NASA DRAFT Solicitation for Earth Venture Instrument-6 Investigations; Program Element Appendix Letter TBD of SALMON-3 Released

This summary email announces that NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing a Draft Program Element Appendix (PEA) Letter TBD to the Third Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-3) Announcement of Opportunity (AO). The Draft PEA is entitled “Earth Venture Instrument-6 (EVI-6).” This is draft solicitation number NNH22ZDA005J.

Proposers must adhere to the requirements and constraints of the PEA and the SALMON-3 AO.  The full Draft PEA text can be found on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) at short URL: https://go.nasa.gov/3AWJ0QT, or by searching Solicitations using  “Draft Earth Venture Instrument-6” or “NNH22ZDA005J” at https://nspires.nasaprs.com. NSPIRES is the official source for this PEA and for other information in the event of a lapse in NASA operations.

The draft PEA is the sixth solicitation in the EVI series.  EVI-6 will solicit proposals for complete PI-led science investigations (Phases A through F) that are based on one or more (a) Class D space-based instruments or (b) Class D CubeSats. The selected EVI-6 investigations will conduct innovative research that addresses pressing Earth system science questions.

The Cost Cap on the PI-Managed Mission Cost (PIMMC) for an EVI-6 investigation estimate is $37M in Fiscal Year 2024 dollars with a possibility of an additional request of up to $5.3M for a Science Enhancement Option (SEO). NASA expects to select one or more Class D Instrument and/or Class D CubeSat Investigations based on funding availability at the time of selection. NASA is committed to principles of open science for EVI-6, including the full, free, and open sharing of data, algorithms, software, and documentation from project initiation.  

The differences between this draft EVI-6 and the previous EVI-5 solicitation include the following:

(1)  NASA Procedural Requirements NPR 7120.5F entitled “NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements” is applicable

(2)  Simplifies some past proposal requirements to reduce workload on proposers

(3)  Adds a requirement to follow the NASA Earth Science Division Open Source Science Policy

(4)  Adds a Project Protection Plan

(5)  Adds a Diversity and Inclusion Plan

(6)  Adds an applications component to the evaluation criteria

(7)  Provides for an optional NOAA Operational Enhancement Opportunity

(8)  Allows, with some restrictions, the PI’s to use text, tables, and figures when responding to NASA about the Potential Major Weaknesses (PMW) identified by the review panels.  NOTE: These PMW responses become an integral part of the proposal evaluation process. 

Within four years of project initiation, each selected EVI-6 investigation is required to deliver either (1) one or more instruments to be integrated onto a NASA-determined platform or (2) one or more CubeSats, having a maximum of 12U each, that can be integrated onto a NASA-determined launch vehicle. NASA is responsible for identifying feasible platforms and/or launch vehicles.

Proposers and other interested parties are asked to read the Draft EVI-6 PEA and provide feedback for NASA’s consideration. The comment period for the Draft EVI-6 PEA ends on December 1, 2021.

NASA has not approved the issuance of the Final EVI-6 PEA, and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the PEA and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this Draft EVI-6 PEA are incurred completely at the submitter’s own risk. The Final PEA may differ significantly from this Draft PEA. 

The time frame for the solicitation is estimated to be:

Download and carefully read the full Draft EVI-6 solicitation before emailing comments or questions. Further information will be posted on the EVI-6 Acquisition Homepage at https://essp.larc.nasa.gov/EVI-6/ as it becomes available. Individuals should consult existing EVI-6 questions and answers athttps://essp.larc.nasa.gov/EVI-6/evi-6_qas.html in case a clarification has already been provided.

Questions and other comments on the Draft EVI-6 PEA may be addressed to Dr. Hank Margolis, EVI-6 Program Scientist, at hank.a.margolis@nasa.gov with the subject line “EVI-6 Draft PEA.” Questions and Answers will be posted on the EVI-6 Q&As section of the EVI-6 Acquisition Homepage. Anonymity of the authors of all questions will be preserved.