NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BJ

70 -- SPACEFLIGHT LAPTOP COMPUTER SOL RFI-BJ2-0-01I DUE 020100 POC Delene R. Sedillo, Contracting Officer, Phone (281) 483-9730, Fax (281) 483-2138, Email delene.r.sedillo1@jsc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&;pin=73#RFI-BJ2-0 -01I. E-MAIL: Delene R. Sedillo, delene.r.sedillo1@jsc.nasa.gov. NASA/JSC plans to issue a draft Statement of Work via the internet, on or about December 7, 1999. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. Prospective offerors are invited to sumbit comments or questions to: Delene R. Sedillo at the address herein, no later than February 1, 2000. In responding reference the title and solicitiona number. Comments may be forwarded to Delene R. Sedillo via electronic transmission or by facsimile transmission. The laptop computer's initial role onboard human space flight missions was as a simple payload interface during shuttle flights; it was called the Payload General Support Computer (PGSC). Since then, laptop computer capabilities have evolved; and its use in human space flight has evolved, as well. A typical shuttle flight today has on average six PGSC's manifested on each flight performing a variety of duties ranging from a custom payload interface/data retrieval system to general duties such as email and video conferencing. The laptop's role in space flight does not stop there -- laptop computers are destined for the International Space Station (ISS), too. The Portable Computer System (PCS) project uses a laptop computer to provide a command and control interface for various systems on the ISS. The Station Support Computer (SSC) project provides functionality similar to the shuttle program's PGSC for general tasks and interfacing with the ISS payloads. Several payload specific laptops are expected, also. Approximately every four years, the laptop computer standard is updated and the laptops used for human space flight missions are replaced. This is done as an effort to upgrade the capabilities available to astronaut crews and the payload community. Initially, the laptops had only a floppy diskette drive and ran a simple disk operating system (typically, MSDOS). Today, the laptop computers have more memory, docking stations, CDROM drives, and run multiple disk operating systems. (typically, MS Windows or a version of UNIX.) NASA anticipates issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) in April, 2000, for the acquisition of the next generation laptop computer. NASA anticipates a phased acquisition approach involving an initial lot buy of 800+ units in October 2000; then, 2000+ units will be purchased over the next five years, with a technical refresh occuring October 2004. All onboard and ground support units are planned to be covered by this procurement. 1. Information Requested -- provide a capabilities and qualifications statement that includes: a. Provide comments and/or questions regarding the draft specifications. Reference the page and paragraph number in your submission for each comment/question. b. What industry standards do you meet for your commerical off the shelf (COTS) products? (The government is trying to determine how closely the industry requirements meet the certification and acceptance requirements for spaceflight.) c. What testing do you perform on your products? What testing could you perform to help the government meet the certification and acceptance requirements for spaceflight? d. Assuming modifications to the product are needed for it to meet certification and acceptance requirements for spaceflight, what modifications as part of your normal production process could you provide? If not part of the normal production process, identify those tasks and provide a brief explanation of the feasibility of performing those tasks by your company. e. Provide a brief description of your production cycles and product release timeframes. Would it be possible to provide the government with a few pre-release units in the July timeframe for testing before the actual, typical public release in the October timeframe? f. What other products, accessories, peripherals, etc. would be shipped with the unit as part of its standard configuration? Your response should be no more than 30 pages (8.5" x 11") in length. If you have additional documentation that provides specifications, test data, etc., please provide this information but limit it to 100 pages. Your response can be submitted in either hard copy or electronically. If submitted electronically, please ensure that the format is compatible with MS Office 97 or Adobe Acrobat Reader. If other software applications are used, please contact the Contracting Officer to ensure compatibility. This synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. Any questions regarding this announcement should be directed to the identified point of contact. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See Internet Note "B". The 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 Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/JSC Business Opportunities home page is http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html Posted 12/07/99 (D-SN406596). (0341)

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