NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

A -- ADVANCED SHUTTLE UPPER STAGES DUE 033198 POC Marlyce E. Alexander, Contract Specialist, Phone (205) 544-8344, Fax (205) 544-9354, Email marlyce.alexander@msfc.nasa.gov -- Harry B. Craig, Contracting Officer, Phone (205) 544-0515, Fax (205) 544-4401, Email harry.craig@msfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/MSFC/date.html#GP49E-Q-RFI. E-MAIL: Marlyce E. Alexander, marlyce.alexander@msfc.nasa.gov. NASA/MSFC plans to issue a RFI/Statement of Work via the internet, on or about March 16, 1998. 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. INTRODUCTION: NASA solicits information for in-house study for a new Shuttle Upper Stage. Interests are upper stage concepts, and information concerning configuration, major components, marketing, strategies, production, schedule, and cost. REQUESTED INFORMATION: Information that is of critical nature: a). Upper stage concepts, b). Shuttle compatibility (including any issues with operations and safety), c). Single upper stage delivery capability of 7,000 to 9,000 pounds to GTO (single spacecraft manifesting), and 15,000 pounds to GTO (dual spacecraft manifesting, d). Maximum upper stage capability to GEO from Shuttle low earth orbit, e). Concepts for delivery of 13,500 pounds to GEO using the Shuttle. Information that would bedesirable: a). Maximum payload that could be delivered by upper stage from low earth Shuttle orbit to GTO and permit upper stage return and retrieval by the Shuttle, b). Low cost design options, c). Predicted schedule for design, qualification, production, and initial launch capability, d). Dual payload installation configuration and attachment capability, e). Multiple launch mission concepts (mission using more than one stage, more than one Shuttle and utilizing on orbit assembly), f). Design of connectors/attachments for attaching two stages on orbit, g). Estimates of avionics requirements to meet the above mission requirements, h). Estimates of mass properties, i). Concepts, j). Cost estimates of flight articles, design cost, and operations based on three units per year for five years Comments and technical questions in response to this RFI may be forwarded to Robert W. Hughes via electronic transmission (STMP:Robert.W. Hughes @msfc.nasa.gov)or telephone (205) 544-6624 on or before March 31, 1998. This solicitation/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. It is MSFC's preference that propriety of company private information not be provided in your response to this RFI. If such information is provided, it should be clearly marked along with any restriction on its use. 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 WWW address, or URL of the NASA/MSFC Business Opportunities home page is http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/MSFC/class.html. It is the offerors responsibility to monitor this cite for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nnotes.htm. (0075)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0008 19980319\A-0008.SOL)