ES-MCAT_Comm_SOW.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

ES-MCAT Data Transfer Services 24 February 2026

1. The following in a formal Request for Information (RFI) posted by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) for the purpose of identifying potential industry partners who can provide the services listed in the following Draft Statement of Work. This RFI does NOT constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or Request for Proposal (RFP), nor does it promise that an RFQ or RFP will be forthcoming. Rather, this is merely an attempt by JSC to determine if an industry partner exists that can provide these services on a commercially available platform. If an RFQ or RFP stems from this RFI, it will be posted separately and independently from this RFI at a later date to be determined in the future. Unsolicited proposals will not be considered unless it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, In Accordance With applicable regulations.

2. Any potentially interested industry partner is requested to answer the following questions by Friday, March 13, 2026. While late submissions are allowed, they are not encouraged as the Government needs to fully understand what its options are in a timely manner.

a. Question 1: please explain how your company can meet the requirements stated in the below draft SOW. Please provide any historical examples that may be relevant to provide solid evidence that your company understands what NASA is seeking to accomplish. If you have provided these services, or services that are similar to the ones stated below to a Government customer, please reference the contract number, customer name (agency), and approximate value of the contract in your response. If there is any other information your company needs to be able to fully articulate its response, please identify the need to the Contracting Officer shown in the SAM.gov posting.

b. Question 2: does your company consider these services to be commercially available? For instance, does your company readily sell these services to the general public? If you consider the services to be a modified commercial service, please indicate how the services are modified to meet the Government’s needs. If your company considers these services to be non-commercial, please indicate why.

c. Question 3: does your company agree that NAICS code 518210 and PSC DG11 to be suitable for this requirement, or do you recommend the Government consider a different code(s)?

d. Question 4: approximately how long would it take your company to establish the services needed, if awarded a contract? Are there any special infrastructure requirements that would need to be considered given the remote nature of this telescope?

e. Question 5: is your company able to provide a rough estimate of the annual cost for these services? If so, please provide. If not, please describe what other information is needed to provide a rough estimate. It is understood that any values provided are purely speculation and for estimating purposes only and that the values are non-binding and may very well change if a valid proposal is submitted to the Government.

f. Question 6: can your company please briefly provide the Government with an idea as to how it can accomplish this requirement?

UNCLASSIFIED

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center Orbital Debris Program Office

Communication Support Agreement for the Eugene Stansbery Meter Class Autonomous Telescope (ES-MCAT) from Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield (AAF) to NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Statement of Work 23 February 2026

This SOW governs the process by which the contractor will support transferring unclassified data from NASA’s Eugene Stansbery Meter Class Autonomous Telescope (ES-MCAT) on Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield (AAF) to NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas.

1.0 Background

The Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) has been granted approval by Air Force Space Command (AFSPC A8I) to deploy ES-MCAT to Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield (AAF) in the US Space Force (USSF) Eastern Test Range headquartered at Space Launch Delta (SLD) 45 stationed at Patrick Space Force Base (SFB), Florida.

The ES-MCAT telescope is a 1.3-m optical telescope conceived, designed, and constructed by NASA-JSC and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Detachment 15, Maui, HI. ES-MCAT’s purpose is to characterize the space orbital object environment in support of safety of flight. Adjacent to the ES-MCAT telescope is a smaller 0.4-meter telescope, Benbrook, installed on the tower platform which is a separate scientific asset to NASA that also serves in support of ES-MCAT. ES-MCAT achieved first light in 2015, with Full Operational Capability (FOC) achieved in September 2019.

AAF provides a highly suitable location for ES-MCAT in terms of its resident and remote SLD 45 technical staff, its unique geographic location enabling access to under-sampled orbital regimes, and its favorable weather. The Consolidated Instrumentation Facility (CIF) at AAF is an ideal site for the full ES-MCAT facility in terms of its moderate altitude (offering isolation from direct ocean aerosols and boundary layer penetration), its status as a Controlled Area, the proximity of communication links to CONUS, the availability of electrical service and emergency power, and the presence of pre-existing structures that can directly accommodate the ES-MCAT and Benbrook telescope facility and operations center.

The ES-MCAT facility shall conduct autonomous operations with no permanent staffing. The expected operational duration for the ES-MCAT facility at AAF is 15 years.

2.0 TASK

2.1 Task Title

ES-MCAT Communications Support

2.2 Objective

This statement of work governs support required to provide a data path for ES-MCAT to enable daily transfer of data between AAF and Houston, Texas.

2.3 Requirements

The contractor shall provide a data path for ES-MCAT between AAF and JSC. The data path shall accommodate daily transfer of image and text files at transfer rates of 1.5-2.0 TB per month.

3.0 Place of Performance

All activities described here shall be performed at the contractor’s work location or along the communication path designed for ES-MCAT data.

4.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance described in this SOW is from contract start until the end of ES-MCAT operations on Ascension Island, estimated to be 2028 or later.

5.0 Travel

All travel, when required, will be billed in accordance with Federal regulations.

6.0 Hours of Work

Hours of work are normal operational hours. After hours work may be necessary on a limited basis to address communication outages.

7.0 Expertise Requirements

The contractor shall provide personnel with expertise working with the established communication link between AAF and NASA-JSC.

8.0 Use of Government Facilities or Personnel

As required.

9.0 Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR)

The COR/COTR is designated by the Contracting Officer to perform technical liaison between the contractor’s management and the Contracting Officer in routine technical matters constituting general program direction within the scope of the contract/task order. Under NO circumstances is the COR/COTR authorized to effect any changes in the work required under this contract/task order whatsoever, or enter into any agreement that has the effect of changing the terms and conditions of this Task Order, or that causes the Contractor to incur any costs.

In addition, the COR/COTR will NOT supervise, direct, or control contractor employees. Notwithstanding this provision, to the extent that contractor accepts any direction that constitutes a change to his contract/task order without prior written authorization of the Contracting Officer, costs incurred in connection therewith are incurred at the sole risk of the contract, and if involved under this Task Order will be disallowed.

On all matters that pertain to the contract terms, the contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer. Whenever, in the opinion of the contractor, the COR/COTR requests efforts beyond the terms of the contract, the contractor shall so advise the Contracting Officer. If the COR/COTR persists and there still exists a disagreement as to the proper contractual coverage, the Contracting Officer will be notified immediately, preferably in writing.

Proceeding with work without proper contractual coverage may result in nonpayment or necessitate submittal of a contract claim. The prime contractor’s management should clearly communicate this position to its employees working on this contract and to any subcontractors also providing support.

10.0 Section 508 Requirements

All electronic and information technology (EIT) procured through this contract must meet the applicable accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194, unless an agency exception to this requirement exists. 36 CFR 1194 implements Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and is viewable at http://www/acessboard.gov/sec508/508standards.htm.

11.0 Payment Schedule

This SOW is fully funded upon acceptance.

12.0 Procedures for Payment

TBD