BAA_Industry_Day_Q&A_Part_2.pdf

Index Card Questions Received during Industry Day, October 17, 2019

Labels:

LEO: Questions about the LEO BAA GEO: Questions about the GEO BAA L/G: Questions about both BAAs Unlabeled: Questions that did not differentiate or otherwise label which BAA (T): Questions technical in nature (A): Questions acquisition in nature

LEO 1:

--How much coordination with DoD?

--Will DoD still operate one or more orbit planes?

--Will DoD have global obs, capability which NOAA can use? For example: Recount SpeC EWS solicitation that wants a global cloud characterization (AVHRR, VIIRS-like) with objective global refresh of 15 minutes.

Answer: We do extensive coordination and openly share data with the DoD

LEO 2 (A):

--Why can’t NOAA adopt the NASA Rapid Acquisition Process? The requirement for instrument integration is the ESPA ring. This would apply to all smallsat missions.

Answer: We have not yet specified an acquisition strategy. These are Pre-Phase A studies intended to inform the future acquisition strategy.

LEO 3 (A):

Does NOAA prioritize instrument concept vs mission concept studies, or vice versa? The BAA forecasts 4-8 study awards. Do you have a sense for how many will be Mission Concepts and how many will be Instrument Concepts?

Answer: NOAA will prioritize studies based on the strength of concepts, alignment with NOAA System Objectives and available funding.

L/G 1 (A):

Are the BAA whitepapers meant to emphasize introducing promising concepts or are they focused on describing how we would perform a government-directed set of LEO/GEO concepts?

Answer: The BAAs are emphasizing promising instrument and mission concepts

L/G 2 (A):

1--Please describe your plans for NASA involvement in this exercise, current and planned. Will NASA still be your procurement agent for hardware?

2--Can you share your budget for this effort, current and out years?

Answer-1: Please refer to LEO question 2 Answer-2: No we can’t share any budget information that is not part of the public record

L/G 3:

1--Karen’s opening comments indicated white papers would be evaluated for technical content.

Are innovative business/acquisition approaches for mission concepts of equal weighting or technical content is the primary evaluation?

2--The budget for LEO studies is much smaller than for the GEO studies. Can you describe a bit of the difference in your expectations and logic between the two budgets?

3--”Analysis of Alternatives” is stated in the BAA. Is NOAA envisioning a formal definition and scope of this analysis or is this a general term?

Answer-1: We are open to business models as well Answer-2: We are funding within our appropriation based on the President’s Budget Answer-3: This is a general term

L/G 4:

1--How will white papers be ranked and evaluated, given cost/mission/performance and speed to launch criteria?

2--is there a target date for first demo missions?

Answer-1: Please refer back to Section 4.2 in the BAA. The white papers will not be ranked.

Answer-2: Mid-20s but pending appropriations.

L/G 5 (T):

Are ground architectures being solicited for GEO or LEO?

Answer: No

L/G 6:

Where do air quality observations fit into NOAA’s future?

You have existing LEO capabilities and GEO capabilities will be proven in the next few years with TEMPO.

Answer: It’s not part of the BAA.

L/G 7:

What are satellite fly out dates based on? Design life question mark? Lifetime experience/projections?

Answer: Please refer to NESDIS Fly out charts and NESDIS PD 1060.1, both available online:

https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/our-satellites https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/nesdocs

L/G 8 (T):

For the “past performance references” section, is the expectation for a simple list of references (to published papers, symposia presentations, etc.) or for a narrative description of relevant past performance (instruments, missions, ground systems, spacecraft, etc)?

Answer: We are looking for insight into your past experience in doing this type of work not explicitly in narrative format.

L/G 9 (A):

What happens in there is no FY20 budget, but a full-year CR instead?

Answer: NOAA anticipates funding studies out of available funds under a CR or an appropriation.

https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/our-satellites https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/nesdocs

L/G 10 (A):

--Is there a GEO instruments catalog, and is it available to potential offerors?

--Is the LEO instruments catalog from the NSOSA study available to potential offerors?

Answer: No, we have not publicly released instrument concepts that we used in the NSOSA studies. Please refer to Performance Ranges in BAA Appendices.

GEO 1

--Have you done any more focused studies on risk vs benefit of hosting? (beyond initial look in overall NSOSA study) --Why is coronograph listed as “optional” in L1?

--Why put “solar” instruments on tundra?

--Does NOAA have documented requirements for tundra orbit?

Answer-1: The GEO BAA is intended to inform that ongoing risk assessment Answer-2: The observation is to be made on the On-Earth Sun axis and there are a variety of orbits from which we could get that observation.

Answer-3: Increased availability plus adding in-situ measurements in another orbit Answer-4: NOAA has requirements for observations and their attributes. NOAA does not have requirements for specific orbits.

GEO 2 (T):

For the Tundra Mission, are you interested in an IR sounding instrument in addition to an IR imaging instrument?

Answer: We are open to new ideas.

Unlabeled 1:

--What contract type is anticipated?

Answer: It is anticipated that the contract type will be Firm Fixed Price. Please refer to the FBO posted Q&A.

Unlabeled 2:

--Will slides be released?

Answer: Slides will be posted to FBO

Unlabeled 3:

--Does NOAA plan to establish a Program Office to procure and manage their satellite, instruments, or missions or will NOAA continue to use GSFC JASD office for that function?

Answer: Please refer to LEO question 2

Unlabeled 4:

--Can NOAA describe its approach to direct radiance assimilation (SDRs) and EDR algorithm implementation and evolution?

Answer: Question is still being reviewed.

Unlabeled 5:

--Solar Wind performance for the L1 and L5 missions is not in Appendix 1. Will it be provided?

Answer: Below is the performance table for Interplanetary Solar Wind - Sun-Earth Line.

Unlabeled 6:

--Is NOAA planning on creating a Ka band communication system for future data downloads, or are you planning reliance on commercial development and buy data rate?

Answer: No decision has been made on future ground

Unlabeled 7 (A):

--“Future Satellite Acquisition”--what do you mean by that? How are you planning on procuring instruments/satellites/launch capability? NASA has procured LEO and GEO--is that still the plan?

Answer: Please refer to LEO Question 2

Unlabeled 8 (A):

--Will there be a ground BAA?

Answer: No decision has been made on future BAAs.

Unlabeled 9:

--Instruments: slide said Instrument Studies are focused on improving performance and reducing cost. Recommend a goal of reducing SWAP also. Is that included?

Answer: We are interested in performance and cost but cost is not just the cost of the payload but the cost of achieving the mission.

Unlabeled 10 (T):

--Is one of the reasons why you are focused on polar sounding because of the emerging challenges related to spectrum interference? How can responders best figure spectrum concerns into their responses?

Answer 1 - We are focused on Global Soundings because they are essential to NWP Answer 2 - NESDIS understands this is a risk to our mission. We would welcome any input you have to alleviate this risk to NESDIS in your white paper

Unlabeled 11 (A):

--Are you willing to consider commercial launch services?

Answer: In the context of exploring mission concepts, we would be interested in hearing about it.

Unlabeled 12:

--Does NOAA anticipate the inclusion of ground systems in the individual satellite procurements or will they be separate procurements? Ground Systems: Comm, M&C, Ops?

Answer: Please refer to LEO Question 2.

Unlabeled 13:

--What level of response will RFP ask for? --just detailed cost? --schedule?

Answer: Please refer to FedBizopps posted Q/A.