PWS.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

UKIRT DEBRIS OBSERVATIONS PILOT PROJECT

BACKGROUND

The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) is the designated Celestial Reference Frame (CRF) management activity for the Department of Defense (DoD). In addition, USNO serves as the DoD's subject matter experts in the observation and measurement of the positions and motions of celestial objects, including in the space environment around the Earth. USNO conducts regular astronomical research into "near-field" (i.e., cis-lunar) orbital environment to better understand the phenomenology associated with spacecraft aging, debris generation, debris population statistics and dynamics, etc. The results of this research are used by both the defense and civil communities to better understand the effects the space environment has on artificial satellites, improve space traffic management, etc. Results from this research are regularly presented at relevant public venues and publications.

SCOPE

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) describes, in part, the use of the United Kingdom Infra-Red Telescope (UKIRT) telescope to collect observational data of the orbital space environment around the Earth. UKIRT is a 3.8 m aperture telescope located on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It is operated by the Institute for Astronomy (lfA) of the University of Hawaii (UH). USNO separately provides funding for and is allocated 50% of the observing time on UKIRT to support CRF research.

This contracting effort will provide support to the USNO in space debris studies, primarily debris in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). In particular, the effort will involve support in developing UKIRT debris data collection campaigns, supervising/monitoring collection on-site in Hawaii as necessary, processing the data, developing new processing routines if necessary, interpreting the results, and publishing/presenting the results to the space debris research community. In addition, the effort will involve support in cataloging, processing, and interpreting previously collected, unprocessed UKIRT data that is owned by the University of Arizona (UA).

This project takes specific advantage of the fact that the University of Arizona operated UKIRT for two years for the University of Hawaii, conducted similar debris observations and research, and developed both the highly specialized expertise and tools to plan, conduct, take full advantage of further observations and analysis, and owns the previously collected data that will form a critical part of the baseline for this analysis.

This effort will consist of the specific tasks indicated in the next section. The contract is divided up into a nine-month base and a nine-month option. A "Continuance Review” will be held at the end of the base period at which a determination will be made as to whether to continue the project or not.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS/TASKS

The contractor (UA) shall support the following tasks:

TASK 1. Organizing Data Collection Campaigns that Use UKIRT Time Most Efficiently: This task will rely on the extensive experience UA has in using UKIRT to collect characterization data on space debris. The effort will include support in writing a brief description and scientific justification for the collection to obtain UH concurrence. Collection description and justification documents constitute a deliverable for this task.

TASK 2. On-Site Supervision/Monitoring of Data Collection: UH requires on-site supervision of the collection process by a principle investigator when using any of the UKIRT Cassegrain instruments. As a result, UA personnel will need to travel to Hilo, Hawaii, when the data collection involves the Cassegrain instruments.

TASK 3. Processing UKIRT Data: UA will work with USNO or USNO-designated third party contractor personnel to make the UKIRT data processing packages currently at UA available for local processing (USNO and UA) of UKIRT data. In addition, UA will work with USNO or USNO-designated third party contractor personnel to develop and deploy additional processing routines, if necessary. The UKIRT data processing packages constitute a deliverable for this task.

TASK 4. Data Interpretation: UA will participate in discussions with USNO and affiliated personnel in the proper interpretation of the results of the UKIRT data collection campaigns. This effort will likely require some travel to USNO facilities in Flagstaff, Arizona.

TASK 5. Publication/Presentation of Results: UA personnel will assist in preparing publication quality papers and presentations documenting the results of the data collection campaigns. UA personnel will present the results at an open conference that focuses in part on space debris research, as warranted. This effort will require travel to the AMOS conference that is held in Maui, Hawaii, in September 2019 (base) and September 2020 (option).

TASK 6. Processing Archived UKIRT Data: UA has extensive archives of unprocessed UKIRT data collected between November 2016 and February 2017. UA will provide a copy of these archives to USNO, which will assist UA in cataloging the contents of the archives, processing a portion of the data, interpreting the results, and preparing publication quality papers and presentations documenting the results, if warranted. A copy of the data archives is the only required deliverable for this task.

DELIVERABLES

In addition to the deliverables listed for the specific tasks outlined in the previous section, the contractor (UA) shall provide a written status report to the USNO at the end of each month during the period of performance. This report shall include a brief statement on the status of each task, indicating the progress, and documenting any problems encountered.

The work described in this PWS is performed on a firm fixed price basis with good faith estimates towards the tasks outline in Section 3 above. The University shall notify the USNO in writing whenever it has reason to believe that requested scope of work it expects to incur under this contract in the next 60 days, when added to all costs previously incurred, will exceed 80 percent of the currently contracted effort.

SECURITY/DATA OWNERSHIP

Classification: All work performed under this contract is UNCLASSIFIED.

Data Ownership, Dissemination and Public Release: All data, procedures, software, documentation, reports, presentations and papers generated in the course of the performance of this contract shall be the property of the government. Further dissemination of technical products associated with this research project shall follow, and will be marked in accordance with, DoD Instruction 5230.24 ("Distribution Statements For Use On Technical Documents") as "DISTIBUTION D: Distribution authorized to Department of Defense and U.S. DoD Contractors Only; Critical Technology; 31 Jul 2018. Other requests for this document shall be referred to Superintendent, US Naval Observatory, 3450 Mass. Ave. NW, Wash. DC, 20392". All material intended for public release shall be provided to USNO and will be processed through USNO's public release process prior to being presented or otherwise made public.

The USNO acknowledges that the University has previously collected data with the UKIRT telescope on astronomical and manmade objects prior to September 2018 that the University owns and controls. A portion of this data as described under Task 6 will be made available to the USNO in the performance of this PWS. The University reserves the right to independently analyze these data and publish the results at its own discretion and does not assign ownership or control of this previously collected data to the USNO. The University will coordinate and work in good faith with the USNO to ensure that any publication or presentation of these data related to SSA be presented such that it consistent with any organizational concerns related to this effort.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE/TRAVEL

The principle place of performance will be at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. The University of Arizona will provide all required workspace, information technology equipment, etc., to perform the planning and analysis work. USNO will ensure that time is available on UKIRT and with the UKIRT and Institute for Astronomy staff to plan and execute the observations and retrieve the data. Access to UKIRT to support these observations will be provided at no cost to UA. UA will adhere to established USNO procedures for obtaining and scheduling observing time on UKIRT.

Required travel will include six person-days of travel to Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station (NOFS) for project related discussions; two one-week trips to Hilo, Hawaii to monitor/supervise data collections with UKIRT Cassegrain instruments; and one trip to the AMOS conference on Maui, Hawaii, to present results of a portion of the data collection campaigns.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This contract will be executed as a nine-month base contract and a nine-month option representing the same scope of work. The option will be executed if, at the determination of the Observatory, additional observations and analysis are required to support USNO’s mission, and funding is available to support the execution of the option.