC: NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is performing a technical
assessment to form the basis of a possible proposal for the
NASA Office of Space Science Mars Scout opportunity. This assessment
is focused on conducting scientific exploration of the planet
Mars using an aerial platform.

LaRC is seeking team members
to participate in the development of the technical concept,
proposal, and implementation of several mission elements. Specific
mission areas where LaRC is seeking partners include design
and development of the science instrumentation, the aerial
platform, and the aeroshell. These elements will combine to
achieve a unique and highly capable engineering platform to
obtain critical Mars science measurements. Exploration of Mars
is motivated by a desire to better understand the planet as
a possible abode of past or present life, the evolution of
the planet’s climate, the geology of its surface and interior,
and to prepare for future human exploration of Mars.

Mars Scout
missions are envisioned to be focused investigations of Martian
biological, chemical and physical phenomena and processes.
The Mars Scout mission opportunity was established to provide
for innovative, rapid-response investigations with an entire
mission cost of less than $300 million. Mars Scout investigations
will be led by a Principal Investigator and will be comprised
of scientists in partnerships, potentially involving NASA centers,
academia, and industry. These teams will pursue missions of
high scientific value utilizing observation platforms of their
choice and design. The Mars Scout concept is defined in more
detail in the following document: http://spacescience.nasa.gov/an/marsscoutsworkshop/rmsc_4_23-SEM.pdf

The Scout call for proposals is performed through a NASA Office
of Space Science Announcement of Opportunity (AO). The first
Mars Scout AO is expected to be released no earlier than February
2, 2002 with final step-1 proposals due no earlier than May
2, 2002. Selections to proceed to Step 2 are anticipated to
be complete in September 2002.

Several proposals will be selected
to proceed to step-2 (Phase A) with selection of the final
Scouts mission expected in May 2003. The Phase-B development
period is May 2003 to January 2004 and the Phase C/D development
period is January 2004 to January 2007.

The possible launch
period is December 2006 through November 2007. The potential
NASA LaRC Scout mission will address several critical objectives
of NASA’s Office of Space Science Strategic Plan. Science instrumentation
may include, imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy, magnetometry,
and mass spectrometry.

Responses are solicited from all U.S.
industries, academia, non-profit organizations, national laboratories,
other government agencies, and Federally Funded Research and
Development Centers. If selected through this synopsis, each
partner is expected to become a full member of the technical
assessment, proposal development, and mission implementation
team.

Key technology areas where LaRC is seeking potential
partners include the science instrumentation, aerial platform
development, miniaturized electronic systems, guidance and
navigation for preprogrammed flight, aeroshell development,
high bandwidth communications systems, and innovative propulsion
systems.

LaRC anticipates issuing contracts or agreements to
the providers of the entry system, aerial platform, and science
instrumentation, provided the mission concept is selected for
implementation. Interested parties may propose as a partner
for any, all, or any combination of the key areas sought.

Interested
organizations shall provide a short synopsis (not to exceed
5 pages) addressing the criteria listed below. Proposals will
be evaluated based on the listed criteria in order of importance.
The criteria are defined as follows:

(1) Relevant Experience
and Past Performance: This criterion evaluates the proposer’s
relevant technical experience and past performance in similar
development activities including control of cost and schedule.
The proposer shall provide a description of relevant technical
experience including a summary of significant achievements
and technical, cost and schedule performance. Proposers should
specifically discuss the relevance of their experience in reference
to the design and development of aeroshells, aerial platforms,
aerial platform systems, high bandwidth communications, and/or
science instrumentation.

(2) Technical Capability, Key Personnel
and Facilities: This criterion evaluates the proposer’s technical
capability to perform the development proposed, the availability
and adequacy of key personnel, and the availability and adequacy
of facilities. The proposer shall describe the technical capability,
facilities and key personnel available to support the proposal
and mission development. LaRC will not reimburse organizations
for the cost of submitting information in response to this
synopsis. LaRC will not pay for technical assessment or proposal
preparation costs incurred by team members.

It is expected
that the teaming organizations will participate actively in
the proposal process and that selection of the proposal for
mission implementation would result in contract(s) for the
selected partners. This synopsis teaming opportunity does not
represent a guarantee to selection of award of any contracts,
nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for
the information solicited. It is expected that partner(s) selected
would provide conceptual designs, technical data, proposal
inputs, schedule and cost estimates consistent with the NASA
Scout guidelines as described in the AO.

Organizations with
expertise and interest in this opportunity may contact Mr.
Brian D. Killough for additional technical information or Mr.
Richard J. Siebels for procurement information. All responses
shall be submitted electronically to: Mr. Brian D. Killough
at b.d.killough@larc.nasa.gov or facsimile number (757) 864-4449
no later than COB Thursday, October 25, 2001.

Technical Point
of Contact Name: Brian D. Killough Organization: Earth and
Space Science Technology Office Phone: 757-864-7047 FAX: 757-864-4449

Email: b.d.killough@larc.nasa.gov

LINKURL: http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=23#99158
LINKDESC: Click here for the latest information about this notice

EMAILADD: R.J.SIEBELS@larc.nasa.gov

EMAILDESC: Richard J. Siebels

CITE: (D-283 SN5103N6)

SpaceRef staff editor.