SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - NASA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGIST EARLY STAGEINNOVATION DIVISION - NASA INNOVATIVE ADVANCED CONCEPTS PROGRAM
- Notice Date
- 8/24/2010
- 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
- NNH10UA006L-1
- Response Due
- 9/12/2010
- Archive Date
- 8/24/2011
- Point of Contact
- John (Jay) Falker Ph.D., NIAC Program Manager/Executive (Acting), Phone 202-358-4545, Fax 202-358-4078, Email hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
John (Jay) Falker Ph.D.
(hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- In Fiscal Year 2011, NASA plans to begin the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts(NIAC) Program. The Office of the Chief Technologist is fostering the development ofinnovative, low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) concepts to accelerate the developmentof transformational capabilities and push technologies. NIAC will fund early studies ofvisionary concepts that could dramatically improve aerospace missions 10 or more years inthe future. To support program formulation, the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) isseeking input on the NIAC plans described in this document and suggestions forrevolutionary aerospace concepts or topic areas that NASA should consider. NIAC is part of OCTs Early Stage Innovation (ESI) Division. ESI efforts are expected tobe short term typically one year in duration to mature concepts and technologies thatcould significantly enhance various missions, or enable NASA to pursue entirely newmissions. These OCT efforts will complement the NASA Mission Directorates focusedtechnology activities, which directly support their planned missions. While the MissionDirectorate efforts typically begin at TRL 3 or higher, this program will target TRL 1 (basic principles observed and reported), TRL 2 (technology concept and/or application formulated), or early TRL 3 (analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proofof concept) at the beginning of the selected effort. The full TRL scale and associated definitionsare provided in the Appendix. Through this sustained, deliberate investment in a low TRL portfolio, NASA is seeking: Revolutionary concepts and technologies that will greatly advance NASAs missions Ideas that may result in beneficial changes to NASAs long-range plans Cross-cutting technologies that contribute new technological approaches for aerospaceapplications and, ideally, also fulfill national needs in areas such as communications,power, energy storage, propulsion, safety, and security. Several external and NASA-sponsored studies in the past decade have identified keytechnology advances that would benefit potential future missions: FINAL REPORT of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, October 22,2009, http://legislative.nasa.gov/396093main_HSF_Cmte_FinalReport.pdf. A Constrained Space Exploration Technology Program: A Review of NASA's ExplorationTechnology Development Program, 2008, http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12471. Report of the President's Commission on Implementation of United States SpaceExploration Policy, 2004,http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/media/pdf/MoonToMarsFinalReport.pdf. Stepping Stone to the Future of Space Exploration: A Workshop Report, 2004,http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11020. The 2004/2005 Advanced Planning and Integration Office (APIO) Technology CapabilityPortfolios:http://mediaman.gsfc.nasa.gov/NASA_Tech_Strategies/APIO_Tech_Portfolios_2005/APIO_Tech_Portfolios_2005.htm. The 2003/2004 NASA Capability Requirements Analysis and Integration (CRAI) process toturn broad NASA objectives into capability and technology investment strategies:http://mediaman.gsfc.nasa.gov/NASA_Tech_Strategies/CRAI_Tech_Reports_2004/CRAI_Tech_Reports_2004.htm. The 1999-2002 NASA Decadal Planning Team and NASA Exploration Team:http://mediaman.gsfc.nasa.gov/NASA_Tech_Strategies/DPT_Summary_Reports/DPT_Summary_Reports.htmThis list of references may be considered a starting point for the topics to beconsidered, and is not intended to be comprehensive. In the spirit of the original NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, the reinstated NIACwill invite innovative yet technically credible advanced concepts that could one daychange the possible in aeronautics and space. Planned Approach and Typical Awards NIAC will support innovative research through two phases of study. It is expected thatthe Phase I awards will be $100K for a one-year effort to explore the overall viabilityand advance the TRL of a visionary concept. It is expected that NIAC Phase II awards will be $500K for up to two years, to furtherdevelop the most promising concepts and explore potential infusion options, both withinand outside of NASA. Phase II awards will be competitively selected from proposals basedon successful NIAC Phase I studies (past or present). It is NASAs intent to share all knowledge developed under this program, and publicdissemination of results will be required. Awards are expected to be in the form of grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, orintra-agency transfers, depending on the nature of the submitting organization andproposed effort. Planned Eligibility Requirements The goal of NIAC is to give visionary ideas a chance. NASA recognizes that concepts totransform the future may come from innovators across the nation, so the Phase Icompetition will be open to everyone. Prospective investigators from any educationalinstitution, private or public company, organization, Federally Funded Research andDevelopment Center (FFRDC) or NASA Center (including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) arewelcome to respond to this solicitation. Partnerships are welcome. Teaming with non-U.S.organizations in proposed efforts is also permitted, but subject to NASAs policy of noexchange of funds. Proposal Details The science/technical/management section of each proposal will be limited to 8 pages inlength. A Work Plan delineating how the Recipient/Awardee will accomplish the Goals andObjectives of the proposal shall be included as part of the proposal. The Work Plan willbe evaluated in accordance with the planned evaluation criteria (below). Planned Evaluation Criteria The following criteria (listed in descending order of importance) are planned: Potential Impact (Value) If successful, the proposed activities must increase thetechnology readiness level (TRL) to enable new approaches or entirely new missions. Thefollowing items will be considered: Innovation: Is this a truly visionary aerospace architecture, system, or missionconcept? Does it have the potential to significantly enhance NASA opportunities or createrevolutionary capabilities, approximately 10 or more years in the future? Comparative Benefit: In comparison with existing alternatives, does the proposedapproach have clear potential to enable radical improvement in terms of higherperformance, lower cost, less mass, higher reliability, improved safety, operationalsimplicity, ease of manufacturing, or other figures of merit for spaceflight hardware andmissions? Maturation: Is the expected outcome of the proposed research an appropriateconcept analysis, with a clear path for further development and utilization? Arepotential partnerships and business cases being identified? Technical Merit and Work Plan Evaluation of the overall technical merit of theproposal. The following items will be considered: Is there a rigorous description of the underlying scientific principles? Theconcept must be technically substantiated to be considered. Does the proposal present a sound technical approach to accomplish the proposedresearch objectives? Is the proposed effort feasible and planned with an appropriate schedule? Is the proposed study consistent with the TRL requirements in the solicitation? Suitability of Team and Cost Estimate The following items will be considered: Does the proposed study include a team with sufficient technical knowledge and thefacilities for successful completion of this project? Is the proposed budget sufficient to carry out the effort? Both Phase I and Phase II competitions will be based on independent peer review of allqualified proposals. Anticipated Schedule The typical NIAC solicitation schedule is expected to be as follows: T: Solicitation Released T + 1 month: (Optional) Notices of Intent Due T + 2 months: Proposals Due T + 4 months: Selections Announced T + 5.5 months: Awards in Place (Funded) Each year, NASA plans to issue one call for NIAC Phase I studies, leading toapproximately 16 awards. Starting in 2012, NASA anticipates adding a separate NIAC PhaseII call as well, ramping up to about 3-8 new Phase II studies per year. Additional Information The information provided above was presented, in abbreviated form, at the OCT IndustryForum on July 13-15. The NIAC presentation, and other OCT information, may be accessedfrom the following site: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/industry_day_info.html 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 make anyawards on the basis of this RFI. However, NASA may consider issuing a formal solicitationat a later date. NASA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding tothis RFI. Respondents are advised that NASA is under no obligation to acknowledge receiptof the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to anyinformation submitted under this RFI. NASA may contact respondents to this RFI ifclarifications or additional information is desired. Responses to this RFI do not bindNASA to any further actions related to this topic. Any future steps taken to award BroadAgency Announcements (BAAs), NASA Research Announcements (NRAs), Request for Proposals(RFPs) or Space Act Agreements (SAAs) will be contingent upon Congressional approval andavailability 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. 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. Submissions must be 2 pages or less, using 12 pt font, in either portable document format(.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc). RFI responses are asked to address any of the following areas: Do you have any comments for NASA consideration? Would you suggest any changes toimprove the NIAC plans described above? What revolutionary aerospace concepts or topic areas do you think NASA should considerin NIAC? A brief description of your recommendations with accompanying rationale would bemost helpful. NOTE: Responses may be submitted as attachments to an email addressed tohq-niac@mail.nasa.gov no later than 11:59 PM Eastern on September 12, 2010. Questions about this RFI may be directed to:
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/HQ/OPHQDC/NNH10UA006L-1/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02253202-W 20100826/100824235816-63b1b74d0276204b960d42dff99eec58 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |