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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 26,1996 PSA#1538NASA Langley Research Center, Industry Assistance Office, MS 144
Hampton, Va. 23681-0001 A -- GEOSTATIONARY EARTH RADIATION BUDGET (GERB) EXPERIMENT POC Linda
Fitzgerald, Industry Assistance Office, (804) 864-2461.
A--Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) Experiment. In order
that potential sources may learn of interest in a specific requirement,
an advanced notice is published here. The NASA Langley Research Center
(LaRC) is investigating thermal detector array devices for detecting
visible and infrared radiation emitted and reflected from the Earth
system from a platform in geostationary orbit. The array will also view
radiation from an in- flight blackbody and from a solar monitor for
calibration purposes. The detector array is to be integrated into the
Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) Experiment Instrument
currently under development in Europe. The GERB instrument is in
mid-development and is currently near the end of its phase-B
activities. The phase B1 GERB program in Europe baselined a
pyroelectric array of 128 x 256 pixels each of 58 micron size. This
avenue is no longer being pursued. Launch of the GERB instrument into
geostationary orbit is scheduled in July, 2000 on the Meteosat Second
Generation (MSG) Spacecraft. The MSG Spacecraft is spin stabilized at
100 rpm (600 msec per revolution). The GERB instrument has a de-spin
mirror mechanism allowing earth view for the 33 msec per revolution of
the spacecraft. Due to the programmatic considerations associated with
the project, the electronics and optics baselines have been defined
prior to the start of the C/D phases, which occurs in April, 1996.
Therefore, the spatial sampling of the earth and the readout modes are
pre-defined. As viewed from geostationary orbit, the GERB detector
array will image half of the earth during a viewing period, with full
earth coverage to be obtained over time. The delivered system will
function as the flight detector array on the GERB experiment. LaRC
intends to conduct the formal space qualification of the device. The
purpose of this notice is to solicit qualified firms from which
proposals for development and fabrication of the focal plane sensor may
be requested. Companies determined to be qualified by NASA Langley
Research Center may be invited to submit formal proposals for
development and fabrication of a detector array. The device must
nominally be a two dimensional thermal imaging detector array with
pixel size less than 60 microns but larger than 40 microns. The
spectral response must cover the range from 0.32 microns to 40 microns
(visible to far-infrared). The spectral response must be flat to 1.5%
over the range from 0.32 to 10 microns, to 5% over the range from 10
to 20 microns, and to 10% from 20 to 40 microns. Because the GERB
experiment requires sensitivity across a large spectral range detector
blackening techniques to achieve uniform spectral response across the
spectral range are required. Given the advanced stage of development
of the GERB instrument, the ability to provide the detector array on an
accelerated schedule is important. The array to be used in the GERB
engineering (i.e., non-flight) model is to be delivered to the GERB
project in Europe by 1 March 1997 with flight model delivery to occur
no later than 1 December 1997. A strong desire also exists for
additional non-flight detectors to be available to LaRC much earlier in
the program for verifying spectral properties and electrical
interfaces. Up to 30 detector arrays may be procured for qualification
with ultimate selection of 2 flight units and 2 flight spares.
Interested parties are invited to submit a five page white paper
detailing their background and experience in development and
fabrication of space qualifiable detector arrays sensitive over the
entire spectral range from 0.32 micron to 40 micron, including
descriptions of past experience in fabricating similar arrays,
experience in blacking techniques, experience in radiation hardening,
as well as a description of the nominal design of the array and
interface characteristics. Responses must be received at LaRC by 4:30
p.m., EST, March 8, 1996. A more detailed table of requirements and
specifications can be obtained from the Industry Assistance Office,
NASA LaRC, Linda P. Fitzgerald (804) 864-2461, e- mail l.p.
fitzgerald@larc.nasa.gov. All company proprietary rights will be
maintained. Please submit company profiles meeting the guidelines
provided above to NASA Langley Research Center, Industry Assistance
Office, Mail Stop 144, Hampton, VA 23681- 0001. Technical questions
regarding this requirement can be directed to Mr. Edward H. Kist at
804-864-1891. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes
and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will
the Government pay for any information solicited. Respondents will not
be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully
qualified will be considered in any resulting solicitation for the
requirement. Firms responding should indicate whether they are a
socially or economically disadvantaged business firm, an 8(a) firm, a
small business, and/or a woman- owned business. The Government reserves
the right to consider a small business set-aside or 8(a) set-aside
based on responses hereto. In responding reference SS253. (0053) Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0017 19960223\A-0017.SOL)
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