NASA Ames Solicitation: Planetary (Lunar) Rover LIDAR

Synopsis – Jun 19, 2015

General Information

    Solicitation Number: NNA15ZTI001L

    Posted Date: Jun 19, 2015

    FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jun 19, 2015

    Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No

    Original Response Date: Aug 21, 2015

    Current Response Date: Aug 07, 2015

    Classification Code: A — Research and Development

    NAICS Code: 334511

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001

Description

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby soliciting information under this Request for Information (RFI) to determine whether or not there are interested and available vendor sources capable of meeting the identified requirements. This document is for information and planning purposes only and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition.

NASA/ARC is interested in spaceflight-qualified LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, systems for planetary rover missions on the Moon. LIDAR is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distance). This RFI seeks information about LIDAR systems that may be delivered as soon as 2019 for lunar mission use. The LIDAR system must be small, lightweight, low-power, and able to acquire 3D measurements (i.e., not just linear or planar ranging) to support short-range surface navigation (hazard detection and localization). The LIDAR system shall be capable of detecting natural terrain hazards, such as rocks, craters, and slopes. The LIDAR system shall also be capable of supporting relative localization, such as 3D feature detection and tracking.

The notional specifications for the LIDAR system are:

– Mass: less than 5 kg 

– Power: less than 25 W 

– Dimensions: less than 15x15x25 cm 

– Radiation tolerance: 10 krad total ionizing dose and handle single-event upsets 

– Frame resolution: at least 128×128 points 

– Frame rate: 1 Hz – Field-of-View: at least 45 deg 

– Minimum range: 1 m (or closer) 

– Maximum range: 10 m (or further) 

– Accuracy: at least 4 cm @ 10 m (or better)

Organizations having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation, literature, brochures, and references. ARC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including but not limited to, educational, industrial, and not-for-profit organizations, Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-Owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses hereto.

Responses to this RFI should address the following:

(1) Organization/Company Info: 

a. Name and address of firm, 

b. Cage Code and DUNS Number (if available), 

c. Points of contact name(s) with phone number(s) and email address(es), 

d. Website (if applicable), and name of parent organization (if applicable). 

e. Business size (Based on NAICS code) and/or Socioeconomic designation (i.e., large, small, SDB, WOSB, VOSB, SDVOSB), 

f. Average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees; 

g. List of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement), 

h. Whether the firm is under a GSA Schedule Contract for this product (based on the above and below technical specifications identified in this announcement). Please provide contract number if applicable.

(2) Technical: 

a. Proposed technical specifications of the LIDAR, including but not limited to: min/max range, accuracy, field-of-view, resolution, wavelength, min/max frame rate, and expected operational lifetime. 

b. System operation in the lunar environment, in terms of how the LIDAR system would be designed to tolerate lunar temperature, radiation, vacuum, etc. including possible use in permanently shadowed regions. Respondents should minimize, but describe any accommodation support required from a rover (thermal management, avionics, interfaces, etc.). 

c. Design for launch and surface mobility conditions, in terms of how the LIDAR system would tolerate shock and vibration during quiescent (non-operational) and active (operational) mission phases. Respondents should list assumptions that have significant design impact. 

d. Maturity of the technology at a subsystem level (i.e., what parts of the system have been flight qualified, when and by whom or under what project), description of Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and near-term plans / approach for qualification of any components that do not yet have flight heritage. 

e. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate — broken down by key subsystems — and timeline for the design, fabrication, and testing of a spaceflight-qualified system (in FY15 dollars). The ROM should include engineering development unit cost, certification unit cost, and flight unit cost.

(3) Information regarding existing or planned instruments with respect to section 2 above (include written and illustrated concepts, ideas, and description of capabilities). Please also advise if the requirement is considered to be a commercial or commercial-type service. A commercial item is defined in FAR 2.101 and in NASA Specific Numbered Note A.

(4) Identification of partnerships (if any) represented in the response. This includes but is not limited to joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime).

(5) ARC is soliciting feedback on the applicable classification codes. Does the selection of NAICS code 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing) with size standard 750 employees seem appropriate? If not, what alternative NAICS code do you suggest, and why?

(6) In addition to items 1-5, provide any additional information/comments deemed to be relevant and useful, or other data as applicable.

Interested firms are requested to submit their response to this RFI via email only to Umetria Thomas at email Umetria.Y.Thomas@nasa.gov. Submissions shall be compatible with and accessible using Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat software applications. When responding, reference RFI NNA15ZTI001L — PLANETARY ROVER NAVIGATION LIDAR.

Documents and attachments should be in Microsoft WORD, POWERPOINT, or PDF format. Files should not be greater than 15 pages (no less than 10 point font except in figure captions). Due to mailbox limitations, attachments should not exceed 10MB. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled and protected accordingly. As applicable, NASA may provide proprietary information to its support service contractors who are under an obligation to keep third-party proprietary information in confidence. By submitting a response to this RFI, the responder is deemed to have consented to release of proprietary information to such NASA support service contractors.

Following this initial feedback, as part of its market research, NASA may conduct one-on-one meetings with potential offerors. These meetings will allow for exchange of information and will provide an opportunity for potential offerors to provide feedback on the Government’s preliminary requirements and acquisition approach.

Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3, entitled “Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes,” this information is being made available for market research, information, and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. This RFI is subject to review or cancellation at any time and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. The Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this request and respondents will not be notified of the results.

This announcement does not constitute a Request for Proposal. Please do not request for a copy of the solicitation, as no solicitation exists at this time. If a firm requirement is developed and a solicitation is issued, the solicitation will be made available on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website (www.fbo.gov) and the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS) (http://procure.arc.nasa.gov ). It is the responsibility of offerors and interested parties to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments, if any and will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the documents. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html .

Point of Contact

    Name: Umetria Y. Thomas

    Title: Contract Specialist

    Phone: 650-604-3001

    Fax: 

    Email: umetria.y.thomas@nasa.gov