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A -- INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACTS FOR ATMOSPHERIC REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENTS (ARSI) SOL 1-071-CG.0016 DUE 122297 POC Sandra M. Glenn, Contracting Officer, Phone (757)-864-2413, Fax (757) 864-8863, Email S.M.GLENN@larc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/LaRC/date.html#1-071-CG.0016. E-MAIL: Sandra M. Glenn, S.M.GLENN@larc.nasa.gov. NASA Langley Research Center plans to issue a DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) for Atmospheric Remote Sensing Instruments (ARSI) IDIQ Contracts. The effort requires the development of space flight instrument systems in support of science missions and associated atmospheric science research. This includes: 1) the development of mission and instrument concepts; 2) prototype instrument system and technology development; and 3) flight instrument component/subsystem and system development to support atmospheric science research. Mission and flight instrument concept development includes mission requirements definition; instrument requirements definition; instrument mathematical modeling and simulations; instrument conceptual design and analyses; and spacecraft interface (mechanical, thermal, and electrical) definition. Concept development must also include cost and schedule estimates for design, development, integration and test of the flight instrument system. Prototype instrument system and technology development includes the design, development, integration, testing and validation of component/subsystem technologies and advanced prototype instruments to reduce the technical and programmatic risk for development of flight systems to support science missions. Component/subsystem and instrument prototype performance must be validated in an appropriate environment that may include laboratory, field, aircraft, balloon, and/or space testing and evaluation. Flight instrument component/subsystem and system development includes the design, development, integration and testing (performance and environmental), and calibration of the flight component/subsystem or system. Component/subsystem development also includes developing plans and procedures for the integration and testing of the component/subsystem into the instrument system; and instrument system development includes developing plans and procedures for spacecraft/system integration and testing; and on-orbit testing and calibration. The instrument systems developed for this effort include active and passive sensors. A variety of techniques may be used to measure atmospheric parameters that utilize absorption, emission, reflection, or scattering of electro-magnetic energy. The following describes the science measurements, systems, and the technologies required for the atmospheric science missions and associated science research to be supported by the IDIQ contracts. Lidar Systems obtain high spatial resolution profiles of clouds, aerosols, water vapor, ozone and other trace gases; and map winds in the troposphere using Lidar systems. These systems use several detection techniques including direct backscatter (clouds, aerosols, and winds), differential absorption (water vapor and ozone), and coherent detection (winds). Laser transmitter wavelengths span from the ultra-violet to the infrared. Technologies required for these systems include compact, efficient, space-qualified lasers; and various receiver technologies including lightweight, deployable telescopes and low noise, wide bandwidth, large dynamic range detectors and electronics. Spectrometers obtain profiles of temperature, pressure, water vapor, and clouds; and measure tropospheric and stratospheric constituents important to climate change, meteorology, and global scale transport processes. This can be accomplished with a variety of highly calibrated systems including Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS), grating spectrometers, and Fabry-Perot interferometers that span the ultra-violet to far-infrared portion of the spectrum. Technologies required to enable and enhance these instruments include large focal plane detector arrays; active and passive thermal management; lightweight materials for structures and optics; advanced digital signal processors; and efficient actuators. Radiometers measure the angular distribution of the earth radiation budget from the top of atmosphere to the surface; the global distribution and temporal variation of atmospheric constituents important to climate change and meteorology; atmospheric dynamics and transport processes; profiles of aerosols; and active fires and characterization of burned areas. Instrument systems to accomplish these science measurement objectives include narrow and broadband filter radiometers with and without imaging capabilities. Technologies needed to enhance or enable these systems include infrared detectors and detector arrays; active and passive thermal management systems; efficient actuators; spectrally flat broadband detectors; and high-throughput, narrowband optical filters with improved long-term stability and out-of-band rejection. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. This acquisition will be subject to the new policies, provisions and clauses of the Final Rule on the FAR Part 15 Rewrite published in the Federal Register, Vol. 62, Number 189, Pages 51223-51272, on September 30, 1997. The SIC Code and Size Standard are 8731 and 1000 employees, respectively. The anticipated release date of DRAFT RFP 1-071-CG.0016 is on or about 12/8/97 with comments/suggestions for improvement due on or about 12/22/97. The purpose of this notice is to afford industry the opportunity to comment on any perceived issues or offer suggestions for improvement of the RFP including the requirements, schedules, proposal instructions, and evaluation approaches. All responsible sources may submit comments/suggestions for improvement which shall be considered by the Agency. Proposals shall not be submitted in response to this notice or the DRAFT RFP. An ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". The draft solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will be in Microsoft Office Suite (Word 6.0, Excel 5.0, or PowerPoint 4.0) format and will reside on a World-Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The WWW address, or URL of the NASA/LaRC Business Opportunities page is http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/LaRC/class.html. It is theofferor's responsibility to monitor the aforementioned Internet site for the release of the draft solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nnotes.htm. (0325)

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