JPL, Attn: Edward H. Kieckhefer, Mail Stop 190-220, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109-8099

A -- BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SYSTEM DESIGN DEFINITION STUDY CONTRACTS FOR THE LIGHTSAR PROGRAM Sol 96/11. Contact Point: Edward Kieckhefer, (818)354-1293; FAX (818)393-5024; E-mail: edward.h.kieckhefer@ccmail.jpl.nasa.gov. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology (JPL/CIT), operating under a prime contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is soliciting proposals for studies to define the LightSAR Mission and its implementation. LightSAR is a new program aimed at validating key advances in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, and related systems, that will reduce the cost and enhance the performance of this and future U.S. SAR missions. NASA's interest is in the cost-effective scientific application of SAR data. Because of high potential commercial interest in SAR applications, NASA is investigating the opportunity for an innovative government/industry partnership for LightSAR. Three sequential phases are envisioned for the LightSAR Program. The first, Definition Phase, focuses on business development and development of a preliminary design for the LightSAR Mission, including ground and space segments. The Definition Phase is the subject of this solicitation. Results of these design studies, including further definition of potential government/industry teaming arrangements, will be used to make decisions regarding follow-on phases. Although NASA and JPL/CIT make no commitment at this time to fund follow-on phases, this initial LightSAR Definition Phase can lead to a solicitation for a comprehensive Implementation Phase to design, manufacture, test, and launch the satellite and to validate its operations and performance. The goal for such an Implementation Phase is that it begin in January 1998, leading to a launch in the year 2000. The Implementation Phase would be followed by the Operations Phase, during which the spacecraft operations, tasking and processing, distribution, archiving, dissemination, marketing, and management of LightSAR information products and services will be the responsibility of the industry team, including any government team members. An important element of the follow-on phases would be an Earth Observations Commercial Applications Program (EOCAP) for SAR applications, in order to better understand the commercial potential for LightSAR. The EOCAP-SAR would be managed by NASA's Stennis Space Center. The opportunity to participate in these EOCAP applications would be announced separately as part of the Implementation Phase. Also, a separate solicitation for a LightSAR radar Integrated Product Development Team (IPDT) will be released in the near future. Announced following selection of the Definition Study Teams, the IPDT will operate in parallel with these definition studies. Definition Study Team members may respond separately to the LightSAR radar IPDT solicitation. The IPDT will initially focus on component technologies that have reached sufficient maturity to enable a lightweight, high-performance, low-cost SAR to be ready for launch in the year 2000. Members of each LightSAR Definition Study Team may participate as Cooperative Partners on the radar IPDT, and can help to focus the IPDT radar technologies on appropriate study team requirements. The IPDT will synthesize the technology requirements defined by the LightSAR Definition Study Teams, LightSAR Science Advisory Group, Radar Products End-user Group, and the NASA Office of Mission to Planet Earth (OMTPE) Program Office. A subset of the radar IPDT is intended to be selected in Spring, 1997 to develop prototype hardware as early as late 1997. This prototype development activity is intended to provide key radar technology risk mitigation during the Implementation and Operation Phases. The LightSAR definition studies will last approximately eight (8) months and will address the development of an operational scenario and business plan, pilot applications projects, the design of the space and ground segments, and definition of the performance and enabling technology needs of the radar instrument. Cost-sharing for these definition studies will be required. Particular areas to be addressed during the performance of these studies include: (1) Market analysis, including projected science usage and commercial sales of imaging radar-related products and services; (2) Definition of end-to-end system requirements, preliminary design, and plans for detailed design, manufacture, system integration and test, launch vehicle, launch operations, and end-to-end ground segment development; (3) Definition of radar system performance needs, identification of key enabling technologies that must be developed and demonstrated as part of system concept, and performance-cost tradeoffs; (4) Development of pilot applications projects that clarify the market analysis and address science, commercial, and operational end-user requirements; and (5) Business development plans, incorporating management approach, teaming arrangements, including any proposed NASA and other government agencies, data management, and distribution plans. (Note: All legitimate approaches for forming government/industry teams will be considered. Business plans should cover Implementation and Operations Phases, including proposed team members roles and projected funding commitments.) Definition study teams will be selected based on evaluation of the proposed approach to performing the above work, commitment to teaming and breadth of team assembled, cost-sharing commitment, and consideration of team member past performance. General information on this solicitation will be available on the LightSAR Web site at URL: http://lightsar.jpl.nasa.gov/lightsar. The solicitation (Request for Proposal) and instructions for this solicitation will be available on or about December 9, 1996 and responses are due on January 17, 1997. This opportunity is open to small businesses. Send your request via E-mail to: edward.h.kieckhefer@jpl.nasa.gov or via fax to: (818)393-5024, Attention: E.H. Kieckhefer. A Preproposal Conference will be held at JPL on or about December 18, 1996 to discuss the RFP. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). (330)

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