SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- TEAMING OPPORTUNITY FOR FAR-INFRARED EXPLORER-FIREX
- Notice Date
- 3/30/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton,VA 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- SS-FIREX
- Response Due
- 4/15/2011
- Archive Date
- 3/30/2012
- Point of Contact
- Robert B. Gardner, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-2525, Fax 757-864-7898, Email Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov - Teresa M Hass, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-8496, Fax 757-864-8863, Email Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Robert B. Gardner
(Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This partnering synopsis solicits potential partners to participate in a proposaldevelopment activity that addresses the technical objectives and development of acomplete mission in response to an anticipated Earth Venture Class InvestigationAnnouncement of Opportunity (AO) expected to be released in the Spring/Summer of 2011. Earth Venture is a Program element within the Earth System Science Pathfinder Program(ESSP) consisting of a series of innovative, integrated, science-driven approaches topressing Earth system science issues. The goal of NASAs Earth Venture mission portfoliois to provide frequent flight opportunities for high quality, high value, focused Earthscience investigations that can be accomplished under a not-to-exceed cost cap and thatcan be developed and flown relatively quickly, generally in 5 years or less. Foradditional information on the Venture Class program and a copy of the draft AO visit: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={EF2EDAC6-FDD5-B1F7-1C5E-ACD03EACA010}&path=init Participation in this partnering synopsis is open to all categories of U.S. and non-U.S.organizations, including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions,the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as NASA Centers and other U.S. GovernmentAgencies. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Other MinorityUniversities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned smallbusinesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBzone small businesses,and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are encouraged to apply. Participation bynon-U.S. organizations is welcome but subject to NASAs policy of no exchange of funds,in which each government supports its own national participants and associated costs. This partnering synopsis solicits partners in all the following areas: scienceinstrumentation, payload operations, scientific algorithm development, spacecraft andlaunch operations. (1) Science Instrumentation Partner(s) - LaRC is seeking potential partners for spaceborne science instrumentation in support of proposals which may include: (a) a compact,moderate resolution thermal infrared Fourier transform spectrometer; (b) instrumentationsubsystem including pointing system, optics, black body, spectrometer, detectors,optomechanical structure, and electronics; (c) instrumentation systems engineering andintegration; (d) implementation of techniques for meeting rigorous instrument calibrationrequirements that are traceable to international reference standards; and (e) validationand verification capability of sensor overall performance.It is anticipated that the selected science instrumentation partner(s) would provideconceptual instrument designs (with sufficient details to enable accurate mass, volume,power, telemetry requirements), operational concepts, calibration and characterizationdefinition and planning, payload constraints/interface analysis, technical risk analysis,and would participate in cost and schedule analysis as part of the mission conceptproposal. (2) Payload Operations Partner(s). Payload operations support a variety of operationalmodes, from safe hold, to calibration, to other diagnostic modes, to normal (baseline)data taking modes. The proposed payload may require special events operational support(e.g., calibration fields of view, thermal cycling, or other operational support) oncommand throughout the mission life. Therefore, potential partners are sought to providepayload operation solutions that represent enhanced capability for smart payloads anddistributed planning and implementation. (3) Scientific Algorithm Development Partner(s). The Principal Investigator and selectCo-Investigator(s) will be responsible for generating the missions Algorithm TheoreticalBasis Documents (ATBDs). These documents include the physical and mathematicaldescription of the algorithms to be used in the generation of data products. Therefore,potential partners are being sought for development of the processing environment (i.e.,tools for processing, analyzing and fusing data using algorithms provided by NASA and/orproposal team members) and to perform routine processing of data (Levels 0 to 1; 1 to 2;and 2 to 3). An algorithm partner may also be selected under this synopsis to serve as amember of the science team and may support the development of specific algorithms. (4) Spacecraft and Launch Operations Partner(s). Potential partners are being sought toprovide cost effective access to orbit. Offerors should describe co-manifest launchoptions, hosted payload opportunities and other innovative approaches to obtaininglow-cost access to low-Earth orbits for consideration in mission planning. Launchoperations include all services associated with placing the satellite into its properorbit, including but not limited to; integration of the satellite with the launchvehicle, launch operations and range services.It is anticipated that the selected spacecraft partner(s) would participate in designactivities related to achieving efficient integration and operation of the FIREXinstrument and mission operations, and would participate in cost and schedule analyses aspart of the mission concept proposal. The unique requirements of the FIREX mission are provided here:Notional FIREX Mission RequirementsMinimum Operational life: 2 years with consumables for up to 5 yearsNominal Orbit Altitude: 400 to 600 kilometersNominal Orientation: Local Vertical Local Horizontal (LVLH)Orbit: Earth orbiting, 50 to 90 degree inclinationPayload risk classification of D should be assumed per NASA ProceduralRequirement (NPR) 8705.4 Risk Classification for NASA PayloadsYaw maneuver may be required for payload thermal managementNotional FIREX Instrument CharacteristicsMass: Less than 100 kg including contingencyPower: Less than 150 Watt including contingencySpectral Range: 5 to 50 micrometers (2000 to 200 wavenumbers)Spectral Resolution: 0.5 wavenumber unapodizedAbsolute accuracy: 0.2 Kelvin (2-sigma) over entire spectral rangeData rate: Less than 300 kbpsInstantaneous Field of View: 25 km at 600 km orbitEarth Venture proposed investigations will be evaluated and selected through a singlestep competitive process. This single step is the solicitation, submission, evaluation,and selection of proposals prepared in response to this AO. As the outcome of this singlestep, NASA Headquarters intends to select at least one mission to proceed to missiondevelopment for flight and operations. This partnering opportunity does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts orother agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for theinformation solicited.It is expected that the partner(s) selected would provide (at nocost to NASA) technical requirements, conceptual designs, technical data, proposal input,project schedules, and cost estimates.If the proposal is subsequently selected, NASALaRC anticipates issuing contracts or other agreements to the selected partner(s) forperformance of the proposed tasks. NASA LaRC is committed to transparency and openness in the generation of its science dataproducts. Openness and transparency are critical to continued scientific and engineeringprogress and to building public trust in the nations scientific enterprise (NationalScience Board 2/11). Consequently, it is anticipated that future contracts or otheragreements with selected partner(s) would emphasize broad dissemination and sharing ofinstrument testing, performance, and results with the science community/public.Partner selections will be made by LaRC based on the listed criteria:(1)Relevant Experience, past performance.This criterion evaluates the proposersrelevant recent experience, past performance in similar space flight developmentactivities. Substantive evidence of successful participation in similar developmentsshould be included.(2)Technical Capability and key personnel. This criterion evaluates technicalcapability to perform the development and key personnel available to support thedevelopment. Evidence of staffing estimates with available key personnel shall beincluded. Past successful programs and technical contributions shall be included. (3)Facilities. This criterion evaluates the proposers facilities (development,testing, calibration, and analyses) to conduct the development or demonstration of theproposed task. Instrument facilities for testing of space hardware and prototype hardwareare considered important to this opportunity. The proposer should discuss facilityavailability, access, and the ability to meet the proposed objectives.(4)Cost and Schedule control. The proposer shall provide evidence of pastperformance of controls of cost and schedule on similar development and provide examplesof management processes utilized to effect and track cost and schedule.(Note: The Earth Venture draft solicitation includes a student collaboration incentive(defined as 1% of the mission cost cap). The student collaboration (SC) can take the formof an instrument development, an investigation of scientific questions, analysis anddisplay of data, development of supporting hardware or software, or other aspects of theinvestigation. Consequently, NASA LaRC is interested in SC activities from prospectiveofferors for the instrument and spacecraft that maximize the opportunity for teaching,learning, and success in contributing to the mission. A proposed SC is optional and themerit of the SC will not be evaluated as part of this process.)RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS: Responses to this partnering synopsis shall be limited to 5 pagesin not less than 12-point font for each technical area of interest (i.e. offerorsresponding to one or more of the mission elements may submit up to 5 pages per eachelement). Responses shall address each of the evaluation criteria listed below. Resumesof key personnel and a cover page that clearly identifies the mission element areaaddressed by the response do not count against the total allocated page count.Inaddition, student collaboration activities proposed do not count against the total pagecount.All responses shall be submitted to LaRC electronically via e-mail by 4:30 pm EasternDaylight Time April 15, 2011 to Mary.S.DiJoseph@nasa.gov and Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov.Technical and programmatic questions should be directed to Mary DiJoseph atMary.S.DiJoseph@nasa.gov, or (757) 864 4089. Procurement questions should be directed toBrad Gardner at Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov or (757) 864-2525.
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