NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 214.3, Greenbelt, MD 20771

18 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR THE NPOESS PREPARATORY PROJECT (NPP) BRIDGE MISSION SPACECRAFT DUE 033199 POC James S. King, Contracting Officer, Phone (301)286-2533, Fax (301)286-0383, Email James.S.King.1@gsfc.nasa.gov -- Leif L. Grotos, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 286-7586, Fax (301) 286-0530, Email Leif.L.Grotos.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#RFI-020899-303. E-MAIL: James S. King, James.S.King.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA/GSFC is requesting information from interested industry parties about a potential future requirement. NASA is currently exploring the feasibility of developing a proposed spaceflight mission in partnership with the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Integrated Program Office (IPO). The two objectives of this proposed mission are to provide risk reduction for NPOESS through psuedo-operational demonstration and validation of instruments and algorithms prior to the first NPOESS flight, and to provide NASA and the broad Earth science community with the continuation of calibrated, validated, and geo-located global imaging and sounding observations beyond the Earth Observing System (EOS) AM-1 and PM-1 missions in support of Earth science research. In this manner, the proposed mission bridges between the EOS AM-1 and PM-1 missions, and the NPOESS mission, supporting the transition of long-term systematic Earth science measurements from EOS to operational systems. This RFI seeks information on approaches to implement the spacecraft portion of this proposed mission. The attached document file provides detailed guidance for responding to this RFI, as well as preliminary information about the mission requirements. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to comment/verify the reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition (in the event that proposals are sought in the future). Interested parties are requested to electronically submit information, comments or questions to James S. King, Contracting Officer at the e-mail address James.S.King.1@gsfc.nasa.gov Submissions are due no later than 3:00 pm EST on March 31, 1999. Additional instructions regarding the submission of responses are contained in the attached document file, and must be strictly followed. In responding, reference RFI-020899-303. Questions regarding the preparation and submission of a response may be directed to the appropriate points of contact specified in the attached document file. This Request For Information (RFI) 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. No solicitation/RFP exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. Posted 02/16/99 (D-SN298427). (0047)

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