SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- NASA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGIST CROSSCUTTING CAPABILITY DEMONSTRATIONSDIVISION TECHNOLOGY 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
- NNH10CC001L
- Response Due
- 6/30/2010
- Archive Date
- 5/27/2011
- Point of Contact
- Bonnie F James, Acting OCT Crosscutting Division Coordinator, Phone 202-358-0370, Fax 202-544-6696, Email bonnie.f.james@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Bonnie F James
(bonnie.f.james@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- In fiscal year 2011, NASA plans to begin the Technology Demonstrations MissionsProgram. One of the greatest challenges that NASA faces in incorporating advancedtechnologies into future missions is bridging the mid TRL gap (Attachment: TRLDefinitions) between early development and mission infusion. Maturing a space technologyto flight readiness status through relevant environment testing is a significantchallenge from both a cost and risk perspective. The primary goal of the TechnologyDemonstration Missions Program is to mature space technologies that are of benefit tomultiple customers through flight readiness and mission infusion. To support program formulation, The NASA Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) isseeking to identify candidate crosscutting system-level technologies to be demonstratedin relevant environmental conditions. Specifically, system-level technologies impliesan integrated spacecraft system and not component-level demonstrations. A key requirement in this program is that the technology under consideration must clearlybe crosscutting, defined as a technology with potential to benefit multiple NASA missiondirectorates, other government agencies, or the space industry. OCT is seeking technologydemonstration candidates that advance the technology readiness of the selected systems,provide tangible, innovative technology products, are cost effective, and capturesignificant public interest and awareness. The candidate technology must be mature (TRLof 3 to 5), and the proposed flight demonstration must raise the TRL of the candidatetechnology to a TRL of 6, such that it may be infused into the critical path for futureNASA missions. The information gathered from this RFI could be integrated into futureBroad Agency Announcements (BAA), Request for Proposals (RFP) or Space Act Agreements(SAA) for the Technology Demonstration Missions Program. For potential future solicitations, including NASA Research Announcements (NRA),Cooperative Agreement Notices (CAN), Announcements of Opportunity (AO) or SAAs, onlyflight demonstrations that can be completed within a maximum of three years will besought. To demonstrate a potential infusion path, flight teams will be required to have asponsor (or sponsors) to cost share the proposed demonstration. OCT expects that aminimum of 25% of the total Life Cycle Cost (LCC) be contributed by another sourceoutside the OCT under potential future funded opportunities. Competed flight testdemonstration opportunities will be open to teams involving NASA centers, industry, otherGovernment agencies and academia. Performing these flight demonstrations is intended to advance the readiness of theselected systems, provide tangible products capable of rapid infusion to NASA missions,and capture significant public interest and awareness. Executing these engaging andtechnically challenging space flight demonstrations, including designing the flight testprogram, building the flight hardware and performing/operating the flight demonstrationis an outstanding means for developing the current NASA and industry workforce to handlemore challenging and more sustainable space missions and operations in the future.Examples of the types of crosscutting technologies that may be considered for thistechnology demonstration program include (but are not limited to) optical communications,tether systems, autonomous rendezvous and docking/undocking, space power systems,humanoid robotics, inflatable/deployable deceleration systems, advanced in-spacepropulsion, aerocapture, landing/surface systems, and solar sails. 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 if clarifications or additional information is desired. Responses to this RFI do notbind NASA to any further actions related to this topic. All future BAAs, RFPs or SAAs aresubject to congressional approval and 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 capable and qualified sources including, but notlimited to, NASA Centers, universities, university affiliated research centers,federally-funded research and development centers, private or public companies, andgovernment research laboratories. Technology demonstration opportunities will be open to teams involving NASA centers,industry, other government agencies and academia. Leads for the responding teams may befrom any of these sources. All participants must be U.S. entities. 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 solicitation and other types of publiccorrespondence. However, NASA does not intend to release any individual RFI responses. Submissions have the following formatting requirements: Microsoft Word formatteddocuments of 2 pages or less at 12 point font. RFI response should address these seven areas, as a minimum: Executive level overview of the crosscutting technology being proposed. Impact/Payoff: What is the impact/payoff of this technology demonstration to NASA andto the aerospace community? Technology Readiness: Provide information on the current technology readiness level(TRL) of this concept and the method of ensuring the technology will attain at least aTRL 6 through demonstration. Provide references if possible. Potential Partnerships: Who are the possible cost sharing partners? Why are theyinterested in flight demonstration of this technology? Risk: What are the primary risk factors involved in this flight demonstration? Whatrisk factors will be retired with flight testing? Platform: What is the preferred flight platform for this technology demonstrationconcept? Platforms include, but are not limited to, primary launch vehicles, ISS,secondary payloads, sounding rockets or other hypersonic test vehicles, high altitudeballoons, UAVs, commercial suborbital launch vehicles, commercial or military aircraft. Cost: Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude cost range. NOTE: Questions and comments may be forwarded via electronic transmission tobonnie.f.james@nasa.gov no later than midnight on June 30, 2010. All responses to this RFI must arrive at this address by midnight on 6/30/10. Mark all responses: RFI, Technology Demonstration
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