NASA Headquarters, Office of Space Science, Washington, DC 20546 Attn:SD/Dr. David Gilman

A -- AO 96-OSS-02 FOR NASA'S FIFTH DISCOVERY MISSION SOL AO 96-OSS-02 POC Dr. David Gilman tel: 202/358-0349 This notice constitutes a broad agency announcement as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Office of Space Science (OSS), is releasing an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) AO 96-OSS-02, for investigations suitable for the fifth flight mission in its Discovery Mission series with a mission launch date no later than September 30, 2002. Participation in this program is open to all categories of organizations both domestic and foreign: industry, educational institutions, nonprofit organization, NASA Centers, and other Government agencies. The Discovery Program consists of focused planetary system(s) exploration investigations of limited cost and duration utilizing medium class or smaller launch vehicles. Investigations proposed to this AO must be complete investigations from initiation of preliminary analysis/technical definition (Phase A/B) through design/development (Phase C/D), including launch plus 30 days and mission operations and data analysis (Phase E). The Discovery Program will carry out these investigations using flight missions with design/development (Phase C/D) costs and mission operations and data analysis (Phase E) costs of $183 million or less and $43 million or less respectively in FY 1997 dollars. Phase E periods which require greater than $43 million are permitted if Phase C/D costs are reduced accordingly. Phase A/B costs will also be funded by the OSS, but will not be considered in the design and development cap. These Phase A/B costs are expected to be approximately $18 million or about 10% of the Phase C/D costs. A phased proposal selection cycle is in effect for this AO according to the following nominal schedule: AO Release - September 20, 1996; Preproposal Conference - October 7, 1996; Notice of Intent Due - October 18, 1996; Proposal Due - December 11, 1996; Nondomestic Letter of Endorsement Due - January 10, 1997; Selections for Feasibility Study Announced (Target) - April 1, 1997; Feasibility Study Due (Target) - August 31, 1997; Downselection of Investigations (Target) - September 30, 1997. On September 20, 1996, this AO will be available electronically on the OSS homepage. The homepage URL address is: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oss/research.htm. For those not having access to the Internet, a printed copy may be requested from the Discovery Science Peer Review Panel, Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, TX 77058-1113, phone (713-486-2166/FAX 713-486-2160/E-mail: cloud@lpi.jsc.nasa.gov). Inquiries of a technical nature should be directed to Dr. David Gilman (E-mail: david.gilman@hq.nasa.gov) and inquiries of a scientific nature should be directed to Dr. Jay Bergstralh (E-mail: bergstralh@hq.nasa.gov) of the NASA Hqs Office of Space Science. Proposals must be submitted to the Lunar and Planetary Institute by close of business 5:00PM (CST), December 11, 1996. (0243)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0005 19960903\A-0005.SOL)