SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- FRANKLIN SMALL SATELLITE SUBSYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES AND THE EDISON SMALLSATELLITE DEMONSTRATION MISSIONS PROGRAM
- Notice Date
- 5/27/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NNH10CC002L
- Archive Date
- 5/27/2011
- Point of Contact
- Brant Sponberg, Level II Program Manager, Phone 202-358-2016, Fax 202-358-4336, Email brant.l.sponberg@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Brant Sponberg
(brant.l.sponberg@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- In Fiscal Year 2011, NASA plans to begin two programs for small satellites. Theprimary goal of the Franklin Small Satellite Subsystem Technology and the Edison SmallSatellite Demonstration programs will be to advance small satellite technologies. Tosupport program formulation, the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) seekscandidate small satellite subsystem technology developments and system demonstrationmissions that provide transformational advancements in small satellite capabilitiesand/or the ability to meet specific NASA science and technology objectives through smallsatellite efforts. The OCT will mature technologies that are of benefit to multiplecustomers from ground testing through flight and mission infusion. The small satellitesubsystem technology and demonstration programs will develop and operate a series offocused small satellite technology development projects from Technology Readiness Levels(TRL) of 3 to 5 through ground testing and from TRL 5 to 7 through small satellite flightdemonstration missions. A TRL description table is provided in an attachment. Theobjective of this RFI is to identify innovative small satellite subsystem and systemtechnologies that can develop into transformational capabilities for the government andcommercial sectors. Franklin Small Satellite Subsystem Technologies Program Technologies that enable small satellites to provide game changing capabilities for thegovernment and commercial sectors will be supported under a competed Small SatelliteSubsystem Technologies Program. In this program, ground testing of promisingtransformational small satellite capabilities are sought. The selected small satellitesubsystem technology development projects will provide subsystem advances for the EdisonSmall Satellite Demonstration Program and other small satellite demonstrationopportunities. In the Small Satellite Subsystems Technology Program, ground testing of promisingtransformational small satellite capabilities will be conceived and developed to amaturity level suitable for flight demonstration. 'Push' technologies may includeformation flying, long life power systems, precision pointing, deployable apertures,autonomous swarm operations, miniaturized payload instrumentation, multifunctionalsystems, plug-and-play systems, advanced thermal management systems, heat- andradiation-tolerant electronics, propellantless or highly efficient propulsion, and othertechnology enablers. Architectures, proximity operations, robotics, space-to-space powertransmission and other system interoperability will also be considered for TRLadvancement from 3 to 4/5. Edison Small Satellite Demonstration Missions The Edison Small Satellite Demonstration Missions program will develop and operate aseries of NASA-focused small satellite demonstration missions. These competitivelyselected missions are expected to provide technology focused demonstrations such asformation flying, payload recovery, orbital debris removal,autonomous/collaborative/close proximity operations, advanced power systems (long life orspace-to-space transmission), advanced propulsion, miniaturized remote sensors,deployable apertures, autonomous swarm, robotics, and interoperable systems. Thesemissions could also provide targets of opportunity on small satellites for peer-reviewedscience objectives as a secondary goal. Through NASA-university collaborative efforts, university students will gain hands-onexperience within project activities. In addition, this program seeks to serve the smallsatellite community by improving the affordability of small payload launch throughsecondary payload process improvements and other development efforts. NASA will pursuethese missions in collaboration with academia and small business in close coordinationwith relevant successful programs under development at the Air Force Research Laboratoryand the Operationally Responsive Space Office. Instructions to Responders This is not a request for proposal, quotation, or invitation for bid notice and isintended for information and planning purposes only. NASA does not intend to award acontract on the basis of this RFI. However, NASA may consider issuing a formalsolicitation at a later date. NASA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred inresponding to this RFI. Respondents are advised that NASA is under no obligation toacknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents withrespect to any information submitted under this RFI. NASA may contact respondents to thisRFI to seek clarifications or additional information. Responses to this RFI do not bindNASA to any further actions related to this topic. Any future steps taken to award BroadAgency Announcements (BAA), Request for Proposals (RFP) or Space Act Agreements (SAA),Requests for Proposals (RFP) or Announcements of Opportunities (AO) will be contingentupon availability of funds. This announcement contains all information required to submit a response. No additionalforms, kits, or other materials are needed. NASA appreciates responses from all sources including, but not limited to universities,university affiliated research centers, federally-funded research and developmentcenters, private or public companies, and government research laboratories. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. NASA will not consider material that is marked classified or proprietary. NASA reservesthe right to use responses to develop future solicitations and other types of publiccorrespondence. However, NASA does not intend to release any individual RFI responses andwill hold them confidential. Submissions have the following formatting requirements: Microsoft Word formatteddocuments of 2 pages or less. RFI responses should address these five areas, as a minimum: Impact/Payoff: What is the impact/payoff of this small satellite technology developmentor demonstration concept to NASA and to the aerospace community? What capability willresult from this technology that does not exist now? What missions might be enabled thatcannot be executed with existing technology? Provide supporting seferences. Technology Readiness: Provide information on the current technology readiness level(TRL) and the roadmap to flight and supporting references. Technology Development Approach: Describe your technology development approach toadvance the TRL from its current level to the next levels. What ground facilities wouldbe required? What is the overall testing required? If or when ready for flight, what isthe preferred flight platform for this small satellite technology demonstration concept?Platforms include, but are not limited to, ISS, secondary payloads, sounding rockets,commercial suborbital launch vehicles. Potential Partnerships: Who are the possible cost sharing partners? Why are theyinterested in the development or flight demonstration of this technology? Risk: What are the primary risk factors involved in this technology development orflight demonstration? What risk factors will be retired with technology funding at itscurrent TRL? Cost: Provide a rough order of magnitude of the cost range for the small satellitetechnology demonstration ideas. Questions and comments may be forwarded via electronic transmission tobrant.l.sponberg@nasa.gov no later than midnight on 06/30/2010. All responses to this RFI must arrive at this address by midnight on 6/30/10. Mark all responses: RFI, Small Satellite
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