SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR MEDIUM SUN SENSORS FOR THE GLOBAL PRECIPITATIONMEASUREMENT CORE OBSERVATORY
- Notice Date
- 6/25/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334511
— Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.Y, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-GPM-Medium-Sun-Sensors
- Response Due
- 7/24/2008
- Archive Date
- 6/25/2009
- Point of Contact
- Ann L. Kearney, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-614-5604, Fax 301-614-5619
- E-Mail Address
-
ann.l.kearney@nasa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This notice is issued by the NASA/GSFC to post a Request for Information via theinternet to seek industry comments and input regarding the availability of Medium SunSensors (MSS) for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory attitudecontrol system. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allowindustry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirements, aswell as promote competition.The GPM mission is one of the next generation satellite-based Earth science constellationmissions that will study global precipitation (rain, snow and ice). GPM Core Observatorywill be carrying both a dual frequency radar instrument and a passive microwaveradiometer. The Core Observatory will serve as a calibration standard for the othermembers of the GPM constellation. The mission life requirement of GPM is 3 years, withthe goal of 5 years.GPM is a scientific observatory, carrying instruments designed to characterize theprecipitation over the globe on a continuous basis. Scientists must control, veryprecisely, where each instrument on the observatory is pointing so that data can begeo-located for future analysis. As the instruments fields-of-view move from target totarget, knowledge of where data was taken must be accurately recorded as the observatorymoves through space.The Medium Sun Sensor may be packaged in a single housing or as multiple sensor headsaffixed to a mounting structure, where the mounting structure interfaces with thespacecraft. The MSS will be used to determine the position of the sun in the local x-ycoordinate plane, which is the plane orthogonal to the MSS mounting surface.In order for GPM to comply with NASAs end-of-life disposal requirements in the mostefficient manner, the Core Observatory will be designed to demise (burn up or melt away)upon atmospheric re-entry to the greatest extent possible. The debris casualty areaallocated to the MSS is 0 m2, meaning that the MSS are required to completely demiseduring re-entry. This is not expected to be an issue with a component the size of theMSS, but it must be examined.The GPM Project is planning an acquisition strategy for two flight MSS. Some fundamentalinformation is requested from industry to assist the GPM project with the development ofan acquisition strategy for the MSS. Through this RFI, the GPM Project wishes toidentify MSS requiring none to minimal non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs that willmeet the GPM observatory performance needs and satisfy the total demiseability guidelinesfor the GPM mission.The following are requirements for the MSS:DescriptionRequirementAccuracy+/- 2 degrees (per axis, 3 sigma)Field of View (half cone angle) 17.5 degreesTolerance: +/- 2.5 degreesPower0W(1)Temperature Range (operating)-40C to +93CMass (including all brackets and baffles)<500 gSize (including all brackets and baffles)Fits within 5x5x5 inch cube1 MSS is to be a current source only with no external power required.With regard to alignment: the MSS sensors will require placement, knowledge and stabilitytolerances of +/- 0.2 degrees each. An alignment cube, with surfaces normal to less than5 arcsec, will be used for MSS alignment to the spacecraft. It is desirable to have thealignment cube delivered as part of the MSS. If it cannot be, the spacecraft may be ableto provide an alignment cube on the MSS mounting bracket.The GPM Project encourages all industry sources with expertise in providing sun sensorsto respond to this RFI. The responses should demonstrate technical feasibility,operational robustness and reliability. Sources with relevant information to this RFIare encouraged to respond by submitting a white paper that includes the followinginformation: Background and Description of Proposed Approach: Describe in detail the specificcomponents being proposed for GPM Projects consideration. Describe the current state ofdevelopment, past use, types of interfaces, and expected performance. Please address anymodifications to existing designs necessary to meet the GPM requirements, and describethe qualification approach to ensure success.Component specification: Provide the component specification and the requestedperformance data. These topics should either be addressed in a white paper or submittedas a separate document. Information for each sensor should include:(1) Estimates of sensor accuracy, noise levels, biases, susceptibility to Earth Albedo,and all other error sources affecting the output signal quality.(2) Capabilities for aligning the MSS given the above information. Include discussion ofincluding the alignment cube as part of the design.(3) Descriptions of the algorithms used to determine sun angle from the sensor output. This should include whether or not a sun presence status can be provided. In otherwords, can it be determined if the light seen by the sensors is from the Sun or anothersource. If this status can be provided, the upper limit on FOV may be changed sincestray light would be less of an issue.(4) Materials list. The list will be used to determine if the hardware containssignificant amounts of materials which do not demise easily, such as stainless steel andtitanium.(5) Mass (kg) and dimensions (cm) for the MSS.Drawings requested.(6) Minimum natural frequency (Hz).(7) Steady-state power consumption (W).(8) Description of all electrical interfaces. Please describe if/how the componentinterfaces with redundant vehicle electronics.Provide component interface controldocument, if available.(9) Static load, random vibration and shock qualification levels.(10) Thermal qualification levels (degrees C) for operating, cold start, and survivallimits requested.(11) Estimate of electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility.(EMI/EMC) per MIL-STD-461C(12) Tolerance to total ionizing dose (TID) at the part level (krad).(13) Immunity, at the parts level, to single event effects (SEE) and single eventlatch-up (SEL).(14) State of component development. A list of heritage missions using that component isrequested. If the currently available components differ from these heritage units, pleasebriefly describe the design changes.(15) Component design lifetime (years), both in storage and on orbit.(16) Number of hours of failure free operations on orbit. Please note any operationaldifficulties and mention subsequent design corrections.Provide an estimate of the cost and schedule to deliver two flight MSS. Note any costassociated with non-recurring engineering efforts or required improvements, suchcustom-made baffles.If more convenient, respondents are welcome to provide information by submitting separateattachments, such as interface control documents or electronic data files. NASA will notpublicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtained in response to this RFI. Tothe full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and otherlaws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as Proprietary orConfidential will be kept confidential.GSFC is seeking capabilities from all potential sources for the purposes of determiningthe appropriate level of competition. This is not a solicitation announcement. If asolicitation is released, it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA AcquisitionInternet Service. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these sitesfor the release of any solicitation or synopsis. This RFI is for planning andinformation purposes only and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Governmentto enter into a contractual agreement, nor is the Government obligated to pay for thesolicited information.Respondents will not be notified of the results of theevaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultantsolicitation for the requirement.Technical questions should be directed to: Russell Roder; Code 596; Tel. (301) 286-3436;Fax (301) 286-3823; E-mail: russell.roder@nasa.gov. Procurement related questions should be directed to: Ms. Ann Kearney, Code 210.Y,E-mail: Ann.L.Kearney@nasa.govComments and questions regarding this RFI are encouraged and solicited. Responses aredue by July 24, 2008, and may be sent via electronic mail (in either Microsoft Word orADOBE PDF format), regular mail, or fax to:Ms. Ann Kearney, Mail Stop 210.5, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771;Telephone 301-614-5604; Fax 301-614-5619; email Ann.L.Kearney@nasa.gov. If you respondvia regular mail or fax, please provide an electronic copy in the above formats inaddition to the printed version of your submission.When responding please reference RFI-GPM-Medium Sun SensorsAn ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B".The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over theInternet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may beaccessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/GSFCBusiness Opportunities home page ishttp://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=51 It is the offeror'sresponsibility to monitor the Internet cite for the release of the solicitation andamendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their owncopy of the solicitation and amendments, if any. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c3f2c6a6962129f36445939c572d2cfb&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Record
- SN01600919-W 20080627/080625220425-c3f2c6a6962129f36445939c572d2cfb (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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