NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR UTILIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WINDOW OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITY SOL RFI-99-OES-03 DUE 113099 POC Dean Eppler, Senior Scientist, Phone (281) 244-8216, Fax (281) 244-8292, Email dean.b.eppler1@jsc.nasa.gov -- Tony Boatright, ISS Research Program Manager, Phone (281) 244-8087, Fax (281) 244-8292, Email tony.boatright1@jsc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/HQ/date.html#RFI-99-OES-03. E-MAIL: Dean Eppler, dean.b.eppler1@jsc.nasa.gov. This Request for Information (RFI) issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Earth Science (OES) is to investigate the potential for payload utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) Window Observational Research Facility (WORF). All interested parties are encouraged to provide comment to this RFI. The primary goal of this RFI is to seek interest in WORF utilization and potential sources for payloads. NASA will use the information for program planning and budgeting purposes only. Future procurement activities may or may not result from this fact-finding exercise. The WORF is a rack facility planned to allow payloads to take data through the high optical quality nadir research window being built for the ISS. It is anticipated that Earth sciences will be the primary user of this facility. Three WORF payloads may reside on-orbit simultaneously, with one to two payloads taking data through the facility at any given time. On-orbit life coincides with the Shuttlelaunch schedule, with a minimum life of approximately three months. More detailed technical information on the capabilities of the WORF and the window may be found in the Attachments section of this RFI. WORF utilization may include science, applications, technology demonstration, or outreach payloads. The OES is seeking concept definition, associated ROM costs, and maturity/risk assessments. WORF payloads may launch as early as 2001. All WORF payloads will be launched on the Shuttle. All information received from this RFI will be compiled and used for planning purposes. Any proprietary information received should be marked appropriately. Sources are urged to describe their technology in sufficient detail to allow NASA to define subsequent proposal opportunities. The information received in response to this RFI will be reviewed and summarized by several panels of experts. The summarized and synthesized recommendations may form the content of a procurement action that NASA may issue at a future date. The RFI will be available electronically on the release date, via the Internet at the Earth Science Enterprise ''Home Page'' at ''http://www.earth.nasa.gov'' under ''Research Opportunities'' or via anonymous ftp at ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/ese. A paper copy will be available to those who do not have access to Internet by calling (202) 358-3552 and leaving a voice mail message. This announcement will be open for the period from October 26, 1999 through November 30, 1999, and proposals may be submitted at any time throughout that period. POC Parties requiring additional information or clarification can contact: Dean Eppler Email: dean.b.eppler1@jsc.nasa.gov Phone: (281-244-8216) Tony Boatright Email: tony.boatright1@jsc.nasa.gov Phone: (281-244-8087) Betsey Park Email: elizabeth.a.park.1@gsfc.nasa.gov Phone: (301-286-7062) Posted 11/03/99 (D-SN397563). (0307)

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