SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Partnership Opportunity Document (POD) for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Small Explorer-2 (SMEX-2) Concept Access to Space - Complete POD with Photos-Charts
- Notice Date
- 7/26/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336414
— Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NASA-GSFC-POD-SMEX-2-CONCEPT-ACCESS-TO-SPACE
- Point of Contact
- Timothy Gehringer, Phone: 301-286-6831
- E-Mail Address
-
timothy.c.gehringer@nasa.gov
(timothy.c.gehringer@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Entire POD Document with Figures-Charts Partnership Opportunity Document (POD) for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Small Explorer-2 (SMEX-2) Concept Access to Space 1.0 Introduction/Scope This proposal opportunity is in response to the NASA Announcement of Opportunity (AO), NNH16ZDA003J, for the 2016 Small Explorer (SMEX) element of the Heliophysics Explorer Program. NASA's GSFC is developing a mission concept, SMEX-2Small Explorer #2 (SMEX-2), to be proposed for this AO. The partnership opportunity is being issued to select a teaming partner to provide access to space; including pre-launch mission integration, test, and launch support. The proposed mission is currently in pre-Phase A. This phase ends with a (step-1) proposal that will be due 3 months after the AO is released. If the proposal is selected, the SMEX-2 mission will proceed into Phase A, per NASA Procedural Requirement (NPR) 7120.5E (e.g. http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/main_lib.html), to produce a step-2 Concept Study Report (CSR) and Site Visit. If the step-2 CSR is selected, the mission will proceed into Phase B for implementation. The following schedule should be used as a basis for responses to this opportunity: Partnership Opportunity Document released: July 26, 2016 Responses due: August 12, 2016 Partner Selection announced: August 23, 2016 SMEX AO Released: July 15, 2016 Proposal submittal in response to 2016 SMEX AO: October 15, 2016 Step-1 Selections Announced (target): Spring 2017 Initiate Phase A Concept Studies (target): Spring 2017 Phase A Concept Study Reports Due (target): Spring 2018 Down-select for Flight (target): Fall 2018 Launch Readiness date: NET June 1, 2022 NLT August 31, 2022 1.1COST The cost cap for this AO is $165M in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 dollars. This cost includes the science instrument, spacecraft bus, instrument to spacecraft integration support, observatory integration & testing, ground systems, access to space and mission operations, management, safety & mission assurance, as well as required contingency (25% or greater reserves on Phases A-D). Reserves will be held at the Project level, and not with the partners. The fidelity and magnitude of the cost estimates significantly affect the mission selection likelihood. There will be no exchange of funds between the teaming partners for the development of the pre-Phase A (step-1) proposal. Funding will be available for subsequent phases (including Phase A) should the mission concept be selected. Selected Phase-A missions would receive $1.25 million in Real Year (RY) dollars to be allocated amongst partners at the discretion of the Principal Investigator (PI). The selected partner is expected to invest some of their own resources in developing the Phase A Concept Study and potentially supporting a Site Visit. 1.2DESIRED MISSION SERVICES NASA's GSFC is interested in formally establishing a partnership to provide access to space; including pre-launch mission planning, mission design, integration to launch vehicle, post-integration aliveness testing, and launch support for an observatory payload to be provided by NASA's GSFC and its mission partners. All interested parties are required to respond to this POD in accordance with Section 5 below. 1.3PROPOSAL SUPPORT The selected POD respondent is expected to provide support using their own resources to help develop the required SMEX-2 (step-1) proposal elements in response to the SMEX AO pertinent to satellite accommodations, satellite-to-launch vehicle integration support, and launch support. This will involve meetings with the Project Team to help define the launch element performance requirements, including developing preliminary interface definitions, refine the launch system architecture, identifying launch element study topics, predicting expected flight performance and providing cost estimates by mission phase. The period of performance for the pre-Phase A is expected to last approximately 3 months per the schedule in section 1.0. If the (step-1) proposal is selected for Phase A, the period of performance will extend from the date of selection through the submission of the CSR and Site Visit. If the mission is selected for development and launch (Phases B-D), the partner will be responsible for the design and development of the satellite accommodations, satellite-to-launch vehicle integration support, and launch support. The period of performance for this interval is expected to last approximately 3-4 years, starting late fall 2018. These dates and times may change depending on selection timelines and budget allocations or phasing.   2.0MISSION OVERVIEW SMEX-2 will be managed under the leadership of NASA GSFC Principal Investigator in collaboration with the mission partners. The SMEX-2 mission is planned to be a NPR 7120.5 Category 3 mission with NPR 8705.4 Class D spacecraft and payloads. NASA's GSFC SMEX-2 mission concept consists of a two satellite constellation that will operate in an elliptical orbit (350 km x 1250 km) at a desired inclination of 83 degrees. Although currently designed to fit into the standard Pegasus XL launch volume (as shown in Figure 2-1), the SMEX-2 mission utilizes a satellite-provided, 31-in OD PSC Mark II Motorized Lightband (MLB) separation system that can be used on a variety of ridesharing (or dedicated) launch vehicle platforms. The integrated satellite stack is approximately 104 cm in diameter and 115 cm tall (not including launch vehicle interface cone). The satellites are released separately at a spin rate of approximately 5 RPM, and make use of a standard T-0 gaseous nitrogen purge during ground processing. As delineated in Table 2-1, in addition to our mission baseline, and depending on the ride share unique capabilities, we are considering a range of launch insertion target orbits. Each insertion altitude have a minimum launch mass capability to support the existing mission concept, and a maximum launch mass (MPV) that can be used as an upper not-to-exceed limit on the SMEX-2 launch mass. Table 2-1: Potential Launch Insertion Orbits Under Consideration (Bold Current Mission Baseline) Insertion TypeInsertion Orbit (83 deg Inclination)Minimum Launch Mass CapabilityMaximum Launch Mass (MPV) Mission Perigee Insertion350 km x 350 km332 kg362 kg Intermediate Orbit Insertion600 km x 600 km380 kg400 kg Mission Apogee Insertion1250 km x 1250 km380 kg400 kg Responses may include alternate rideshare insertion orbit options and alternate orbit inclinations in addition to those detailed above that may or may not be further evaluated in Phase A. 2.1LAUNCH VEHICLE A proven access to space approach should be demonstrated in the response to this POD. The access to space concept(s) for the SMEX-2 proposal will be selected based on the cost, schedule, and technical risk of each option available. The launch and related launch services are included in this partnership agreement. The partner should show heritage and previous launch experience for the access to space option proposed to provide the delivery of the satellite to space. Any prior experience the partner has dealing with the launch service provider shall also be described. The integration flow and launch environmental test levels (e.g. Launch loads and acoustic levels) must be provided. The mechanical, electrical, and thermal interfaces between the access to space method and satellite must be well defined by providing the NASA's GSFC SMEX-2 team with preliminary ICDs-post partnership selection to support the (step-1) proposal. Historic and predicted Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs for the observatory access to space option proposed shall be provided in response to this POD. The Launch vehicle proposed for access to space shall be consistent with the AO requirements and the launch vehicle characteristics and capabilities provided in the "Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) Launch Services Information Summary" found in the Program library http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/HPSMEX/SMEX/programlibrary.html Alternate launch vehicles may be proposed provided they are compatible with the launch environments for the LVs referenced in this document. 2.2LAUNCH MANIFEST The vendor must provide a letter of commit to manifest the NASA's GSFC SMEX-2 mission commensurate with the requirements of the 2016 SMEX AO for the satellite access to space requirements. The SMEX-2 mission should be ready for launch in June 2022 and is required to be launched no later than (NLT) August 2022. The vendor will also include separately costs associated with month-to-month delays in a launch date for up to 9 months - especially if a ride share option is proposed.   3.0TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS 3.1GENERAL The access-to-space offered shall be compatible and appropriate for the mission described in Section 2.0 and the SMEX AO Rideshare requirements described in Section 3.2. The SMEX-2 mission is planned to be a NPR 7120.5 Category 3 mission with NPR 8705.4 Class D spacecraft and payloads. 3.2RIDE SHARE REQUIREMENTS NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released the following guidelines for proposing access-to-space for the 2016 SMEX AO. https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={A0C496AC-9B9D-8F7D-A506-B1695BF9BDE8}&path=open Additional guidance may be issued at any time. Proposers must ensure that their response is consistent with the extant guidance for the 2016 SMEX AO as of the date of their submission. Respond to each guideline extracted (shown in italics) below and provide any additional details. Although NASA-provided launch services continue to be offered, alternative access to space, rather than the use of NASA-provided launch services, may be proposed or considered under this AO. Alternative access to space may include the provision of non-NASA launch services as primary, secondary, or co-manifested payloads on a U.S.- or foreign-manufactured launch vehicle. •Under this AO, purchased launch services must be obtained on a U.S.-manufactured launch vehicle only. The National Space Transportation Policy (Section IV) prescribes the use of U.S.-manufactured launch vehicles for the launch of U.S. Government sponsored payloads. Proposed alternative access to space must be consistent with the National Space Transportation Policy http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/national_space_transportation_policy_11212013.pdf and with any policies or requirements specified in this AO. For proposals submitted in response to this AO, NASA will accept a Launch Vehicle Risk Category 1 (per NPD 8610.7D, NASA Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy for NASA-Owned and/or NASA Sponsored Payloads/Missions) for non-NASA provided access to space. Non-NASA launch services and hosted payloads will be handled by NASA consistent with existing policy and regulations. The demonstrated reliability and the resultant probability of mission success for non-NASA launch services and hosted payloads will be evaluated by NASA consistent with National Space Transportation Policy (National Space Transportation Policy, Section IV) and NASA's Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy (NPD 8610.7D, NASA Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy for NASA-Owned and/or NASA-Sponsored Payloads/Missions). The proposed launch service will be assessed in conjunction with NASA stakeholders as part of the selection process. The functions, operating structure, and policies of the NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) with regards to defining and executing advisory services or consulting for Government or commercial entities are defined in the Launch Services Program (LSP) Advisory Services Plan that can be found in the Program Library. The NASA Flight Planning Board will approve final mission assignments, assuring consistency with Agency risk strategy. Information on the reliability of ELVs may be obtained from the point of contact listed in the AO ELV Launch Services Program Information Summary document. Alternative access to space options involves several complex issues at this stage of project maturity. It is in the proposer's best interest to clearly support the maturity of their plan and access to space possibilities. The minimum expectations for access to space arrangements must be included in the proposal to the level of detail outlined in Requirement 90 (iv). Any additional evidence of maturity or commitment provided will be used to support risk posture. Requirement 90. Proposals that include non-NASA launch services (purchased or contributed) obtained from a U.S. or non-U.S. partner shall meet the following requirements: (i)When flying as a primary, the proposer must demonstrate a commitment from the launch services provider. (ii)When flying as a co-manifested or secondary payload, the proposer must demonstrate a commitment from the proposed co-manifested or primary mission organization(s) to accommodate the proposed payload or demonstrate that the launch services provider has an appropriate process to provide specific launch services; these commitments must be documented in a letter from the appropriate organization(s). (iii)The proposal must identify the launch opportunity and must provide evidence in the proposal that the launch service provider agrees to manifest the mission should the proposal be selected and confirmed for flight by NASA. This evidence must include a letter from the launch services provider containing, at a minimum, the following information: a.Evidence that the launch services provider will provide the services described in the proposal under the conditions (cost, schedule) described in the proposal; b.A description of the opportunity (or opportunities, if more than one under consideration) that the launch service provider can offer for consideration by the PI; and c.A description of the process that the launch service provider will use in order to commit to the PI to provide specific launch services for the proposed investigation, should NASA select the proposed investigation; this process description must include a notional schedule for identifying the specific launch opportunity and definitizing the cost. (iv)The proposal must describe the launch services, demonstrate compatibility with the proposed launch vehicle, and show how the provider will fulfill the mission requirements. (v)The proposal must describe the arrangement between the PI and the non-NASA launch service provider to enable the PI's insight for launch services, consistent with NASA Procedural Documents (NPD) 8610.7 and 8610.23. Note that these NPDs allow unique arrangements for payloads able to tolerate more risk. NASA will develop an advisory approach based on the insight the PI is provided from the non-NASA launch service provider. The proposal budget must include $2.0M for the NASA launch vehicle monitoring functions and advisory services that would enable NASA to review and advise the PI on launch vehicle information from the non-NASA launch service provider. 4.0STATEMENT OF WORK During the proposal preparation period, the partner will participate as part of the mission proposal team. Statements of Work (SOWs) are not required for the proposal. However, they are required before the Phase A work can begin. Therefore, the partner shall provide a draft statement of work during the proposal effort that defines general task statements for Phases A through D. SOWs will include the following as a minimum: Scope of Work, Deliverables (including documentation), and Government Responsibilities (as applicable). SOWs need not be more than a few pages in length. 5.0POD RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS, FORMAT, AND SELECTION CRITERIA 5.1NOTICE OF INTEREST Potential respondents are asked to contact the GSFC team with a Notice Of Interest (intentionally not called a notice of intent). This Notice of Interest does not create an obligation to respond to the POD, but allows the GSFC team to disseminate additional details to provide answers to questions from potential partners. Notice of Interest respondents may receive additional details on the mission of interest, which can be used to facilitate a focused response to the partnership opportunity. These details are competition sensitive and are not to be shared outside the teams necessary to prepare a full response. Respondents may send questions to the GSFC point of contact (POC) listed below. All questions and answers will be made available to all those who respond to the Notice of Interest. The identity of the source of the questions shall be held confidential. Questions and answers that contain information unique to a respondent's proprietary approach will not be shared if they are identified as such. Notice of Interest shall be sent to the POC listed in Section 8.0 via email with ‘Notice of Interest' in the subject line, a simple sentence or two expressing interest and an email address to send further information. 5.2INSTRUCTIONS The respondent shall: •Provide demonstrated flight heritage for providing access to space; including rideshares and launch services. •Demonstrate understanding and quantified experience in the design, integration, and testing of launching observatories and rideshare missions. The response shall describe the cost, schedule, and risk of each orbit and access to space options. •Describe the approach for accommodating an observatory access to space opportunity. •Describe your rideshare approach, including 1) schedule (with key milestones defined); 2) documentation requirements; 3) analysis requirements; 4) hardware requirements; 5) testing requirements; 6) integration requirements; 7) safety & mission assurance requirements; 8) budget phasing requirements; and any other additional details. Include your process, timeline, documentation requirements, analysis requirements, and any other relevant information. •Identify the technical maturity/qualification of the proposed access to space opportunity. If the launch opportunity has not already been demonstrated, the respondent shall describe how these items will be demonstrated, including a timeline for this demonstration, before it is required for this mission. •Describe the approach for supporting the proposal and the mission development, including the level of support that the partner plans to make available for each activity and the names of those individuals who will actively participate in the writing of the proposal. •Provide a brief statement of work defining participation in the proposal. •Provide an estimated cost from initial selection (Phase A) onward for all the activities including mission design, integration and testing, and launch services. The response shall include a brief discussion of the uncertainty in the cost estimate. Include the cost estimate for different orbits and access to space opportunities. •Demonstrate compliance to the mission described in Section 2.0 and the requirements in Section 3 5.3FORMAT The response to this partnership opportunity is limited to 30 slides. Excluded from the page count are the cover letter, title pages, table of contents, and acronym list. Partners may attach additional appendices that further describe their capabilities, although GSFC is under no obligation to include the contents of such appendices in the evaluation of the offer package. The entire offer package, including any cover letter, title pages, and other supporting material, shall be formatted as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file delivered to the E-mail address in section 8.0. Offerors may be contacted after submission to schedule a telecom or face-to-face walk-through of their material. All offerors will be given the same opportunity to present.   6.0EVALUATION FACTORS AND CRITERIA The evaluation team will use the following factors in selection and award: 1.Technical Approach (30%). Offerors will be evaluated on their ability to meet the access to space technical requirements given in Section 3. This includes demonstrated understanding of the requirements and proposed approach to meet those requirements. 2.Cost (40%). Offerors will be evaluated on their overall cost and on the reasonableness of cost and schedule estimates. 3.Relevant Experience and Past Performance (30%). Special emphasis will be given to demonstrated experience with similar missions. 7.0POINT OF CONTACT: Questions about this POD should be directed to Tim Gehringer (Phone: 301-286-6831, Email: timothy.c.gehringer@nasa.gov). 8.0FINAL DUE DATE OF POD RESPONSE The response to the POC is due no later than 5 p.m. ET on August 12, 2016. The electronic PDF document shall be sent to Tim Gehringer (Email: timothy.c.gehringer@nasa.gov) It is the responsibility of potential respondents to monitor the FBO.gov for further information concerning this POD: http://fbo.gov   9.0ACRONYMS AOAnnouncement of Opportunity CBECurrent Best Estimate CSRConcept Study Report DCDirect Current ELVExpendable Launch Vehicle FYFiscal Year GSFCGoddard Space Flight Center I & TIntegration & Test ICDInterface Control Document LVLaunch Vehicle MLIMulti-Layer Insulation NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration NLTNo Later Than NPDNASA Procedural Document NPRNASA Procedural Requirement NTENot To Exceed PDFPortable Document Format PIPrincipal Investigator PDFPortable Document Format POCPoint of Contact PODPartnership Opportunity Document ROMRough Order of Magnitude RSRideshare RYReal Year SAASouth Atlantic Anomaly SMEX-2Small Explorer #2 SOWStatement of Work TBDTo Be Determined U.S.AUnited States of America
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/GSFC/OPDC20220/NASA-GSFC-POD-SMEX-2-CONCEPT-ACCESS-TO-SPACE/listing.html)
- Record
- SN04196304-W 20160728/160726235013-60080d4bc0ca92d72752cb58bda63b05 (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 |