NASA MSFC Solicitation: Medium Class Explorer Discovery and Earth Science Pathfinder Instrument Payloads

Synopsis – Apr 20, 2007

General Information

Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: RFI-MSFC-NSSTC-MIDEX-ESSP
Posted Date: Apr 20, 2007
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Apr 20, 2007
Original Response Date: May 26, 2007
Current Response Date: May 26, 2007
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 927110 – Space Research and Technology

Contracting Office Address

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

Description

A Sources Sought for Potential Partnering for Spacecraft and Instrument Flight Hardware. This is a Request For Information (RFI) issued solely for information and planning purposes — It does not constitute a Request For Proposal — This RFI serves to increase opportunities for interested parties and openly solicit potential partners by requesting specific information that will be used to offer teaming relationships with industrial partners for developing MSFC proposals in response to upcoming NASA Announcements of Opportunity (AO) for MIDEX (Medium Class Explorer), Discovery and the Earth Science Pathfinder (ESSP) instrument payloads. A deviation has been granted to support these AOs permitting NASA Principal Investigators (PIs) to enter into partnerships with hardware fabricators using the same guidelines as non-NASA PIs. Accordingly, if a NASA PI investigation is selected and the hardware fabricator proposed in that investigation meets the guidelines of NASA FAR Supplement 1872.502(a)(3)(i) through (iii) for award without further competition, then NASA may award a prime contract to the hardware partner. The AOs will contain language informing the community that if a Government Principal Investigator is selected, NASA reserves the right to award a prime contract to the proposed hardware partner under the authority of the AO selection. MSFC envisions a teaming arrangement where the industrial partner will act as the Prime Contractor and will be responsible for providing a complete mission design, schedules for development, and cost estimates for the flight and ground support elements of a space flight system used to meet a specific scientific research objective. Responses to this RFI are solicited both from instrument and spacecraft development contractors having experience as discussed in this RFI. The industrial partner may provide direct inputs into the MSFC proposal associated with the hardware development functions. NASA/MSFC does not intend to reimburse the industrial partner for the costs for preparing these inputs. The purpose of this RFI is to identify qualified sources that are interested in pursuing this type of arrangement. Potential industrial partners will be identified 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. MSFC intends to select a single industrial partner for the instrument design for participation in the proposal. An additional partner may be selected for the design of specific customized optical components or detectors. 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. Experiment requirements might include sensor performance requirements and general or specific detector designs. The instrument for the MIDEX opportunity is intended for data collection from a source or sources emitting electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths covering a broad spectrum from the ultraviolet through infrared. Interested parties are to provide information on experience in the development of instruments and/or 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 programs. Limit responses to no more than 5 pages — Responses to this RFI should be submitted in writing to Dr. John M. Davis/MSFC/VP62 no later than May 26, 2007. If you have provided similar information in the past 12 months it is only necessary to submit a letter expressing your continued interest. For additional information concerning this request, contact Dr. John M. Davis (John.M.Davis@nasa.gov). When responding reference [RFI-MSFC-NSSTC-MIDEX-ESSP].

Comments may also be forwarded to Iris Walter, DFS, Inc., Contracts Administrator, via electronic transmission at iris.r.walter@nasa.gov or by facsimile transmission at 256-961-7723. This presolicitation synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. Respondents will not be notified of the results.

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

The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement 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 cite for the 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: Melinda E. Dodson
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 256-961-7454
Fax: 256-961-7524
Email: Melinda.E.Dodson@nasa.gov

Name: Isaac W. Jones Jr.
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 256-961-7029
Fax: 256-961-7036
Email: isaac.w.jones@nasa.gov