Attachment A - SOW.pdf

DRAFT RFP # 80GSFC25R7003

ATTACHMENT A

STATEMENT OF WORK

HYDROSPHERE, BIOSPHERE, and

GEOPHYSICS (HBG) SUPPORT SERVICES-

II

April 7, 2025

I. SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT

The Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Geophysics (HBG) sub-division in the Earth Sciences Division (ESD) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) conducts fundamental and applied science research, and conceives, develops, and deploys new measurement capabilities and technologies (e.g. space, airborne and in situ) to advance our understanding of the Earth system. HBG’s areas of expertise include the water cycle and water resources, land and ocean ecosystem health, global and regional sea level change, wildfire and natural disasters, changes in the Earth’s snow and ice, land cover, gravity field, tides, magnetic field, solid Earth, reference frames, and the effects of changes in the Earth system on life on Earth. The sub-division is also responsible for the maintenance, development, and management of NASA’s core space geodesy capabilities.

This contract is for support of a full range of scientific research, data product development and validation, instrument development, and numerical modeling activities across the breadth of the various Laboratories that make up the HBG sub-division:

Cryospheric Sciences (Code 615), Ocean Ecology (Code 616), Hydrological Sciences (Code 617), Biospheric Sciences (Code 618), and Geodesy and Geophysics (Code 61A).

Priorities for HBG research and applications activities largely mirror those set by relevant NASA Headquarters programs but are not limited to those (e.g. 2017-2027 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space). This contract is also for support of science, research and computing activities within the Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory (TISL) (Code 619). For the purposes of this document and contract the term HBG will be used to encompass all the Laboratories of the HBG sub-division including the TISL.

The principal missions of the various HBG Laboratories and TISL are summarized below (also see individual lab pages at https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth):

- The Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory investigates Earth's ice cover and its connection to the rest of the Earth system. Laboratory researchers combine comprehensive surface, aircraft, and satellite observations with sophisticated modeling to characterize the behavior of snow and ice and understand the processes at work. The Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory hosts the Project Science Office for the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2).

- The Ocean Ecology Laboratory (OEL) conducts research on ocean biology and biogeochemistry and the impact of changes in global aerosol and cloud distributions through a combination of satellite and airborne remote sensing, modeling, and field and laboratory work. The OEL processes, calibrates, archives, and distributes data from a host of domestic and international spaceborne radiometers, and collects field data and develops protocols for the calibration and validation of satellite radiometry and derived science data products. The OEL also hosts the Project Science Office and Science Data Segment (SDS) for the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission and SDS for the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) mission.

https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth

- The Hydrological Sciences Laboratory examines the role of water in the Earth system through field campaigns, numerical and data-driven modeling, and interpreting remote sensing observations. Laboratory researchers strive to better quantify and understand all aspects of the water cycle including natural interannual variations, freshwater availability and quality, water cycle extremes, water related natural hazards, interconnections to other earth system processes, and their responses to Earth system changes and direct human interventions. An important laboratory goal is to partner with end users to extend the use of NASA research results to provide information for use in managing Earth water resources and making policy decisions.

- The Biospheric Sciences Laboratory studies terrestrial ecosystems and their interactions with the atmosphere using multiscale remote sensing, mathematical modeling, and advanced analytical techniques. This research allows Laboratory scientists to characterize and predict environmental changes due to natural and anthropogenic processes at local to global scales. The Biospheric Science Laboratory also leads the Landsat Program (including development of Landsat Next), hosts the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) team, and maintains two key calibration labs.

- The Geodesy and Geophysics Laboratory performs broad research within the Earth, lunar, and planetary science disciplines in the areas of time variable and static gravitational potential and magnetic fields, Earth orientation, surface deformation, tides, land ice mass evolution, global continental ocean and inland water levels, and airborne and spaceborne laser altimetry. The laboratory supports many NASA Earth and Solar System missions in fundamental and core capabilities including precision orbit determination, geodetic parameter estimation, radar and laser altimetry precise pointing, ranging, timing, geolocation, calibration and validation. The laboratory is a leader in the design, development, implementation and application of geodetic laser altimeter technology including NASA’s Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) and the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Lidar (GEDI). The laboratory is the home of the Space Geodesy Project which encompasses the management, development, operation and maintenance of NASA’s Space Geodetic Network. The laboratory includes Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS), which is NASA’s space geodesy DAAC, and GEODYN, NASA’s state-of-the-art geodetic parameter estimation and precision orbit determination system.

- The Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory produces stable, well calibrated, and scientifically validated products from Earth observing satellites. These products support researchers working to advance understanding of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere on a global scale. The Laboratory partners with other federal agencies to develop and operate computing systems that provide custom products in near real-time for applied research and applications.

HBG scientists also participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative work that engages staff across Laboratories and other Directorates at GSFC. HBG scientists often support

NASA HQ and collaborate with other national and international agencies and organizations and across academia, non-government organizations, and the private sector.

I.A. Statement of Work Structure

The Contractor shall provide support services for the HBG sub-division and the TISL in the ESD at NASA’s GSFC. The support needed to accomplish the scientific missions of the HBG Laboratories above is categorized into six major areas: Science, Computing, Instrumentation Development, Calibration and Validation, Field Campaigns, and Communications and Public Outreach, as listed below. The ordering of the categories is not meant to reflect the importance of the required support.

SCIENCE

General Scientific Research

Modeling, Simulation, and Data Assimilation Scientific Mission Development, Planning, and Execution

COMPUTING

Science Data Processing Operations

Data Product Archiving and Distribution

INSTRUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT

CALIBRATION AND VALIDATION

Satellite Instrument Performance Analysis and Support Calibration Laboratory Support Specialized Laboratory Support

FIELD CAMPAIGNS

Planning and Execution In situ and Airborne Data Collection Data Archival and Quality Control

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC OUTREACH

Outreach and Informal Education Technical Writing and Editing Media Development

II. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

II.A SCIENCE

The Contractor shall support all phases of biospheric, hydrospheric, cryospheric, geodetic, and geophysical research activities. The specific research foci are too numerous to list but may be gleaned from the laboratory webpages within https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth and the range of publications listed therein (e.g., https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/hydrology/publications). Activities requiring support https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/hydrology/publications range from experiment concept, design, and fabrication, through data acquisition (in situ, flight, and satellite based), data analysis, numerical modeling, scientific and practical applications, final publication and communication and outreach, and/or transition of capabilities to end user partners for operational use.

The Contractor shall support data analysis operations, which require computer programs encompass such areas as pattern recognition, simulation and emulation of physical systems, image data analysis, dynamic interaction with graphical displays, mathematical modeling of physical theories and associated numerical and scientific analyses, and data correlation studies using statistical techniques, as well as large scale parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis, and optimization of numerical techniques. AI/ML based approaches are a growing component of such analyses, as well as large scale multi-disciplinary data analysis and cloud computing.

The Contractor shall support the mathematical analysis and computer implementation of measurement data retrieval algorithms and techniques that include but are not limited to optical, infrared and microwave active/passive radiative transfer modeling, scattering analysis, image enhancement, noise removal, radiometric corrections, geometric corrections, registration, filtering and other transformations, pattern recognition, multivariate classification, data assimilation, model benchmarking, change detection of Earth resources and meteorological image data, and precise satellite tracking data analysis including state-of- the-art satellite measurement and force modeling. Such approaches will be used to infer biogeophysical parameters from current and future ground-based, airborne, and satellite remote sensing instruments studying land, ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere, and geophysical processes. The Contractor shall also support the analysis of the impact of sensor characteristics and performance on derived Earth science data products and develop improved algorithms and products to assure science data integrity for science experiments and modeling activities.

The contractor shall support the development of actionable Earth science information from modeling and science data analysis through derived data analysis and co-development with relevant stakeholders. Of particular emphasis will be the priority areas identified by NASA’s Earth Action program. The contractor will support the initiation and growth of interagency partnerships, coordination, and co-development efforts with stakeholders and end users.

II.A.1. General Scientific Research

The Contractor shall support HBG science research across the entire life cycle of science inquiry from hypothesis to concept development and analysis to data acquisition to final publication, including research proposal development. Support is needed for programs such as but not limited to the Earth Observing System (EOS), Space Geodesy Project (SGP), Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, and Ocean Ecology (PACE), Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP), Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-Follow On (GRACE-FO), the Jason, Sentinel, and SWOT series of radar altimeters, the Landsat series, ISS missions including Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI). The Contractor further shall support the Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program, Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG), and development of future Earth Science missions to be launched such as Landsat Next, Surface Biology and Geology (SBG), and GRACE Continuity (GRACE-C). Observation platforms include ground-based instruments, piloted aircraft, unoccupied aerial systems (UASs), and satellites (cubesats, smallsats, and traditional spacecraft buses).

As required to support the programs above, the Contractor shall:

1. Collaborate with HBG scientists to conduct basic scientific research that aims to advance scientific understanding through hypothesis testing and the scientific method, building upon the relevant published literature;

2. Create and maintain historical data, and document all experimental methodologies and protocols to ensure reproducibility;

3. Coordinate measurement operations; conceive, plan, organize, and conduct field campaigns and experiments combining in situ, airborne and satellite platforms to obtain data critical to the instrument development, validation, and calibration efforts;

4. Provide data analysis with accompanying precision, bias, and error analysis, with appropriate software development to provide an operational correction capability;

5. Provide results in the form of summary data, charts, graphs, images, posters, and manuscripts for study, presentations, and publications;

6. Conceive and develop capabilities and transition them to operational end users;

7. Contribute to HBG proposals to NASA as well as other agencies, as appropriate; and

8. Conduct these activities in accordance with NASA’s open-source science principles and manage all mission and research data, software, documen-tation, and scientific activities in accordance with NASA SMD Policy Document SPD-41a, Scientif-ic Information Policy for the Science and Mission Directorate; follow the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable) guiding principles for scientific data management and stewardship; follow the recommen-dations documented in NASA SMD Open-Source Science Guidance.

II.A.2. Modeling, Simulation, and Data Assimilation

The Contractor shall support the development, use, integration and interpretation of numerical models throughout the HBG Laboratories as tools for scientific research. These models range in spatial scale from local to global and in complexity all the way to advanced, high-performance software frameworks such as the Land Information System

(LIS) that support the various Land Data Assimilation Systems (LDAS). Modeling areas in HBG include coupled land and atmosphere dynamical-ecosystem-carbon-system models that use space-borne, airborne, and ground observations to predict land surface conditions and processes; modeling of ice sheets and glaciers, sea ice, snow on ice and land, and their roles in the global Earth system; realistic scene/canopy simulations models facilitating the study and better understanding of interactions between sensor design and atmosphere/surface radiative transfer; modeling of earth and planetary static and time varying gravity from satellite tracking, surface gravity and altimetry; modeling of the comprehensive geomagnetic field; modeling of earth and planetary orientation;

development and modeling of terrestrial and celestial reference frames; LDASs that integrate a range of satellite and surface observations; and numerical geodynamo models that assimilate surface geomagnetic data for understanding the core structure of the Earth and its origins as well as improved prediction of future geomagnetic fluctuations.

As required to support such activities listed above and fields of study including biospheric, hydrospheric, and cryospheric sciences, geodesy, and geophysics, the Contractor shall:

1. Use numerical models to perform observing system simulation experiments (OSSE) to examine the effects of various instrument and mission design and performance tradeoffs;

2. Develop dynamical-earth-system models to study the impacts of environmental conditions and change on Earth ecosystem species composition and abundance, and carbon transformations within the biosphere;

3. Develop, maintain, distribute, and provide user support for the LIS and numerous specific instances of LIS (XLDAS) and WaterView, which is a NASA Earth Action program funded activity to develop comprehensive terrestrial water cycle analyses;

4. Develop, maintain, distribute, and provide data processing and simulation support for

GEODYN, NASA’s state-of-the-art geodetic parameter estimation and precision orbit determination system;

5. Simulate processes for studying environmental parameters and performing analysis and validation of physical parameters derived from new and existing laboratory, ground, aircraft, and satellite observations; and

6. Provide support for the NASA Disaster Response Coordination System, including the development of value-added products to assist in disaster risk management and coordination; and

7. Provide results in the form of summary data, charts, graphs, images, posters, and manuscripts for publications and presentations.

II.A.3. Scientific Mission Development, Planning, and Execution

The Contractor shall support HBG scientists and projects in the technology maturation and implementation process for NASA space flight missions, from concept designs and trades, mission requirement development, instrument prototyping on airborne or ground-based platforms to mission proposal development and, ultimately, mission operations.

HBG scientists are involved in activities in all phases of the mission development cycle, including spaceborne, sub-orbital (i.e. airborne and rockets), and in situ measurements.

Mission support is needed for future missions such as Atmosphere Observation System (AOS), Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO), Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR), Surface Biology Geology (SBG), JPSS-3/4, GRACE-C, Landsat-Next , and other Earth Science Decadal Survey and Earth Explorer missions, as well as for existing missions such as but not limited to PACE, Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT), ICESat-2, GRACE-FO, JPSS-1/2, , GEDI, EOS, Global Precipitation Mission (GPM), Landsat 8 & 9, SMAP, Suomi-NPP, Jason-2, Jason- 3, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, EDGE, and Quantum Gravity Gradiometer (QGG) Pathfinder. The Contractor shall also support the technology development, implementation and the operations of the Space Geodesy Project (SGP), which includes support for Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI), and GNSS Global Positioning System (GPS).

The Contractor, through the life cycle of all missions, shall:

1. Support all mission Project Science Offices and Science Data Segments (SDS) in the development, refinement, and verification of science requirements, and support the Project Scientists and SDS managers in the analysis and development of presentation materials required for formal mission phase gate reviews.

2. Support the development of software tools to generate, deconflict, and validate observatory and instrument science activity timelines to optimize science data acquisition and mitigate instrument and observatory constraints. Provide on-going operational support after launch for the generation, deconfliction, verification, and delivery of mission and instrument science activity timelines to Mission Operations Centers (MOC).

3. Provide orbital instrument support for the space missions.

4. Support instrument on-orbit commissioning and the planning and execution of on-orbit maneuvers.

5. Support calibration and validation of satellite data post launch. This includes but is not limited to the use of on-board references, deep space views, lunar calibrations, Earth targets, in situ data and radiative transfer modeling, and observatory maneuvers

6. Apply in situ and laboratory measurements, satellite data, and radiative transfer simulations to study the spectral, spatial, and temporal requirements necessary to accurately retrieve multiple geophysical parameters for the Earth system. This work applies to a wide variety of passive and active sensors.

7. Support the development of calibration slew plans and instrument activity schedules, and the preparation and verification of instrument command loads for supported missions.

8. Support mission efforts to develop and coordinate the application of mission data and products for societal benefits. This includes encouraging growth in the mission applications community by facilitating regular contact and communication with ‘Early Adopters’ and by organizing dedicated workshops and tutorials aimed at both new and existing users of mission data.

9. Support the NASA Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program’s mission to identify, evaluate, and acquire commercial satellite data that support NASA's Earth science research & application goals.

10. Contribute to the writing and publication of journal articles, algorithm theoretical basis documents, and internal reports describing mission requirements, development, and outcomes.

II.B COMPUTING

The Contractor shall provide a range of computing support across HBG, including science processing operations and data archiving and distribution. This section describes the contract support that is required across the HBG laboratories to provide science software and algorithm development capabilities, system and data maintenance and archiving, including maintenance of legacy software and data, and user services and data distribution.

II.B.1 Science Data Processing Operations

This section covers science data processing system operations (e.g. MODIS Adaptive Processing System (MODAPS), Ocean Data Processing System (ODPS), GEDI Science Data Processing System (SDPS), ICESat-2 Science Investigator-led Processing System (SIPS), and GRACE-FO Science Data System (SDS)), as well as science algorithm development, coding, testing, and implementation.

The Contractor shall:

1. Provide technical analysis for the development, implementation, and operation of computing systems to produce and distribute science data products. The Contractor shall perform hardware and software development and maintenance in order for the science data production system to meet mission and programmatic requirements. The Contractor shall also provide operator support for these science production and distribution facilities for both on-premises and cloud instances. Depending on the facility covered, operations support may extend beyond normal business hours to include monitoring of processing and product distribution in the evening and weekends (e.g. MODAPS, ODPS)).

2. Publish ocean ecology analysis results via the Ocean Color Web (OCW, see http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov) for all proposed reprocessing changes prior to initiation of a reprocessing and report any significant degradation in sensor calibration or product quality as needed to inform the user community of potential impacts to distributed products (e.g. ODPS).

3. Maintain and enhance processing system ingest and distribution subsystems. The

Contractor shall maintain and enhance software that can ingest Level 0, raw instrument counts, and ship Level 1 through Level 4 science products to the assigned Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC) or to the other dedicated NASA product portals, the instrument science team, and the public (e.g., MODAPS, ODPS, GEDI SDPS, ICESat-2 SIPS).

4. Develop, implement, and evaluate algorithms and software to process satellite radiometric measurements from counts to calibrated, geolocated observations.

Perform algorithm development, testing, and maintenance for a range of missions, including optical, thermal and microwave sensors. This shall include algorithms for:

calibration and radiometric characterization of the reflected solar bands and the emitted thermal bands, delivery of data browsing, calibration products including absolute and temporal calibration look-up tables (LUTs), development of geolocation algorithms, assessment of geolocation performance, development of instrument alignment corrections, cross-calibration of sensors, and data product quality assessment. The Contractor shall provide spectral, spatial and radiometric modeling and scene simulation capability to support algorithm updates, development, testing and analysis. The models shall allow for characterization of ground targets, observing conditions, and sensor and spacecraft parameters. The Contractor shall identify types and sources of algorithms for radiometric corrections to satellite science data. The Contractor shall develop operational algorithms for the correction of satellite data for effects such as: satellite orbital drift, sensor degradation, cloud contamination, atmospheric effects, land surface bidirectional reflectance, topography, and soil background. The processing algorithms may be provided in the form of Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents (ATBDs), software from Science Team members or the research community, or software developed by the Contractor, or other ESD staff.

5. Provide software development, data acquisition, and data analysis to support research and development of new or improved science data products from single or multiple satellite instruments (e.g. Visible and Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), GRACE/-FO/-C, SMAP, GEDI, ICESat-2, the Jason/Sentinel series and SWOT or PACE).

6. Apply the appropriate data reduction algorithms to process raw Level-0 data and generate higher level data products in calibrated physical units. The Contractor shall maintain and enhance the software to generate products on Linux systems (e.g., MODAPS, ODPS, GEDI SDPS).

7. Maintain and enhance visualization and data manipulation tools. The Contractor shall maintain and enhance existing visualization and data manipulation tools that employ, but are not limited to C, Python, R, Interactive Data Language (IDL), ENVI, ArcGIS, QGIS, MATLAB, GMT (Generic Mapping Tool), and modern FORTRAN to support the rapid inspection and quality assessment of science products. Data manipulation tools may also include cloud-based analysis platforms, such as Google Earth Engine.

The Contractor shall provide software documentation that includes on-line help and user’s guides for the tools.

8. Perform data product quality assurance on data products. The Contractor shall develop and maintain software for tracking the quality of satellite data products. The routines shall identify problematic data, problems in science product generation software and inoperable detectors. The Contractor shall develop data correction algorithms for improved operational quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC).

9. Assess the quality of all standard products generated and distributed by the ODPS and

Ocean Biology DAAC (OB.DAAC), to include absolute accuracy, precision, temporal and spatial stability, and mission-to-mission continuity and consistency (where applicable). The Contractor shall perform these assessments prior to any reprocessing or new product generation and inform the research community as to any change in quality before distribution. The Contractor shall also perform quality assessments and comparative analyses of ocean color time-series products to assess performance of new algorithms (proposed by OEL staff or the research community), or sensor calibration changes. The Contractor shall further perform daily assessments of recently processed data to identify processing errors.

10. Maintain a system description document that describes the inputs, outputs and processing flow for all software used to produce products. The Contractor shall provide a yearly update of this document to reflect changes received from the science team or made by the Contractor to the production software. The software, source code, test datasets, and benchmark results should all be formally version controlled.

11. Maintain documentation that describes in detail the architecture of the processing and product distribution system and provides information needed to maintain the components of the system. (e.g., MODAPS, ODPS, GEDI SDPS).

12. Maintain software for product generation. The Contractor shall maintain all software under configuration management, install components of the processing system as they are improved, and install processing system software upon request on new computer systems. The Contractor shall maintain science product generation software. This involves integration and testing of new deliveries of the science product generation software from mission Science Teams (e.g., MODAPS, ODPS).

13. Maintain databases. The Contractor shall maintain the processing system production and test databases including performing database backup, database consistency checks and database tuning for the development, test, and production systems. The Contractor shall develop and update the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for database installation, maintenance, and tuning (e.g., MODAPS, ODPS).

14. Provide algorithm and data processing system maintenance and operations, operational data production, data product verification, and user support for Science Planning and Science Data Processing Systems in support of both airborne and spaceborne missions.

15. Maintain and enhance production systems for near-real time data processing (e.g., Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE)) and changes to existing science processing software to support near-real time applications.

16. Maintain and enhance production systems (GWM and GREALM) for near real time and archive satellite altimetry products that focus on surface water levels over continental waters.

17. Provide cutting-edge scientific computing support. In particular provide scientific computing support for large scale model parameter estimation problems in a highly parallel processing architecture on in a hybrid computing environment that includes UNIX clusters, NASA high performance computing systems (e.g., NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) super computers), and cloud computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services (including porting to such platforms). Provide highly skilled and innovative support in the programming of Graphics Processing Units (GPU) to solve large scale computing problems (e.g., the processing of billions of LIDAR waveforms). Provide skilled support in developing and transitioning to ML/AI based analysis and processing approaches.

18. Support compliance with the Scientific Information Policy for the Science Mission

Directorate (SPD-41a), including the Open Source Science provisions requiring software release.

II.B.2 Data Product Archiving and Distribution

Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) and other dedicated NASA web portals (e.g., CDDIS, MAAP, VEDA) are responsible for data product archiving, data product distribution, and for providing tools, services and expert advice to the user community for products in their archives. Specific requirements for the DAACs are set forth by the EOSDIS Project and maintained in COMET (Configuration Management EOSDIS Tool).

The Contractor shall be responsible for meeting the requirements outlined in

“Requirements for Archiving, Distribution and User Services in EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS), document #423-10-69, Revision B.”

The contractor shall enhance, maintain, and operate the following DAACs:

1. The OB.DAAC distributes all satellite data and derived products produced by the

ODPS (e.g., ocean color from VIIRS, MODIS, SeaWiFS, Ocean Land Color Imager (OLCI), Ocean Land Colour Imager (OLCI), Medium Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MERIS), Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS), and Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS), SST from MODIS and VIIRS, and ocean color, aerosol, and cloud products from PACE). The Contractor shall support and enhance the OB.DAAC data distribution capabilities to support new missions (e.g., GLIMR) and new requirements (e.g., distribution through EarthDataCloud).

2. The Level 1 and Atmospheres Archive and Distribution System DAAC (LAADS.DAAC) distributes calibrated and Earth located radiances (Level 1 products) and derived geophysical atmosphere and land products from MODIS, VIIRS, European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinels, AVHRR, and airborne instruments.

The Contractor shall support and enhance the LAADS.DAAC data distribution capabilities to support additional missions as assigned by the EOSDIS Project.

3. The Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) is NASA’s data archive and distribution system for space geodesy data. The system supports the space geodesy and geodynamics community through the Space Geodesy Project as well as NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise. The CDDIS archives and distributes GPS, Global Navigational Satellite System (GLONASS), SLR, LLR, VLBI, and DORIS data. The Contractor shall support the maintenance, enhancement, and operations of the

CDDIS.

The Contractor shall also support the following tasks of the DAACs identified above:

1. Maintain and enhance the processing system web-based sub-systems including data search and order, production reports and online documentation.

2. Make science products available online and maintain and enhance secure web sites that enable searches, orders, and delivery of science products (e.g., OB.DAAC, LAADS.DAAC).

3. Maintain and enhance software that will enable users to generate customized products by applying post-processing operations that include but are not limited to sub-setting, sub-sampling, projection, masking and mosaicking (LAADS.DAAC).

4. Maintain and enhance secure web services that provide machine-to-machine access for all data search, ordering and post-processing operations available at the DAAC website (LAADS.DAAC).

5. Maintain documentation on the DAAC web sites for all products distributed by the DAACs and make available the source code used to generate the products for download by users (LAADS.DAAC). The Contractor shall deliver any version of a science application used to generate products that is currently archived upon request.

The delivery shall be in the form that includes a readme file, complete science software and test data sets as defined in the ICD (Interface Control Document) or other formal official document.

6. Monitor and respond to users queries and requests regarding products distributed by a DAAC and any services offered by the DAAC. The Contractor shall track user questions and use the information to improve the answers provided in FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and online documentation (LAADS.DAAC) and in an online user forum (OB.DAAC).

7. Develop, maintain, distribute, and provide user support for the multiple data distribution and analyses systems (e.g., SeaWiFS Data Analysis System (SeaDAS), GIOVANNI). These systems provide the research community with a tool for display and analysis of all satellite products as well as the processing software to reproduce those products, alternative products, or user-developed products from satellite radiometric observations. The Contractor shall maintain the existing capabilities to ensure software portability with popular operating systems, maintain legacy software and data, incorporate new capabilities as needed to support new missions and changing NASA requirements, and evolve the software package through new technologies and design improvements to minimize maintenance costs and enhance utility. The Contractor shall also prepare training materials and lead periodic training workshops for the user community.

8. Maintain and extend the existing NASA Ocean Optics Protocols that are currently available as NASA Technical Memoranda and distributed through the OCW, to incorporate new or updated instrument capabilities or measurement approaches.

9. Provide support to investigators involved with space geodesy data sets distributed by

CDDIS.

II.C INSTRUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT

The Contractor shall support the HBG and other Laboratories in the ESD and in the GSFC Sciences and Exploration Directorate in the development of new instruments for laboratory, ground-based, airborne, and space-borne platforms for Earth and planetary remote sensing applications. Developing and demonstrating new measurement concepts and techniques that can enhance and improve science data gathering relies on various engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, laser and electro-optical, optical and microwave engineering, and includes design, analysis, fabrication, and calibration.

Pre-launch engineering tasks may also involve design and analysis efforts for developing Bench Checkout Equipment (BCE) – equipment used to verify and calibrate new instruments under the same environmental conditions expected in space. Engineering support for laboratory use, and field deployment on the ground or in the air of a variety of in situ and remote sensing instruments is also required.

The Contractor shall provide instrument and component development and engineering support including the design, development, and verification of research instrumentation at various stages of completion. Included in this support are: 1) basic engineering design and analysis of an instrument, components and subsystems; 2) development of electronic components and subsystems; 3) fabrication and assembly of optical and microwave, opto-mechanical and mechanical components and subsystems; 4) integration of the components and subsystems into an instrument; 5) field testing; and 6) the evaluation and verification of acceptable performance of systems, subsystems, and instrumentation. Each stage of the development process shall be documented by the Contractor and provided to the Government on a predetermined schedule. Spare parts, witness samples, test procedures and test results shall be maintained by the Contractor as required by the project manager or investigator.

The contractor shall also provide general engineering support services for a variety of laboratory and in-situ instrumentation and for field deployment of both airborne and ground-based instruments and systems.

The Contractor shall:

1. Design, develop, fabricate, test, integrate, and calibrate instruments and readout systems for in-house use and in situ and airborne deployment (e.g., AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET)), Goddard’s Lidar Hyperspectral and Thermal Imager (G- LiHT), LVIS);

2. Support the following: site surveys; airborne and ground-based engineering data collection; equipment installation; data analysis; and documentation (e.g., AERONET, G-LiHT, LVIS);

3. Design, develop, install, and test new optical and microwave mechanical, electrical, and electronic assemblies for existing instruments, hardware, and equipment;

4. Monitor the status of support equipment used in laboratory and field (airborne, in situ) experiments; identify inoperable detectors and equipment;

5. Operate and manage laboratory and field deployment of hardware and software; field observations and flight support; and instrument modification and equipment refurbishment (e.g., AERONET, G-LiHT, LVIS).

II.D CALIBRATION & VALIDATION

The quantitative analysis of remotely sensed data requires the ability to discriminate changes in the remote sensing instruments from changes in the physical processes of the

Earth being measured or monitored. The ability to make this discrimination during pre-and post-launch, flight, and deployment depends on (1) the calibration of the instruments with respect to a set of recognized physical standards or processes, and (2) the careful characterization of instrument performance at both the subsystem and system level, and over time. Validation includes a scope of activities ranging from vicarious and image or product quality assessments all the way to laboratory and in situ measurements.

HBG Laboratories maintain several laboratory facilities including state-of-the-art calibration laboratories such as the Calibration Facility and the Goddard Laser for Absolute Measurement of Radiance (GLAMR) laboratory, both withing Code 618, and other smaller laboratories that serve functions from calibration and maintenance of field instruments to analysis of field-acquired samples. This function addresses requirements that are primarily related to the calibration and validation of sensors and their calibration and validation data products.

II.D.1 Satellite Instrument Performance Analysis and Support

The production of consistent instrument data records requires the careful review and analysis of the pre-launch and on-orbit performance of Earth observing satellite instruments with respect to overarching science goals. Specifically, this includes performing (1) detailed pre-launch review of satellite instrument radiometric, spatial, and spectral performance requirements, (2) comprehensive analysis of pre-launch instrument-level and observatory-level testing, calibration, and characterization, and (3) accurate assessment and maintenance of post-launch instrument performance. Relevant missions include but are not limited to Terra and Aqua MODIS, Suomi-NPP and JPSS VIIRS, Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), PACE, ICESat-2, Landsat, GEDI, GRACE-FO, GRACE-C, and Surface Biology and Geology (SBG). In performing the above activities, the Contractor shall:

1. Support the development of measurement requirements and prelaunch and post launch calibration and characterization methodologies and analyses.

2. Review and assess the subsystem and system-level design and testing of satellite instruments operating across wavelengths from the visible to the microwave against instrument hardware performance and science requirements. This includes the review of instrument design, ground support and test equipment, test methodology and software.

3. Monitor pre-launch satellite instrument subsystem and system level ambient and thermal vacuum testing and analyze all test data produced. In addition, analyze ambient and thermal vacuum instrument test data acquired at the observatory-level.

These activities will be performed at NASA GSFC and at the satellite instrument vendor facilities. Document the results of these tests in formal reports. Support pre-launch data, test, and performance reviews and working groups, anomaly and failure resolution, and technical interface meetings.

4. Review and assess the science impacts of instrument performance waivers and risks, which may arise during instrument performance testing. Interface with the science data user community in formulating final science impact assessments.

5. Review, maintain, develop, and enhance the software required to produce calibrated, geo-located, radiance and reflectance data from satellite instrument raw data.

6. Design, develop, implement, maintain, test, and verify system algorithms, with particular attention to problem areas identified by project managers, such as cross talk between sensor detectors, polarization and scan angle effects in optical systems, or cross-calibration of sensor systems (e.g. MODIS Terra and Aqua, Landsat, VIIRS Calibration Facility and Biospheric Sciences laboratory equipment).

7. Support instrument post-launch testing and on-orbit commissioning including monitoring and trending on-orbit radiometric, spatial, and spectral performance data.

Support the planning and execution of on-orbit calibration maneuvers (e.g. lunar and deep space views). Develop software tools to analyze instrument data obtained during satellite commissioning and from post-launch tests and calibration maneuvers.

Support post-launch data and performance reviews and working groups, anomaly and failure resolution boards, and technical interface meetings for mission teams and for vendors with products in evaluation by the NASA CSDA Program.

8. Support the improved calibration and validation of GEDI waveform geolocation, and measurement of topography and canopy heights.

9. Support the improved calibration and validation of the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) on PACE, including effects of temporal degradation, straylight, crosstalk, hysteresis, and polarization sensitivity.

10. Support the improved calibration and validation of ICESat-2 surface return geolocation and measurement of ice sheet, glacier and ice cap surface elevation, and sea ice freeboard.

11. Support the improved calibration and validation of LVIS geolocated waveforms.

12. Support the improved calibration and validation of commercial satellite data purchased by the NASA CSDA Program.

13. Assess long-term and short-term system and subsystem performance relative to specified and baseline laboratory performance, provide results and analysis and submit recommendations for improving performance.

14. For series of identical or similar satellite instruments, maintain a database of instrument performance risks, issues, lessons learned, and potential improvements

(e.g., MODIS Terra and Aqua, S-NPP and JPSS VIIRS, ATMS, CrIS, Landsat series).

15. Prepare presentation material and documentation on NASA’s assessment of satellite sensor performance in support of instrument, project and program-level science reviews and meetings.

16. Publish findings in the peer and non-peer reviewed literature and present results and findings at scientific conferences in accordance with government Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and instrument vendor proprietary guidelines.

17. Perform on-orbit calibration (e.g., solar and lunar-based calibration including, but not limited to the Robotic Lunar Observatory model) and assessments of the radiometric stability of currently operating NASA sensors. In addition, perform periodic reassessments of instrument radiometric performance over full mission lifetimes prior to reprocessing of on-orbit operational or research missions.

18. Develop and implement additional calibration strategies, techniques, and algorithms as needed to augment the prelaunch and on-board calibration capabilities and to solve particular hardware and software challenges and problems which may arise (e.g., cross-calibration between satellite sensors, vicarious calibration between satellite sensors and ground-based targets). This work will include interfacing with external sensor calibration teams (e.g., the MCST, the VIIRS Calibration Support Team (VCST), the PACE Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) Calibration Team, the Landsat-9 Calibration Team, the ATMS Calibration Team, Sentinel instrument teams) with the goals of monitoring and mitigating the impact of calibration changes and sensor degradation on derived products.

19. Archive data from instrument testing and deliver calibration and validation data sets to user community (e.g., Landsat image assessment, MODIS SRCA and solar diffuser data, instrument ambient and thermal vacuum data, AERONET data). As needed, retrieve and process specifically requested satellite sensor scenes and process expedited data sets (e.g., Landsat image processing).

20. Assess and document differences in data products created from the same input data by different processing systems or algorithms (e.g., Landsat processing systems, AERONET algorithms). Identify and report the degree of internal consistency and anomalous behaviors in long-term sensor calibration records (e.g., Landsat, MODIS land and ocean products).

II.D.2 Calibration Laboratory Support

Calibration laboratories such as the Code 618 Calibration Facility, the GLAMR laboratory, and the new Code 617 microwave calibration laboratory provide radiometric, spatial, and spectral calibration and characterization services to Earth remote sensing programs and projects. The facilities work closely with the National Institutes for

Standards and Technology (NIST) to maintain their source-based and detector-based calibration standards and calibration methodologies. The facilities also participate in measurement cross-comparisons on an international scale to ensure calibration consistency.

The Code 618 Calibration Facility includes the Radiometric Calibration Laboratory (RCL), the Diffuser Calibration Laboratory (DCL), and the Instrument Development and Testing Laboratory (IDTL). The facility has provided radiometric, spectral, and spatial calibration and characterization services in the ultraviolet through shortwave infrared (250 to 2500 nm) wavelength region to the remote sensing community.

The GLAMR laboratory is a state-of-the-art spectral and radiometric sensor characterization facility within Code 618. The GLAMR approach is based on the calibration methodology developed by NIST called Spectral Irradiance and Radiance Calibration using Uniform Sources (SIRCUS). The primary objective of GLAMR is to transfer the advanced calibration techniques of SIRCUS into an operational facility to make it available for characterization of ground-based, airborne and satellite sensors.

GLAMR consists of several types of tunable lasers that span the solar reflective spectrum and include both Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and in-house optical parametric oscillators (OPO). Support for the above calibration facilities across HBG requires the contractor to operate, improve, and manage all calibration facility operations.

The Code 617 Microwave SI-Traceable Radiometer Calibration (MISTR-CAL) laboratory is under development, and will include primary and transfer standards, transfer radiometers, specialized thermometry capabilities and environmental facilities to enable calibration under conditions similar to those experienced by the sensors being calibrated.

The laboratory is intended to provide traceable microwave transfer standards that vendors can use at their facilities as well as the capability of performing on-site calibration of microwave radiometers brought to GSFC. The initial frequency range targeted is 20-200 GHz used by microwave sounders. Extension to lower and higher frequencies may be considered in the future. The MISTR-CAL effort is a close collaboration among NASA, NOAA, and NIST. It is intended to be a facility available for characterization of ground-based, airborne and satellite sensors.

The Contractor shall:

1. Maintain and improve the measurement capabilities of the facilities and…