Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- ORBITAL EXPRESS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION SOLICITATION SOL RA00-37 DUE 071100 POC Mr. Samuel B. Wilson, III, DARPA/TTO, FAX: (703) 696-8401 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: RA00-37@darpa.mil, RA00-37@darpa.mil. The DARPA Tactical Technology Office (DARPA/TTO) has issued a solicitation for the Orbital Express Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program. The solicitation is available in electronic form only, and is posted on the DARPA/TTO web page (http://www.darpa.mil/tto/solicitations.html). The Orbital Express ATD program will define, design, develop, integrate and demonstrate on-orbit a new space architecture enabling routine autonomous satellite servicing (preplanned electronics upgrade, refueling and reconfiguration of satellites) in the post-2010 timeframe that will support the broadest possible range of future U.S. national security, civil and commercial space programs. The Orbital Express ATD program will be executed as an "Other Transaction for Prototypes," using DARPA's authority under Section 845, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, as amended. DARPA currently plans the Orbital Express ATD program to be executed in two distinct phases. Phase I duration is expected to be 14-months; Phase II is expected to last approximately 38 months. Phase I awardees must be capable of executing both Phase I and Phase II. For Phase I, DARPA plans to award two or more, 14-month, Section 845 agreements. The Phase I solicitation seeks proposals for the identification, definition and analysis of requirements for on-orbit satellite servicing, performance of utility, cost effectiveness and life-cycle cost analysis, nomination of a baseline satellite servicing mission, definition of an Operational System Concept (OSC) and a servicing Concept of Operations (CONOPS), conduct of risk reduction R&D activities, development of a conceptual design for an Operational System, and, completion of a preliminary design of an Orbital Express Demonstration System (i.e., prototype satellite-to-satellite servicing interfaces, prototype Automated Guidance, Navigation and Control (Auto -- GN&C) subsystem, a prototype servicing spacecraft, a spacecraft functionally emulating the prototype servicing architectures of both a serviceable satellite and an on-orbit depot spacecraft, and ground facility support for on-orbit testing). The Demonstration System is intended to validate the Operational System conceptual design and concept of operations in an on-orbit demonstration during Phase II. At the conclusion of Phase I, DARPA will determine whether to enter Phase II or conclude the program. Only Phase I teams will be eligible to compete for Phase II. If DARPA decides to proceed with Phase II, one industry team will be selected to complete the Demonstration System design; continue risk reduction R&D activities; develop, fabricate, integrate and test, and space-qualify the Demonstration System; support spacecraft / launch vehicle integration; arrange ground facility support for on-orbit test operations; and, conduct an on-orbit satellite servicing demonstration using the Demonstration System to perform multiple satellite servicing cycles involving automated satellite-to-satellite transfers of both fluids and hardware.(Demonstration System space launch vehicle manifesting is not an element of the Orbital Express ATD program.) At the end of Phase II, residual on-orbit Demonstration System hardware will be transitioned to the Air Force to support follow-on risk reduction and operational evaluation activities necessary to support a Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) Milestone II decision to initiate an Orbital Express acquisition program and enter Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD). Technical POC: Mr. Samuel B. Wilson, III, DARPA/TTO. DARPA/CMO POC is Mr. Thomas Lyon, e-mail: tlyon@darpa.mil. Teams are required to submit their Proposed Agreement in Microsoft Office 97 compatible electronic format. Teams are also requested to provide graphics (drawings, charts, photos, etc.) contained in their proposal in Microsoft PowerPoint 97 electronic format for use in source selection briefings. Acceptable media includes 3.5" diskettes, 100MB ZIP cartridges or CD ROM. The deadline for receipt of responses is July 11, 2000 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Late responses will not be accepted. The delivery address for mailed or hand carried responses is: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Orbital Express Program, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, Attn: Contracts Management Office, Solicitation Number: RA00-37. Posted 05/25/00 (W-SN458665). (0146)

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