SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- FEASIBILITY OF USING HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT OR ROBOTIC MISSIONS FOR SERVICINGEXISTING AND FUTURE SPACECRAFT
- Notice Date
- 12/8/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.S, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NNG10FC43-RFI
- Response Due
- 1/15/2010
- Archive Date
- 12/8/2010
- Point of Contact
- Nylsevalis Ortiz-Collazo, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-286-2387, Fax 301-286-1670, Email Nylsevalis.Ortizcollazo-1@nasa.gov - Claudia Canales, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-286-5990, Fax 301-286-1773, Email Claudia.Canales-1@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Nylsevalis Ortiz-Collazo
(Nylsevalis.Ortizcollazo-1@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is soliciting informationthrough this Request for Information (RFI) to improve its understanding of how currentlyplanned and future human spaceflight systems and/or robotic technologies can be usedeffectively to service a wide range of existing and potential future missions.Opportunities will also be identified for appropriate ground-based activities, in-spacedevelopment and demonstration activities involving the Space Shuttle and theInternational Space Station (ISS) that would lead to deployment of currently planned andfuture human spaceflight-based systems or robotic-based systems. NASA is broadly seekinginformation concerning technologies, missions, and architectures relevant to on-orbitservicing of spacecraft designed to operate in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), at GeosynchronousEarth Orbit (GEO), or in the near-Earth environment, including Lagrange points.Background and Study Plan:NASA has undertaken a study to assess the feasibility, practicality, and cost ofservicing satellites using elements of currently planned and future NASA humanspaceflight systems and/or robotic technologies. NASA will fully utilize the unique coreexpertise and competencies for in-space servicing (human and robotic) developed by theNASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), other NASA Centers, the private sector, othergovernment agencies, and academic partners to meet the objectives of the study. This RFIis the first step in identifying additional relevant expertise and interested partners.NASA will execute a robust study, led by Goddard Space Flight Center under the directionof the Space Operations Missions Directorate (SOMD). The planning activity began in May2009 and a final report to Congress is due in September 2010.Potential applications and capabilities for on-orbit servicing, both human and robotic,will be assessed by considering several notional missions selected to represent the rangeof possible current and future servicing missions. Elements described in the RFIresponses will serve as the starting point for defining the notional missions.In conjunction with this RFI, NASA will conduct an open workshop tentatively scheduledfor February 16-18, 2010 to bring potential users and providers of on-orbit servicingcapabilities together with the NASA study team. The study team will present the notionalmission definition process and the first draft of the notional mission suite. RFIresponders will have an opportunity to present ideas, technologies and capabilities aswell as forecast existing and planned spacecraft/observatories that would benefit fromon-orbit serviceability. The study team will then finalize the notional missions based onthe RFI responses and the presentations and discussions at this workshop.Notional missions might include (but are not limited to) currently planned and futurehuman spaceflight or robotic servicing of space assets to: a) assemble an observatory orspacecraft too large or too fragile to launch; b) replace scientific, communications, orother instruments; c) replenish consumables such as propellant or coolant; d) repair orreplace failed or under-performing components; e) dispose of space vehicles at the end oftheir operational life.Technologies and concepts considered for a notional mission may include, but are notlimited to, a) scientific, communications, or other payloads enabled by on-orbitservicing or assembly; b) relative navigation and machine vision sensors and algorithms;c) robotic systems for on-orbit repair; d) systems for on-orbit fluid transfer; e)vibration or jitter isolation technology; etc.Once the notional mission suite is defined, for each notional mission the study team willdevelop a mission concept sufficient to complete an assessment in the GSFC IntegratedDesign Center (IDC). RFI responders and partners who contribute key ideas used in anotional mission will be invited to participate in this process.The NASA study team will use the developed mission concept for each of the notionalmissions to address the questions the study was designed to answer. The feasibility ofusing the currently planned and future human spaceflight systems for servicing will beassessed by reviewing planned human spaceflight capabilities, identifying potentialmodifications and enhancements necessary for servicing and then performing a qualitativeappraisal of the cost benefit trade space. For all servicing architectures andapplications, technology assessments will be performed and a Technology Roadmap will bedeveloped that identifies the performance required for a successful servicingarchitecture and the current Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The Technology Roadmapwill identify opportunities for appropriate ground-based activities, in-space developmentand demonstration activities involving the space shuttle and the International SpaceStation (ISS) that would lead to deployment of human spaceflight-based or robotic-basedsystems. The opportunities for building on existing NASA infrastructure, capabilities andoperational experience will be assessed. All findings will be reported to NASAHeadquarters for disposition at the end of the study period.RFI and Study LogisticsWorkshop schedule and logistical information will be posted onhttp://ServicingStudy.gsfc.nasa.gov/.Descriptions of notional missions and currently planned and future human spaceflightarchitectures will also be posted to the website. This website will also serve as therepository for all open information submitted and collected during this study. All datescontained in this RFI are tentative. Please consult the website for actual dates andtimes. Please notify NASA of your intent to participate in these workshops by respondingvia the website.RFI Assessment Criteria:The NASA study team will consider the following questions in reviewing RFI responses andselecting the elements that will be included in notional missions.1. How does servicing using currently planned and future human spaceflight or roboticsystems make a previously impossible mission technically feasible?2. How does servicing using currently planned and future human spaceflight or roboticsystems reduce mission risk?3. How does servicing using currently planned and future human spaceflight or roboticsystems offer a significant reduction in the cost of accomplishing the mission?4. What life-extension or performance enhancements are enabled by servicing usingcurrently planned and future human spaceflight elements or a robotic system?5. What modifications or enhancements to currently planned human spaceflight systemswould further enable servicing?6. What core technologies enable servicing for more than one architecture? What otherapplications exist for this technology? How could the ISS be used to further thedevelopment of this technology?7. What architectures enable servicing of multiple missions?Requested Information:Statements shall be submitted via email, in PDF format, to the following e-mail address:Nylsevalis.Ortizcollazo-1@nasa.govPlease, make sure that the RFI number is stated in the subject line.It is NASAs intent to publicly disclose information obtained through this RFI and toincorporate relevant portions in the report to be submitted to NASA Headquarters. Also,the study team will include support contractors from several different companies.Proposers shall not submit proprietary information, export controlled information(including ITAR restricted information) or confidential information in response to thisRFI.In addition to whatever information the responder chooses to provide, each RFI responseshall include a cover sheet with the following information:RFI Response Number and Title:Responding Organization:1. Category: List all applicable and provide brief description in less than 20 words.___ A customer, e.g., science mission enabled by on-orbit servicing or assembly, asatellite in need of refueling, etc.___ An enabling technology for on-orbit servicing Technologies at TRL 5 or aboveTechnologies at TRL 4 or below___ A mission architecture concept___ Comments/Information on currently planned and future NASA human spaceflight systems___ Other2. What is the format of the information you are sending (e.g., brochure, presentationcharts, technical paper, etc)?3. Will you be willing to participate and present your proposed idea at the workshop ifinvited?4. Will you be willing to showcase your capabilities to the NASA study team at yourlocation?5. Is your organization willing to engage in and contribute to developing/enhancingtechnologies for on-orbit servicing? With NASA only or with other partner organizations?6. Does your organization have any controlled information (e.g., ITAR, proprietary,competition sensitive) that might be useful for this exercise? If so, are you willing todiscuss this information with the civil servant members of the team, if properarrangements can be made to protect the information?7. Provide contact information (organization, name and positions, email, phone number).No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If asolicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA AcquisitionInternet Service. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these sites forthe release of any solicitation or synopsis. This synopsis is for information andplanning purposes, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3 entitled Solicitation for Informationor Planning Purposes, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government norwill the Government pay for information solicited.Questions and comments are welcome and e-mail communication is preferred. For Technicalrelated questions please contact Jackie Townsend at jackie.townsend@nasa.gov. For otherrelated questions or comments please contact the Contracting Officer for this action.
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