A -- RASCAL INDUSTRY DAY ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice Date

October 2, 2001

Contracting Office

Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Description

This is a Request for Information (RFI) and is being released by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information on industry capabilities to support the Responsive Access, Small Cargo, Affordable Launch (RASCAL) program. The objective of the RASCAL program is to provide a low cost responsive, routine access to space for small (50kg) payloads. It is envisioned that this system will employ an aircraft reusable first stage capable of exo-atmospheric flight and low cost expendable upper stages integrated to a standardized top stage avionic and control system. The goal will be to launch a 50kg payload to LEO anytime at any inclination with a routine flight rate, on time performance, and low cost. This system will -provide a launch platform to support a range of applications including military microsats, LEO commercial constellations, BMDO targets, university and research test program payloads, space hardware qualification, and Orbital Express type missions. Information and capabilities are solicited in the following areas: low cost system and component design and integration, system and component development, fabrication, ground and flight testing and concepts of operations. Of particular interest are: unique low cost propulsion approaches to achieving acceleration to an exo-atmospheric sub-orbital trajectory; methods for achieving safe separation of the reusable launch vehicle from the expendable launch vehicle; mission adaptability of expendable top stage launch vehicle, and low cost expendable propulsion technologies. Responses need not address the entire system but can focus on specific component technologies, aspects of the design or overall system integration. An Industry Day is planned for Thursday, 1 November 2001 in Arlington, VA to discuss program philosophy and acquisition strategy, as well as to facilitate teaming among the various industry participants. Companies responding to this announcement will receive e-mail information on details of industry day location, cost to attend, agenda, draft program solicitation and subsequent final program solicitation announcements. No other announcements will be issued prior to release of final program solicitation through the CBD. DARPA web page (WWW.DARPA.MIL) will host the draft solicitation after November 1st and final after Dec 1st. Attendance is limited to 2 individuals per organization. Please indicate interest in attending in conjunction to your RFI response so that we may provide further details as they become available. Please be advised that all responses to this RFI will be treated as information only and it will not be considered as a proposal. Any technical information submitted in response to this RFI is voluntary. Responses should be electronically submitted to Mr. Preston Carter, DARPA Program Manager, at PHCarter@DARPA.MIL. The subject line of all responses should read: RASCAL. Responses should be received no later than COB 5 October 2001.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/RFI02-01/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011004/SPMSC017.HTM (D-275 SN50Z4N5)