NASA MSFC Solicitation: A Cubesat Mission: New and Innovative Propulsion Systems

Synopsis – May 07, 2012

General Information

Solicitation Number: RFI-MSFC-EDISON-SMALLSATS
Posted Date: May 07, 2012
FedBizOpps Posted Date: May 07, 2012
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: May 17, 2012
Current Response Date: May 17, 2012
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 927110

Contracting Office Address

NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

Description

Sources Sought for Potential Partnering for Cubesat Spacecraft Misson. This is a Request For Information (RFI) issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request For Proposal. This RFI openly solicits potential partners by requesting specific information that will be used to offer teaming relationships with industrial partners for developing MSFC proposals in response to NASA Broad Agency Announcement NNA12ZD0001K, OMB Approval Number 2700-0085. This is from the EDISON SMALL SATELLITE FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION MISSIONS, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGIST.

Potential Industrial partner(s) will be selected from the responders to this request. One or more of these potential partners will be provided specific “competition-sensitive” requirements for flight hardware and ground support equipment and asked to produce information on their approach to meeting the particular requirements.

The BAA contains language informing the community that if a Government Principal Investigator is selected, NASA reserves the right to award a contract to the industrial partner(s) under the authority of the BAA selection. MSFC envisions a teaming arrangement where the selected industrial partner(s) will act as a subcontractor and will be responsible for providing at least one of the following;

1) Three flight-heritage CubeSat buses, 2) Low-Toxicity monopropellant (ADN-based) 3) A complete propulsion system suitable for integration into a CubeSat, based on the low-toxicity propellant (ADN-based)

Each industrial partner(s) responding to this RFI shall provide supporting technical information, including the design(s), design-to-delivery schedules, and cost estimates.

Responses to this RFI are solicited from spacecraft development contractors having experience as required in this RFI. The industrial partner(s) may provide direct inputs into the MSFC proposal associated with the hardware development functions.

Typical hardware/software requirements include those imposed by accommodation on a “science spacecraft” – such as structural, geometric, size, positioning, power and command/control/data interfaces, lifetime, and other resource allocations.

The mission profile is based on a swarm of three CubeSat spacecraft, one of which will be modified to accommodate a low-toxicity, ADN-based propulsion system.

Interested parties are to provide information on experience in the development of spacecraft or satellites for science missions, for integrating instruments into spacecraft and spacecraft to launch vehicles. Include general specifications of types of instruments, spacecraft, and launch systems used, and performance history. Include information on cost and schedule performance on past similar programs. Limit responses to no more than 10 pages — responses to this RFI should be submitted in writing to Marlyce R. Alexander, Contracting Officer via electronic transmission at email – Marlyce.r.alexander@nasa.gov and forward a copy to Mr. Arthur Werkheiser at email – Arthur.werkheiser@nasa.gov on or before May 17, 2012.

When responding reference [MSFC- EDISON-SMALLSATS] in the subject line.

Comments may also be forwarded to Marlyce Alexander, Contracting Officer.

This RFI synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response to this request. Respondents will not be notified of the results.

An ombudsman has been appointed – See NASA Specific Note “B”

Any resulting solicitation and any documents related to this request will be available over the Internet. These documents 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/MSFC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=62 . It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor the Internet site for release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any.

Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below:

Point of Contact

Name: Marlyce E. Alexander
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 256-544-8344
Fax: 256-544-6062
Email: Marlyce.R.Alexander@nasa.gov