SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- NASA: Spitzer Space Telescope Extended Operations Request for Information (RFI)
- Notice Date
- 10/12/2017
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NNH18ZDA011L
- Point of Contact
- Dr. Jeffrey J.E. Hayes, Phone: 202-358-0353
- E-Mail Address
-
jeffrey.hayes-1@nasa.gov
(jeffrey.hayes-1@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SUMMARY The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is seeking information from parties who are interested in operating the Spitzer Space Telescope using non-NASA funding, including defining and executing a Spitzer science program, beyond the timeframe of the NASA-funded mission. The Astrophysics Division of SMD has committed support for Spitzer operations through March 2019. If no engineering impediments arise we expect that current Spitzer operations could continue through September 2019 and operations beyond September 2020 should be possible for the lowest data volume observing modes. The FY18 cost of Spitzer operations, without direct science data analysis funding for the Guest Observer (GO) program and Deep Space Network (DSN) support, is $14 million. Responses to this Request for Information are sought from all interested domestic parties. BACKGROUND The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched in 2003 as NASA's Great Observatory for infrared exploration of the Universe, and the prime mission was completed in mid-2009 after the exhaustion of the on-board cryogen. Since that time the observatory has operated with the two shortest wavelength arrays of the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) at 3.6 and 4.5 µm. IRAC performance continues to be excellent. As Spitzer progresses along its Earth trailing orbit the geometry between the observatory, the Sun, and the Earth changes in such a way that in order to point the body-fixed high-gain antenna for communications, the observatory has to orient to greater solar pitch angles. Ensuring safe and efficient operations under these conditions poses the main challenge to prolonged operations. While the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope's capabilities will exceed Spitzer's for most observing programs, Spitzer's demonstrated relative photometry precision, mapping speed and ability to make very long observations, interrupted only by downlinks every 24-48 hours, still provide unique capabilities for studies of exoplanets, extragalactic surveys and other science programs that benefit from its unique attributes. ASSUMPTIONS The following assumptions should be considered when providing a response to this RFI. 1.The response must come from the lead institution, and the lead institution must be US-based. 2.Spitzer mission and spacecraft operations at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and Lockheed Martin, and the scheduling portion of science operations at NASA's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) on the Caltech campus, cannot be moved. The complexity and legacy nature of the operations hardware and software preclude porting it to other institutions. 3.Scientific planning, the selection of the observations to be executed, and the creation of Astronomical Observation Requests (AORs) for delivery to the IPAC scheduling team can be carried out by other institutions. 4.NASA will provide the required services of the Deep Space Network. 5.In 2019 onwards it is expected that one downlink contact/day will be required and the maximum duration will be ~2 hours. The observing modes that can be supported beyond September 2019 would include 2-second sub-array and 100- second or greater full-array observations. 6.All data acquired by any non-NASA-funded phase of the mission will be delivered to the Infrared Science Archive at IPAC. RESPONSE GUIDELINES Responses should include the following items. 1.Entity information: name, contact information, summary of previous relevant experience. 2.Overview of the observing plan, including any science program. 3.Description of the proposed operations concept. Responses should include answers to the following questions. 1.What is your organization's approach to raising the funding necessary for operations? a.What would be the planned source(s) of funding? b.What is the estimated amount of time needed to raise sufficient funds? 2. Given the financial and operational constraints stated in this RFI, what is the earliest date your organization would plan to start transitioning into funding Spitzer operations? 3.How would you organize and execute a Spitzer observing program, including any science program? 4.What is the benefit to the Nation for such a partnership? INSTRUCTIONS Responses to this RFI must be delivered as an email attachment in PDF format to jeffrey.hayes-1@nasa.gov, no later than November 17, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An email confirmation of receipt from NASA will be sent within a one-week period to the designated point of contact. Questions concerning this Request for Information may be emailed to the same email address (subject line to read "Spitzer Operations RFI"). The information obtained will be used by NASA for planning and acquisition strategy development. NASA will not publicly disclose proprietary information obtained as a result of this RFI. To the full extent that it is protected by law and regulations, information identified by a respondent as Proprietary or Confidential will be kept confidential. DISCLAIMER It is emphasized that this RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal, nor Invitation for Bid. This RFI is being used to obtain information for planning purposes only, and the Government does not intend to award a contract at this time. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3, entitled Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes, this information is being made available for market research, information, and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. This RFI is subject to review or cancellation at any time and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. The Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this request. Following this initial feedback, as part of its market research, NASA may conduct one-on-one meetings with potential offerors. These meetings will allow for exchange of information. Please do not request a copy of the solicitation, as no solicitation exists at this time. If a firm requirement is developed and a solicitation is issued, the solicitation will be made available on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website (www.fbo.gov) and the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS) (http://procure.arc.nasa.gov ). It is the responsibility of offerors and interested parties to monitor the Internet sites for the release of the solicitation and amendments, if any, and they will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the documents. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/9bbeab044b505ed30c080b98a46ff622)
- Record
- SN04711732-W 20171014/171012230829-9bbeab044b505ed30c080b98a46ff622 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |