SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN NASAS DISRUPTION-TOLERANT NETWORKINGPROJECT
- Notice Date
- 6/3/2011
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- 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
- NNH11CAO001O
- Response Due
- 12/31/2012
- Archive Date
- 6/3/2012
- Point of Contact
- Adrian Hook, SCaN DTN Project Manager, Phone 202-358-0097, Fax 202-358-3530, Email adrian.j.hooke@nasa.gov - Mr. Jason C Crusan, Chief Technologist for Space Operations, Phone 202-358-0635, Fax 202-358-3530, Email Jason.c.crusan@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Adrian Hook
(adrian.j.hooke@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 1.0INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUNDTo support upcoming robotic and human exploration needs, the National Aeronautics andSpace Administration (NASA) anticipates that it and others will need to implement aunified architecture for internetworked communication and navigation services that spanthe solar system. Unlike the terrestrial internet, a future Solar System Internet (SSI)must be capable of accommodating intermittent connectivity, long or variable delays,asymmetric data rates, and high data loss rates. The underlying capability that enablesthe SSI is commonly referred to as Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN). The SSI willemploy both opportunistic and scheduled communications paths to optimize routing amongnodes of the SSI, while maintaining low communications overhead and data processing load. NASA anticipates that all elements of its evolving Space Communications and Navigation(SCaN) architecture will interface using the SSI. This architecture embraces thefollowing:a.Spacecraft and landed vehicles distributed across the Solar System;b.The ground and space-based facilities and data communications assets of what arepresently known as the Near Earth Network (NEN), the Deep Space Network (DSN), and theSpace Network (SN);c.Data communications elements on and around bodies beyond Earth, including theintercommunications components of individual free flying spacecraft, collaborativeconstellations of spacecraft, or networks of landed vehicles; d.Data relays/gateways in remote locations, such as orbiting the Moon and Mars; ande.Planetary surface local and wide area networks (note that viewed in this context,the terrestrial Internet is subsumed in the SSI as a wide area network).NASA wishes to support the development and mission infusion of international datacommunications standards for new DTN technologies through open cooperation andcollaboration from and among the worldwide industrial supplier base to ensure that the evolution of the future DTN technologies (anticipated to be used by both government andindustry) achieve the highest level of international interoperability and coordination.Specific contributions from industry could include: integrated spacecraft; spacecraftpayloads; spacecraft components (such as communications terminals and onboard networks);local and wide area networks for deployment on remote bodies and planetary surfaces(including mobile, ad-hoc networks); integrated ground network components (such as aground station running DTN data exchange with mission users across the terrestrialInternet); and end-to-space mission applications that are inherently capable of runningacross a DTN network where there is seldom a contemporaneous end-to-end data path.In support of this effort, NASA has initiated a Space DTN Project that involves thecooperative work of its major research Centers and also some of NASAs internationalpartners. As part of NASA's support for the Project, it may make facilities available totest and demonstrate new capabilities, using a ground-based DTN Engineering Network(DEN). Flight test and demonstration capabilities may also be available, usingspace-based testbeds, including spacecraft that are in their extended mission phases andthus may be made available for modest reprogramming. A major thrust of the NASA Projectwill be to use the International Space Station as an environment for the internationaldevelopment and deployment of DTN capabilities, and these facilities may be madeavailable.NASA is seeking to form a consortium of experts, thought leaders, and market leaders as aDTN Coordinating Group (DTN-CG). This Coordinating Group will contain members fromacademia, space systems companies, space communications services companies and thegeneral supplier base of commercial space mission support equipment. The DTN-CG will serve as a worldwide body for promulgating and deploying the DTN technologiessupporting the SSI. NASA envisions that members of this Coordinating Group will: 1.Collaborate on specifying the technology and standards that will apply to theSSI;2.Review and provide inputs into architectural trade studies across the elements ofthe SSI architecture to determine the optimum characteristics and protocols; 3.Exchange information on the availability or future availability of DTN-enabledground and space product lines;4.Contribute in the planning and participate in demonstrations performed on NASAsground-based DTN Engineering Network and DTN-enabled flight systems, includingutilization of the ISS as an international testbed; and 5.Conduct or support R&Dto develop innovative implementation technologies thatcan expedite the infusion of DTN into future interoperable space products.This Opportunity seeks participants in the DTN Coordinating Group. NASA anticipatesusing its authority to enter into Space Act Agreements to support this activity,including providing necessary access to NASA personnel and technical information,however, there will be no provision of funds in connection with this opportunity. Respondents will be responsible for financing their own activities. NASA will seek tofacilitate the informal participation of respondents who are not initially selected tojoin the DTN Coordinating Group; however, this cannot be guaranteed.Response Date:This announcement is open through December 31, 2012. NASA will engage inongoing review of proposals as received prior to the Response Date of December 31, 2012.NASA reserves the right to amend or withdraw this Announcement at any time prior to theResponse Date.NASA will not issue paper copies of this Announcement.Selection of the initial membersof the DTN Coordinating Group will be at the discretion of NASA. NASA will seek tofacilitate the informal participation of respondents who are not initially selected tojoin the DTN Coordinating Group; however, this cannot be guaranteed. It is anticipatedthat the work of the DTN Coordinating Group will be available for use by the technicalcommunity and the public and submitters should avoid providing non-public or proprietaryinformation to support their request to participate in the DTN Coordinating Group. 2.0GENERAL INFORMATIONAgency Name: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)Opportunity Title: Opportunity for Participation in the Disruption-Tolerant Networking(DTN) Coordinating GroupResponse Date:Electronic Proposals must be received by December 31, 2012 at 4:30 P.M.EST via email to adrian.j.hooke@nasa.gov. Proposals may be submitted at any time beforethe response date. Points of Contact: If you have any questions concerning this opportunity please contact: Adrian HookeSCaN DTN Project ManagerTelephone: 202-358-0097Email: adrian.j.hooke@nasa.govJason CrusanChief Technologist for Space OperationsTelephone: 202-358-0635Email: jason.crusan@nasa.govInstrument Type(s): It is anticipated that the DTN Coordinating Group will be managedunder a mutually agreed charter setting forth the purpose and goals of the Group; NASAwill participate under the authority of 51 U.S.C. 20113.Selection Recommendation Committee: Government personnel from NASA, other Federalagencies, and NASA contractors may participate in the evaluation of requests forparticipation.Selection for participation on the DTN Coordination Group will be basedon a consideration of evaluation criteria listed below.Selection Notification Date: Notification of selection to participate in the DTNCoordinating Group is anticipated to be within 60 days of receiving a submission. Submission Instructions: All submissions under this Announcement must be emailed toadrian.j.hooke@nasa.gov. Paper submissions will not be reviewed. Submissions may besubmitted at any time before the Response Date. You are encouraged to submit as early aspracticable prior to the Response Date. Submissions received by the Government after theResponse Date will not be accepted. If a submitter is concerned about informationsecurity during transmission NASA has the ability to accept secure transmission. Contactthe Point of Contact for secure transmission requirements. Files can be submitted in MSWord, PDF, or RTF.3.0ELIGIBILITY INFORMATIONAll categories of domestic entities other than U.S. federal government agencies areeligible to submit proposals in response to this Announcement.NASA will not considerproposals which do not include a domestic entity as the lead proposer.4.0SUBMISSION EVALUATION AND SELECTION4.1Evaluation and Selection Process All submissions will be initially screened to determine their compliance to theeligibility (section 3.0) and submission instructions (section 5.0) of this Announcement. Submissions that do not comply may be declared noncompliant and rejected without furtherreview. A submission compliance checklist is provided in section 5.0. This checklistprovides submitters a list of the items that NASA will check for compliance beforereleasing a submission for evaluation. Submissions deemed in compliance with this Announcement will be assessed against theevaluation criteria outlined in Section 4.2 by the Selection Recommendation Committee. Proposed collaborators should be aware that during the evaluation and selection process,NASA may request clarification of a specific point or points in a submission. Such arequest and the collaborators response shall be in writing. The Selection Recommendation Committee members will conduct independent assessments ofthe submissions according to evaluation criteria outlined in Section 4.2. 4.2Evaluation CriteriaThe evaluation factors below are of equal weighting during evaluation.Factor 1: DTN Research Contribution:The level and degree of effort and understanding that the proposer has demonstrated incontributing to the field of Disruption-Tolerant Networking will be evaluated.Highpriority will be placed on organizations participating in the development ofinteroperable open DTN standards being developed by the DTN Research Group within theInternet Research Task Force (IRTF; http://www.dtnrg.org ), and the ConsultativeCommittee for Space Data Systems (http://cwe.ccsds.org/sis/default.aspx#_SIS-DTN ).Factor 2: DTN Product Development CapabilityThe capability to develop future commercial space product lines (at multiple levels ofintegration) that conform to and interoperate through conformance to open DTN standardswill be evaluated. These product lines include: integrated spacecraft; spacecraftpayloads; spacecraft components (such as communications terminals and onboard networks);local and wide area networks for deployment on remote bodies and planetary surfaces(including mobile, ad-hoc networks); integrated ground communications networks; groundnetwork components such as ground station DTN routing capabilities; end-to-spaceapplications that are inherently capable of running across a DTN network where there isseldom a contemporaneous end-to-end data path; and software that supports and enables DTNdata exchange.Factor 3: Organizational Capability:The level of organizational capability as measured by the experience and expertise ofproposers personnel, and proposers ability to conduct independent research will beevaluated. Proposer should include resumes of personnel intended to support this effort(designated as support) and resumes of other personnel (designated as reach-back) who canprovide input into questions that NASA may pose of the Working Group.Factor 4: Organizational Commitment:Proposer should provide a letter of commitment that states that upon selection, Proposeragrees to support quarterly meetings of the DTN Coordinating Group with the personnelproposed. Proposer should describe any additional resources and mechanisms to work viaindependent R&D, or cooperatively with NASA, to develop innovative implementationtechnologies and their associated open standards. In addition, NASA reserves the right to assess information outside the submission as itrelates to the factors listed above. 4.3Selection Factors As described in Section 4.1, the results of the submission evaluations based on thecriteria above and the subsequent Selection Recommendation Committee deliberations willbe considered in the selection process. The Selection Recommendation Committee may take into account a variety of programmaticfactors in deciding whether or not to select any submissions, including, but not limitedto, financial stability of submitter, and compatibility to a variety of user platforms. The Selection Authority shall be the Associate Administrator for Space Operations or hissuccessor. The Selection Authority will make the final selection of those approved forthis opportunity after the completion of negotiations, depending on the outcome of thenegotiations. 4.4Selection NotificationNASA will notify all submitted collaborators of the results of the evaluation andselection process. After the completion of the evaluation and selection process, NASAwill begin negotiations with the selected submitter(s). The purpose of the negotiationsis to define the terms and conditions of the Agreement supporting the participation ofthe submitters and to align the selected submitters with the anticipated Group Charter. All work will commence after the parties execute the Space Act Agreement.5.0SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONSSubmissions must comply with the following requirements.Page LimitationsSubmission Section ~ Total Pages Submission Cover Page ~ 1Submission Title Page ~ 1Points of Contact ~ 1Submission Abstract ~ 750 wordsSubmission Detail ~ 5AppendixResumes ~ No Page LimitAdditional Documentation ~ No Page LimitPages in excess of the page limitations for each section will not be evaluated. A pageis defined as one (1) sheet 8 x 11 inches using a minimum of 12-point font size fortext and 8-point for graphs.There is no limit on appendix documentation. The intent is to allow submitters toinclude current documentation in its current format without having to alter anydocuments.The submission must include the following sections, in this order:Cover Page: Title of Announcement and Submission Contact Information. An optional graphicimage may be included.Title Page, with Notice of Restriction on Use and Disclosure of Submission Information,if any.Points of Contact: List contact information for all Points of Contact including aTechnical Point of Contact. Provide:NameTitleAddressPhone and FaxEmailAbstract: Executive summary describing the prominent and distinguishing features.Detail: The submission shall contain sufficient information to enable reviewers to makeinformed judgments to assess the three criteria of the submitted effort. Appendix:ResumesResumes may be included for key personnel. In general, resumes should be limited to nomore than 1-2 pages each.Additional documentationInclude any documentation in the appendix that validates or supports the proposalCompliance checklist and required documentsThe submitter is a domestic entity other than U.S. federal government agencySubmission includes a description of the DTN Research ContributionSubmission includes a description of the DTN Product Development Capability, if Submitteris a commercial entitySubmission includes a description of the Organization CapabilitySubmission includes an Organization Commitment
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