NASA RFI: High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROA)
General Information
- Document Type: Special Notice
- Solicitation Number: NASA-SNOTE-031121-001
- Posted Date: Nov 21, 2003
- Original Response Date:
- Original Archive Date: Nov 21, 2004
- Current Archive Date:
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Dryden Flight Research Center, Code A, P.O. Box 273, Edwards, CA 93523-0273
Description
NASA/DFRC is hereby requesting information for potential sources and partners for the design, development and flight testing of a series of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROA) which can fly at altitudes above 60,000 feet with the potential of remaining aloft for weeks to months. The vehicles will be designed to carry a variety of payloads of various weights up to several hundred pounds each and with a variety of power requirements. The vehicles will operate worldwide through mild to moderate weather conditions. The vehicles will have to operate in restricted airspace, National Air Space and potentially over population centers. The vehicles will be controlled from a portable control center with a minimal crew for flight control, flight planning and operations of payloads. Varying degrees of autonomous capabilities and the ability to operate beyond the line of sight from the control center will be developed for the aircraft. Currently four HALE ROA Performance Objectives have been developed. Each performance objective addresses a capability set. Performance Objective #1 will lead to a vehicle that can climb to and sustain an altitude of 60,000? for 7 to 14 continuous days with a payload of 200 kilograms without refueling. The aircraft will be capable of both station-keeping at a particular longitude and latitude or following specific weather phenomena over very large areas such as the Pacific Ocean. In the course of developing the aircraft designed to meet Performance Objective #1, NASA and its industrial partner(s) will review, clarify and possibly modify the proposed requirements. The partnership will jointly: develop the design(s) to meet the requirements, model design performance under operational conditions, and execute plans for the development and flight testing of the vehicle. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in the CBD and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these cites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Interested parties having the required specialized capabilities to partner with NASA to develop a HALE ROA able to meet Performance Objective #1 should submit a capability statement of 5 pages or less indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort described herein. Technical questions should be directed to: John Del Frate, HALE ROA Project Manager, phone # (661-276-3704), email: john.h.delfrate@nasa.gov. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THIS IS NOT A FORMAL PROCUREMENT AND THEREFORE IS NOT A SOLICITATION. THIS NOTICE IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ULTIMATELY ISSUE AN IFB, RFP, RFQ, OR CONTRACT.
Email your questions to Rosalia Toberman at rosalia.toberman@dfrc.nasa.gov
