BAA-NOAA-LEO-2019_FINAL.pdf

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Sounding Satellite (SounderSat) Concept Exploration

Broad Agency Announcement

BAA-NOAA-LEO-2019

October 3, 2019

Office of Systems Architecture and Advanced Planning (OSAAP) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Department of Commerce (DOC)

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Table of Contents

1. OVERVIEW

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAICS Code Agency Name Development Opportunity Title Announcement Type and Date White Paper Due Date Eligible Offerors Research and Development Areas of Interest Award Information

2. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

2.1 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

2.2 REFERENCE CONSTELLATION

3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AREA OF INTEREST

3.A. INSTRUMENT CONCEPTS

3.A.1 Technical Requirements 3.A.1.1 Instrument Concepts at the Target (Baseline) 3.A.1.2 Instrument Concepts within the Recommended Performance Ranges 3.A.1.3 Instrument Ground Data Processing 3.A.1.4 Instrument Concepts Study Content 3.A.2 Study Requirements 3.A.2.1 Study Coordination Requirements 3.A.2.2 Study Communication Requirements 3.A.2.3 Study Period of Performance 3.A.2.4 Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Services (GFS) 3.A.2.5 Deliverables

3.B. MISSION CONCEPTS

3.B.1 Technical Requirements 3.B.1.1 Mission Concept Alternatives: Study Content 3.B.2 Study Requirements 3.B.2.1 Study Coordination Requirements 3.B.2.2 Study Communication Requirements 3.B.2.3 Study Period of Performance 3.B.2.4 Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Services (GFS) 3.B.2.5 Deliverables

4 WHITE PAPER GUIDELINES

4.1 SUBMISSION PREPARATION

4.1.1 Quad Chart Guidelines

4.1.2 White Paper Guidelines

4.2 EVALUATION INFORMATION

5. FULL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS (STAGE 2)

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6 AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX 1 (Sensors Requirements)

APPENDIX 2 (Mission Requirements)

APPENDIX 3 (Definitions)

APPENDIX 4 (Example Payloads for Common Bus)

APPENDIX 5 Definition Of Technology Readiness Levels

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1. OVERVIEW

This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) posted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 35.016. The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Systems Architecture and Advanced Planning (OSAAP) is requesting submission of white papers to conduct studies of instrument concepts and/or integrated mission concepts in support of needs for non-real time global sounding weather data to support the needs of the space based environmental monitoring community; in particular, National Weather Service Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) systems.

This announcement shall be posted for a total of thirty-five (35) calendar days, and all submissions are due by 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), 7 November, 2019. All pre-submission inquiries shall be submitted in writing to both the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer by 3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), 23 October, 2019. The program offices and technical points of contact may not be contacted directly and will refer all inquiries to the Contracting Officer. Additional submission instructions are provided at Section 4.

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAICS Code

The NAICS code for this BAA will be 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).

Agency Name

United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Systems Architecture and Advanced Planning (OSAAP)

Development Opportunity Title

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Sounding Satellite (Sounder-Sat) Concept Exploration

Announcement Type and Date

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA-NOAA-LEO-2019); posted 3 October, 2019

White Paper Due Date

7 November, 2019 3:00 PM EST

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Eligible Offerors

This BAA is open to ALL responsible sources. Offerors may include single entities or teams from private sector organizations, Government laboratories, and academic institutions.

To be eligible for award, a prospective recipient must meet certain minimum standards pertaining to financial resources, ability to comply with the performance schedule, prior record of performance, integrity, organization, experience, operational controls, technical controls, technical skills, facilities, and equipment.

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and Government entities (Government/National laboratories, military educational institutions, etc.) are subject to applicable direct competition limitations and cannot submit a response to this BAA in any capacity unless they address the following conditions:

FFRDCs

1. Must clearly demonstrate that the proposed work is not otherwise available from the private sector.

2. Must provide a letter on letterhead from their sponsoring organization citing the specific authority establishing their eligibility to propose to government solicitations and compete with industry.

3. Must demonstrate compliance with the associated FFRDC sponsor agreement and terms and conditions. This information is required for any FFRDCs proposing to be primes or subcontractors.

Government Entities

1. Government entities must clearly demonstrate that the work is not otherwise available from the private sector and provide written documentation citing the specific statutory authority (as well as, where relevant, contractual authority) establishing their ability to propose to government solicitations. Specific supporting regulatory guidance, together with evidence of agency approval will be required to establish eligibility. NOAA will consider eligibility submissions on a case-by-case basis; however, the burden to prove eligibility for all team members rests solely with the Offeror.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Institutions (MI), Small Business concerns, Small Disadvantaged Business concerns, Women-Owned Small Business concerns, Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns, 8(a) Business concerns, and HUB Zone Small Business concerns are encouraged to submit white papers and to join other entities as team members in submitting white papers.

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Small business subcontracting plans will be required from any large business proposals selected for negotiation or further solicitation/award in accordance with the applicable FAR, CAR, Commerce Acquisition Manual and NOAA provisions/clauses/regulations.

Research and Development Areas of Interest

Development and technical objectives are described in Section 3. Efforts proposed by Offerors may cover Instrument Concepts, Mission Concepts, or both (see Section 4)

Award Information

The total expected amount of funding for studies is $2M. NESDIS envisions multiple (4-8) awards for studies under this BAA, with each one having a duration of up to 6 months, with a technical report as the final deliverable. The government may award zero, one, or multiple study contracts under this BAA, dependent on the applicability of the White Papers to the technical need, and congressional appropriations. Subject to the availability of funding, offerors whose White Papers receive a favorable evaluation may be invited via e-mail to submit a Full Proposal.

This BAA should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur costs in anticipation of a grant, cooperative agreement, other transaction, or contract. Contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions may be awarded, as appropriate. At this time it is anticipated that each study award will result in a firm fixed price contract.

The Government is not responsible for any costs incurred in the preparation of a submission in response to this BAA.

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2. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

NOAA is exploring options for the next generation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) weather satellite systems. Industry and interested parties are invited to submit white papers for studies of instrument concepts and integrated mission concepts in support of needs for global sounding weather data and other related observations. These will be used to generate critical Sensor and Environmental Data Records (SDRs and EDRs) and support the National Weather Service (NWS) Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) systems. This Broad Area Announcement defines tasks for multiple concept exploration studies. The studies will identify potential technologies, systems, and Concepts of Operation (CONOPS) that together could be used to provide continuation of some of the capabilities now supported by JPSS, as well as potential new capabilities.

NOAA’s current program of record features NOAA-20, the first satellite of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program, providing critical infrared and microwave soundings of atmospheric temperature and moisture, in addition to high-quality multi-purpose visible/infrared imaging, ozone observations, and reflected solar energy. In the near term, the Suomi-NPP, NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19 augment the NESDIS’ Polar Orbiting Satellite Fleet. NOAA will launch JPSS-2, -3, and -4 in 2022, 2026, and 2031 respectively, maintaining continuity of critical data to the National Weather Service through the next decade and beyond (see current fleet fly-out plans here: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/our-satellites). In parallel, NESDIS is exploring new options for innovative technologies and acquisition strategies for demonstration in the 2020s to augment and eventually potentially replenish the JPSS program of record.

NOAA has recently executed the NOAA Satellite Observing Systems Architecture (NSOSA) Study.

The analysis identified disaggregation of LEO mission components, currently aggregated on S- NPP and JPSS program satellites, as a favorable constellation approach. NOAA seeks instrument concepts as well as mission concepts to develop next generation sounding capability as part of the overall LEO architecture. NOAA has not yet determined the exact mix of observations, performance levels, and number of satellite platforms, and this BAA will support refinement of these choices.

While this LEO BAA is focused on sounding, it is only one step in a broader effort to develop a comprehensive architecture to meet critical NOAA observation needs. NESDIS will release requests for methods and concepts to meet other observation needs in the near future, consistent with the availability of funds. Through this sustained engagement, NESDIS intends to work with the community to develop and deploy a more advanced and agile LEO architecture and make technology, platform and business model innovations operational on more rapid timeline.

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

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2.1 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

NESDIS will use the results of these studies to determine the most viable instrument and mission concepts to make up the future operational constellation and form the basis for future acquisitions. The results may be used to:

1. Support the design and formulation of an optimal, mission-effective, agile and cost – effective constellation of space-based observing systems.

2. Support a future satellite acquisition targeted at providing a constellation supporting high update rate LEO observational capabilities

3. Support multiple demonstration missions as part of fly-before-buy future acquisition strategy for sounding or other LEO observations

2.2 REFERENCE CONSTELLATION

For the purposes of this announcement, NOAA has defined a reference constellation. This constellation, with mandatory and optional elements, is the planning basis within this announcement for Section 3.A. It also serves as the baseline case for Section 3.B and against which variations to the reference constellation can be assessed. This reference constellation is only for planning purposes within this announcement. NOAA has not made a determination to pursue this constellation and will use the results, in part, of studies conducted under this announcement to potentially alter the future constellation.

The reference constellation consists of:

1. A small government-owned and operated satellite with a flexible enough design to allow it to be launched into multiple Low Earth Orbits with little or no modification. For example, the primary mission is to provide resilience to the 1330 LTAN orbit. However, the satellite would be adaptable enough to cover other polar sun synchronous orbits such as 0530 LTAN, as well as moderate inclination non-sun-synchronous orbits.

a. This satellite will have the following primary instrument manifest that jointly produce data in accordance with the observational specifications in Appendix 1.

i. Infrared Sounder

ii. Microwave Sounder

iii. GNSS-RO

b. A satellite bus (spacecraft) with non-proprietary standard mechanical and electrical interfaces for the instruments to allow the flexibility to add or replace instruments for future missions without re-design. The concept may be extended to a common spacecraft bus that could be used for other LEO missions beyond the Sounder-Sat.

c. The Satellite will be flown frequently enough to assure 1-2 satellites in each of 3 LEO orbits (1330 LTAN, 0530 LTAN, and other high inclination orbits) with a launch cadence of roughly 2-3 years.

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2. Acquisition Approach

a. NESDIS is seeking less expensive ways to conduct business. NESDIS believes smaller sensors on smaller satellites using smaller launch vehicles while applying judicious risk tolerance to designs and development will provide this.

b. NESDIS is looking for resilient systems that are also adaptable to react to changing user needs and emerging technologies. This includes modular satellite buses that can be fitted with a variable mixture of sounder and non-sounder compatible payloads, including changes in manifest relatively late in the integration cycle.

c. NESDIS is looking for acquisition approaches that allow us to have a quicker launch cadence which would necessitate shorter development timelines. NESDIS expects to meet full operational capability performance in successive steps, taking advantage of near-term launch opportunities. The steps include flying prototype or demonstration versions of the payloads that trade performance to meet launch date and cost targets. NESDIS is also contemplating a “fly-off” as part of the overall acquisition strategy, where equally funded vendors are challenged to meet a specific launch date, with the incentive of the remaining builds going to the best value implementation.

d. Figure 1 on page 20 illustrates a notional use of a common satellite bus to accommodate multiple payloads. The concept is that using a flexible satellite design, with standard interfaces, can host multiple sensors, with the ability to change that manifest depending on the availability and maturity of the sensors.

Please note that the type and combination of sensors is arbitrary, and does not reflect NOAA's future plans.

e. A potential execution schedule for the Satellite development could involve the following major milestones, with the expectation that feedback is gained from the Prototype Flights for the next instantiation of the instrument

i. FY22 – Authority to Proceed – Multiple vendors are contracted for competitive instrument development

ii. FY25 – 1st Prototype Launch – Opportunity to fly initial Prototype instruments for purposes of competitive fly off in performance. To meet schedule, it is expected that the Government would grant waivers for some of the instrument requirements, including design life and TRL levels.

iii. FY28 – 2nd Prototype/Operational Launch – Opportunity to fly improved versions of Prototype instruments for purposes of final design verification and checkout prior to operational unit. Having an operational system at this point is acceptable.

iv. FY30 – 1st Flight Operational Mission

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3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AREA OF INTEREST

3.A. INSTRUMENT CONCEPTS

Offerors are invited to submit a concept in response to either Section 3.A.1.1 (e.g., a concept at the baseline performance level), Section 3.A.1.2 (e.g., a concept within the performance range, but with reduced cost or improved performance) or both (e.g., a concept that meets baseline performance with options to reduce cost/improve performance while staying within the performance range). Note that a single concept may be the capabilities of a single instrument that meets a subset of the Appendix 1 requirements (e.g., a microwave sounder) or multiple independent sensors that cover the entirety of Appendix 1’s requirements (e.g., separate microwave and infrared sounders with a GNSS-RO instrument). The explanation of the concept should clearly indicate which requirements are (and are not) addressed.

3.A.1 Technical Requirements

3.A.1.1 Instrument Concepts at the Target (Baseline)

This section of this task is to explore concepts for space-based remote sensing instruments including quantifying the cost and performance trades around a target (baseline) performance level (defined in Appendix 1 “Sensors Requirements”), for instruments flown in the study constellation defined above. In responding to this task, the Offeror should define instrument concepts for potential Operational Use beginning no later than 2030 providing observation data at the Target (baseline) performance level defined in Appendix 1 and flown in the study constellation. The Offeror should explicitly identify the observation parameter(s) (from Appendix 1) being met by the instrument concept. To that end, the Offeror may submit a white paper exploring instrument concepts for multiple observations or individual instruments that provide multiple observations either simultaneously or in time-shared operation (i.e., using one instrument that can do two (or more) observations but not at the same time).

3.A.1.2 Instrument Concepts within the Recommended Performance Ranges

This section of this task is to explore concepts for space-based remote sensing instruments including how instrument cost, development schedule, and risk would vary as performance parameters vary between the Appendix 1 defined Threshold and Maximum levels. In responding to this task, the Offeror should define instrument concepts for potential Operational Use beginning no later than 2030 providing observation data at performance levels within the Threshold and Maximum levels as defined in Appendix 1 and flown in the study constellation. The goal of exploring instruments in the defined performance ranges is to identify where relaxation of performance requirements from the Target (Baseline) can result in large cost and accommodation savings, and/or where performance improvements above the Target

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(Baseline) can be realized with low cost or accommodation impact. The Offeror should identify major breakpoints in size, weight, power and/or cost as performance is varied across the designated ranges. It is of particular interest where individual performance level variations induce especially large or small cost, schedule, or risk variations, not necessarily the impact of moving all performance levels to Maximum or down to Threshold.

3.A.1.3 Instrument Ground Data Processing

NOAA is expecting that future observing system vendors will not be required provide full data products (EDR/Level 2+) in support of the performance listed in the Appendix 1, but instead, the measurements provide Sensors Data Records (SDRs/Level 1b) products. In NOAA, both the EDR generation and the data assimilation systems (including NWS NWP) use SDRs. However, NESDIS expects the development of useable SDRs by vendors requires close communication with, and inputs from, NESDIS during vendor hardware development and testing to optimize the SDR to meet the requirements. NESDIS also acknowledges that having this communication poses a risk to the execution efficiency we are seeking in this BAA. We are seeking recommendations from industry on ways for NOAA to accomplish this in an efficient, low-risk manner.

3.A.1.4 Instrument Concepts Study Content

As part of the study, and documented in the final report, the Offeror shall develop a Technical Data Package that defines the instrument specifications including estimates of size, weight, power, data rate, and performance. It should recommend a non-proprietary standard spacecraft interface, as well as list any special accommodation requirements that may need to be considered for flight.

The Offeror shall identify the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of the instrument(s) and/or subcomponents using the guidance in Appendix 5. The Offeror shall include a description of the technical work required to continue maturation of the instrument, the proposed development timeline, its ability to meet the launch schedule in Section 2 above, and an overall schedule for when the instrument could be available for first operational launch.

Offerors subject to applicable direct competition limitations (e.g., FFRDC’s, Government Entities) should include a technology transfer plan as part of the study final report.

The Offeror shall identify the current technical and programmatic risks (including potential cost drivers) associated with the instrument concept(s) including, but not limited to, manufacturability, operability, calibration constraints, etc.

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The Offeror shall identify the total cost to mature, develop, and produce the instrument including subsequent instruments, should more than one be desired. Additionally, a cost profile, year-by-year in constant year dollars, is required.

3.A.2 Study Requirements

This section describes the anticipated requirements for the studies, if awarded. It is included to aid the Offerors in developing their estimates for the study, as required in Section 4.

3.A.2.1 Study Coordination Requirements

Kick-Off Meeting: A kick-off meeting will be held (Face to face, WebEx/telecom, or a combination). Its objective is to ensure the study plans, schedule, and deliverables are understood, and to answer any questions that may arise as part of the process.

Mid-Study Status Meeting: The mid-study status meeting is intended to provide current project status, discuss the approach towards completing the study, and agree on any adjustments to the work to be completed during the remainder of the study.

3.A.2.2 Study Communication Requirements

The Offeror shall maintain proactive, open, and responsive communication with the Government. Regular communication shall include support of Programmatic and Technical Interchanges taking the form of email, recurring teleconferences, etc., as required. The Offeror shall support in-person reviews at the customer location or Offeror’s facilities, as required.

Teleconferences shall take place at least once every month to discuss status and interchange information.

3.A.2.3 Study Period of Performance

The period of performance will be specified by the Offeror, but not to exceed seven (7) months from Authorization to Proceed (ATP). This period of performance includes up to six (6) months to perform the study and produce the deliverables, plus one month for follow up questions and/or clarifications.

3.A.2.4 Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Services (GFS)

The Government does not expect to provide GFE or GFS for these study tasks.

3.A.2.5 Deliverables

The Offeror shall provide the following reports and CDRLs.

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3.A.2.5.1 Reports

The Instrument Concept Report should describe the system concept of the instrument(s) and/or CONOP(s). The system concept design should be in sufficient detail to support the proposed performance against the requirements. If the Offeror chooses to submit white papers for multiple instruments, or multiple observations within one instrument, a single report is all that is required as long as sufficient details as requested above are provided.

A final briefing of the study and deliverables shall be provided approximately one month before the completion of the period of performance.

3.A.2.5.2 Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL)

CDRL # Name 0001A Instrument Concept Report

3.B. MISSION CONCEPTS

3.B.1 Technical Requirements

A primary architecture objective is to maintain a high-update rate, high availability presence in LEO with key sounding capabilities in diverse orbits. The reference architecture achieves this by placing the appropriate sounding instruments onto small government owned satellites to be flown in a variety of polar orbits. The purpose of this section is to solicit alternative constellation configurations to meet the “Mission Specifications” in Appendix 2.

3.B.1.1 Mission Concept Alternatives: Study Content

Industry is encouraged to suggest alternatives to the study architecture in order to identify potential cost savings, performance enhancements, beneficial business arrangements, etc.

including answering architecture trade questions as described below:

1) What does industry recommend as an overall approach (instruments, satellites, acquisition) to meeting the mission performance of Appendix 2? (This could include hosted payload(s) or other non-traditional platform arrangements.)

2) NESDIS would like to consider utilizing the SounderSat Spacecraft bus as a common bus for additional LEO missions. NESDIS envisions sizing the payload accommodation for the spacecraft at 100-200kg to allow for flexibility in determining the manifest for a given mission. This flexibility, combined with standardized interfaces, would allow the same bus to host not only the sounding instruments, but other similarly sized instruments of opportunity. Can industry comment on this flexible approach to payload hosting and

BAA-NOAA-LEO-2019 Page 14 identify any advantages, disadvantages and/or risks associated with developing a flexible LEO mission architecture in this way? Are there variations on this approach that NESDIS should consider? [Please refer to Appendix 4 for an example set of payloads to be used to help envelope the requirements of the common bus. These instruments are not the explicit instruments planned and are subject to change.]

3) Are there any considerations or recommendations for shortened development timelines being sought in the acquisition strategy of the architecture that NESDIS should be aware of?

4) Are there any considerations or recommendations for flying multiple satellites in multiple

LTAN orbits that NESDIS should be aware of?

5) Would industry have an interest in acquiring the study constellation as a whole vice developing either instruments or satellite buses for the constellation?

6) Would industry have an interest in acquiring the Launch Vehicle as part of meeting the mission requirements? How would this approach better support the launch schedules required to support of the resiliency and flexibility objectives of the constellation?

7) Is there any interest from industry in providing sounding observation data or satellite platform as a service? If so, at what level of assurance?

8) What does industry recommend as an overall procurement/program management approach that would provide “adequate” mission assurance (MA) while reducing costs in comparison to traditional, government specified and led MA activities? How would this approach meet the Government duty to ensure the acceptability of the deliverables?

3.B.2 Study Requirements

This section describes the anticipated requirements for the studies, if awarded. It is included to aid the Offerors in developing their estimates for the study, as required in Section 4.

3.B.2.1 Study Coordination Requirements

Kick-Off Meeting: A kick-off meeting will be held (Face to face, WebEx/telecom, or a combination). Its objective is to ensure the study plans, schedule, and deliverables are understood, and to answer any questions that may arise as part of the process.

Mid-Study Status Meeting: The mid-study status meeting is intended to provide current project status, discuss the approach towards completing the study, and agree on any adjustments to the work to be completed during the remainder of the study.

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3.B.2.2 Study Communication Requirements

The Offeror shall maintain proactive, open, and responsive communication with the Government. Regular communication shall include support of Programmatic and Technical Interchanges taking the form of email, recurring teleconferences, etc.; as required. The Offeror shall support in-person reviews at the customer location or Offeror’s facilities, as required.

Teleconferences shall take place at least once every month to discuss status and interchange information.

3.B.2.3 Study Period of Performance

The period of performance will be specified by the Offeror, but not to exceed seven (7) months from Authorization to Proceed (ATP). This period of performance includes up to six (6) months to perform the study and produce the deliverables, plus one month for follow up questions and/or clarifications.

3.B.2.4 Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Services (GFS)

The Government does not anticipate providing GFE or GFS for this task

3.B.2.5 Deliverables

The Offeror shall provide the following reports and CDRLS.

3.B.2.5.1 Reports

The Sounder Study Mission Concept Report should be a description of the mission concept. The mission concept design should be in sufficient detail to support the proposed performance against the requirements.

A final briefing of the study and deliverables shall be provided approximately one month before the completion of the period of performance.

3.B.2.5.2 Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL)

CDRL # Name 0001B Sounder Study Mission Concept Report

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4 WHITE PAPER GUIDELINES

The application process will be divided into two steps:

1. White Paper (Stage 1)

2. Request for Proposal (Stage 2), for selected white papers.

White Papers (WPs) are due 7 November, 2019. Subject to the availability of funding, Offerors whose White Paper receive a favorable evaluation may be invited via e-mail to submit a Full Proposal. The instructions for the Full Proposal package will be provided in the invitation email.

Offerors are encouraged to submit White Paper(s) in each of the Instrument Concepts or Mission Concepts categories, or both. If Offerors want to submit white papers for multiple distinct instruments or mission concepts, they shall submit a separate White Paper for each concept. Each White Paper will be evaluated independently.

4.1 SUBMISSION PREPARATION

Interested Offerors shall submit a White Paper, proposing a distinct Instrument Concept or Mission Concept that meets the mission criteria described in section 3. The initial submission is limited to a cover page, one-page Quad Chart, and White Paper not to exceed 5 pages. This results in a submission packet not to exceed 7 pages. If submissions exceed these limitations, only those pages previously defined will be reviewed.

For each distinct White Paper submittal, combine all files and forms into a single searchable PDF file before submitting.

The document must be submitted in accordance with the preparation guidance below. The document should describe the effort in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of the concept's technical merit and its potential contribution to the NOAA mission.

White paper submissions must remain valid for six months from the submission deadline.

Offerors will be notified via e-mail if their submission is or is not being considered for Stage 2.

Electronic Submission, due 3:00 PM, 7 November, 2019 EST. Late submissions will not be considered. All submissions shall be submitted electronically to both:

• Contract Specialist, Gabriela Bravo, via email: Gabriela.Bravo@noaa.gov

• Contracting Officer, David Marks, via email: David.Marks@noaa.gov mailto:Gabriela.Bravo@noaa.gov mailto:David.Marks@noaa.gov

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The government reserves the right to re-consider un-selected white papers evaluated during the first round of submissions for award up until 30 June, 2020, without the opening of additional rounds of white paper submissions.

The government reserves the right to open additional rounds of white paper submissions.

Additional requests, if applicable, will be posted on FBO.gov as an amendment to this posting no later than 30 June, 2021.

IMPORTANT: The subject line of the email should consist of the announcement number, area of interest number, and purpose of the email (e.g., BAA-NOAA-LEO-2019, Instrument/Mission Concept <name>, White Paper Submission). White Papers do not require any special forms, but must be submitted in the following format:

Single PDF file for each White Paper submission as an email attachment; may attach multiple White Paper submissions in one email

Page Size: 8 ½ x 11” with 1” Margins

Spacing – single

Font – Times New Roman size 12 font or equivalent; charts, tables, and graphics may use a Times New Roman size 10 font

The file should not exceed 10 Megabytes of storage space. Movie and sound file attachments, URL Links, or other additional files, will not be accepted.

Classification: All Quad Chart and White Paper submissions must be UNCLASSIFIED.

4.1.1 Quad Chart Guidelines

A quad chart must contain the following information and be positioned in a landscape view.

Any quad chart submitted that exceeds the one-page limit will not be read or evaluated. The following components are required:

Heading: Title, BAA #, Development Area of Interest, Technical/Administrative point of contact (Name, Email, Phone), Company’s Name & Address.

Please note that the Title of the Project should be different than that of the Area of Interest.

Upper Left:

• Objective: should be 2-3 sentences describing the objective and methodology.

• Description of effort: a few bullet points noting the primary scientific challenges addressed

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Lower left: Benefits of proposed technology, challenges, maturity of technology research area

Upper right: Picture or graphic illustrating the research or the concept

Lower Right: Milestones, period of performance, total ROM cost estimate for the study.

4.1.2 White Paper Guidelines

The White Paper shall describe the Offeror’s concept’s ability to addresses the need and requirements detailed in the appropriate part of Section 3. Merely restating the minimum study objectives is not sufficient. The core components of the WP include a detailed explanation of the concepts being proposed including definitions of how the Offeror plans to meet the requirements for that given concept including but not limited to:

1. What concept they are proposing to study

2. What they plan to accomplish in the study timeframe

3. What they plan to deliver at the end of the study

4. How their concept contributes to the requirements laid out in Section 3 regarding

NESDIS’s sounding observation mission

With regard to instrument concept, the Offeror must supply sufficient data to justify the proposed Technology Readiness Level (TRL) maturity of the candidate instrument.

The price portion of the white paper shall contain a high-level estimate on the work intended to be completed during the study. A detailed price proposal will be required if an Offeror moves to Stage 2 of the selection process and is issued a Request for Proposal (RFP).

Any applicable past performance references should also be provided as part of the white paper submission if they are relevant to the proposed work plan. This information will be excluded from the page limit.

White Papers that are outside the scope of the BAA may be returned to the Offeror.

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4.2 EVALUATION INFORMATION

Submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the following evaluation factors:

A. Technical Merit

a. The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s concepts as defined in their White

Paper for their ability to meet the requirements as defined in the appropriate part of Section 3. If the Offeror submits multiple White Papers, the Government will evaluate each study submission as independent studies and one submission will not affect the evaluation of the other submission.

B. Price Factor

a. Price will be evaluated for Price Reasonableness.

b. Cost or Pricing Data for the study may be required for evaluation purposes.

C. Past Performance

a. Offerors need to have an acceptable level of past performance for similar type of studies to be considered.

The Technical Merit factor is more important than the Past Performance factor. Price is the least important evaluation factor.

The Government anticipates awarding multiple contracts in each study area, but reserves the right to award no contracts or a combination of contracts or contract options for study work based upon availability of funds.

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5. FULL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS (STAGE 2)

Note that Full Proposals will not be accepted under the BAA unless requested. If an Offeror’s concept is selected for funding based on the evaluation of their White Paper, an Invitation for Full Proposal will be e-mailed to the Offeror. Stage 2 is subject to FAR 52.232-18 -- Availability of Funds.

6 AGENCY CONTACTS

Contract Specialist: Gabriela Bravo, gabriela.bravo@noaa.gov

Selecting Official, Contracting Officer: David Marks, david.marks@noaa.gov mailto:gabriela.bravo@noaa.gov mailto:david.marks@noaa.gov

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Figure 1. Notional Flexible Satellite Bus and Sensor Manifests

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APPENDIX 1 (Sensors Requirements)

Sensors-Driven Parameters (IR, MW and RO)

Temperature Infrared (IR) Soundings Requirements Ranges

Attributes Lower Bound (Threshold)

Target (Baseline)

Maximum (Objective)

Current Program of Record

(CrIS/N-20) Source: JPSS Level 1

Requirements Document

Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Profile from IR A. Horizontal Resolution (Horizontal Cell Size) 50 km(at nadir)

10 km(at nadir) 2 km(at nadir) 14 km

B. Temperature Measurement Precision Expressed as an error in layer average temperature

1. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, Surface to 850 mb over ocean

2.0 K per 1 km Layer 1.6 K per 1

km Layer

0.75 K per 1 km

layer 1.6 K per 1 km

Layer

2. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, 850 to 300 mb over ocean

2.0 K per 1 km Layer 1.6 K per 1

km Layer

0.75 K per 1 km

layer 1.6 K per 1 km

Layer

3. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, 300 mb to 30 mb

2.0 K per 3 km layer 1.5 K per 3

km layer

0.75 K per 3 km

layer

1.5 K per 3 km

Layer

4. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, 30 mb to 1 mb

2.0 K per 5 km layer 1.5 K per 5

km layer

0.75 K per 5 km

layer

1.5 K per 5 km

Layer

5. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, 1 mb to 0.5 mb n/a 3.5 K per 5 km layer

0.75 K per 5 km

layer

3.5 K per 5 km

Layer

C. Horizontal coverage from 832 km orbit 1100 km 2000 km 2500 km 2200 km

D. Lifetime of the Sensor (in years) 3 5 7 7

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Moisture Infrared (IR) Soundings Requirements Ranges

Lower Bound (Threshold) Target (Baseline)

Maximum (Objective)

Current Program of Record (CrIS/N- 20)

Source: JPSS Level 1 Requirements

Document Atmospheric Vertical Moisture Profile from IR A. Horizontal Resolution (Horizontal Cell Size) 50 km (at nadir) 10 km (at nadir) 2 km(at nadir) 50 km B. Moisture Measurement Precision (expressed as a percent of average mixing ratio in 2 km layers)

1. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, Surface to 600 mb

Greater of 40 % or 0.4 g kg-1

Greater of 20 % or 0.2 g kg-1

10% Greater of 20% or

0.2 g kg-1

2. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, 600 mb to 300 mb

Greater of 60 % or 0.2 g kg-1

Greater of 35 % or 0.1 g kg-1

10% Greater of 35% or

0.1 g kg-1

3. Cloud-Free to Partly Cloudy, 300 mb to 100 mb

Greater of 60 % or 0.2 g kg-1

Greater of 35 % or 0.1 g kg-1

10% Greater of 35% or

0.1 g kg-1

C. Horizontal coverage from 832 km orbit 1100 km 2000 km 2500 km 2200 km

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Temperature Microwave (MW) Soundings Requirements Ranges

Lower Bound (Threshold) Target (Baseline)

Maximum (Objective)

Current Program of Record (ATMS/N-

20) Source: Approx. from JPSS Level 1 Reqs Doc

Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Profile from

MW

A. Horizontal Resolution (Horizontal Cell Size) 50 km 25 km 5 km

32 km

B. Temperature Measurement Precision. Expressed as an error in layer average temperature

1. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, Surface to 700 mb over ocean

2.8 K per 1 km

Layer

2.5 K per 1 km Layer 2.0 K per 1 km

Layer

2.5 K per 2-3 km

layer

2. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, 700 mb to 300 mb

2.0 K per 1 km

layer

1.5 K per 1 km layer 1.2 K per 1 km

layer

2.0 K per 2-3 km

layer

3. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, 300 mb to 30 mb

2.0 K per 3 km

layer

1.5 K per 3 km layer 1.2 K per 3 km

layer 2.0 K per 3 km layer

4. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, 30 mb to 1 mb

2.5 K per 5 km

layer

1.5 K per 5 km layer 1.2 K per 5 km

layer 2.0 K per 5 km layer

5. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, 1 mb to 0.5 mb

3.5 K per 5 km

layer

3.5 K per 5 km layer 3.0 K per 5 km

layer 3.5 K per 5 km layer

C. Horizontal coverage from 832 km orbit 1500 km 2000 km 2500 km

2200 km

D. Lifetime of the Sensor (in years) 3 5 7

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Moisture Microwave (MW) Soundings Requirements Ranges

Lower Bound (Threshold)

Target (Baseline)

Maximum (Objective)

Current Program of

Record

(ATMS/N-20)

Source: Approx.

from JPSS Level 1 Requirements Doc

Atmospheric Vertical Moisture Profile from MW

A. Horizontal Resolution 50 km 25 km 5 km 32 km B. Moisture Measurement Precision. In

1. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, Sfc to 600 mb

40% Greater of 20 % or 0.2 g kg-1

10% Greater of 40% or 0.2 g kg-1

2. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, 600 mb to 400 mb

60% Greater of 40 % or 0.1 g kg-1

10% Greater of 60% or 0.1 g kg-1

3. Cloud-Free to Cloudy, 400 mb to 100 mb

60% Greater of 40 % or 0.1 g kg-1

10% Greater of 60% or 0.1 g kg-1

C. Horizontal coverage from 832 km orbit 1500 km 2000 km 2500 km

2200 km

GNSS-RO Soundings Requirements Ranges

Attribute Lower Bound (Threshold) Target (Baseline)

Maximum (Objective)

Current Program of Record

(COSMIC-2)

SNR (40-80 km altitude range) 800 V/V 1600 V/V 2000 V/V 1600 V/V Compatibility with

Global Navigation Satellite System GPS

GPS and European Galileo

All GNSS systems available

GPS, GLONASS,

and Galileo

Lifetime of the Sensor (in years) 3 5 7 7

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Recommend Reporting Intervals (for MW and IR Sounders)

Attribute Target Interval

1. Surface to 850 mb 20 mb

2. 850 mb to 300 mb 50 mb

3. 300 mb to 100 mb 25 mb

4. 100 mb to 10 mb 20 mb

5. 10 mb to 1.0 mb 2 mb

6. 1.0 mb to 0.5 mb 0.2 mb

7. 0.1 mb to 0.01 mb 0.02 mb

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APPENDIX 2 (Mission Requirements)

Orbital and Constellation Driven Parameters

For all Constellations (composed of MW and/or IR sensors)

Lower Bound (Threshold)

Target (Baseline)

Maximum (Objective)

Update Rate (Temporal refresh) for global coverage 6 hours 3 hours 2 hours

Latency (see definition) 60 min 45 min 15 min

Period of Service 2028-

2025-

2040 2025-2040 Spatial Coverage (Geographic distribution of measurements) Global Global Global Density: Percentage of ‘Spatial Coverage’ with actual data 80% 95% 100%

Specific to Radio Occultation Constellation

Attribute Lower Bound

(Threshold) Target

(Baseline) Maximum

(Objective) Number soundings per day 5000 20000 50,000 Latency (see definition) 30 min 30 min 10 min

Period of service 2028-2043 2025-

2040 2025-2040 Spatial Coverage (Geographic distribution of measurements) Global Global Global

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APPENDIX 3 (Definitions)

To help Interpret the Sensors and Mission Requirements

Accuracy and Precision:

The “accuracy” is defined as the magnitude of the bias error and the “precision” is a measure of the random scatter of the observations (see figure below from http://wiki.gis.com/wiki/index.php/Accuracy_and_precision)

Horizontal resolution:

The horizontal spacing of observations.

Vertical resolution:

Minimum vertical scale at which an observation produces useful information.

Cloudiness:

• Partly cloudy conditions are those where typically scenes have less than or equal to 50% cloudiness.

• Cloudy conditions are those where typically scenes have greater than 50% cloudiness, up to full cloudiness (100%).

Update Rate (or temporal refresh):

This should be assessed with the assumption of including also one EUMETSAT EPS-SG at 0930 SS orbit and one JPSS at 1330 SS orbit.

Latency:

Latency should not account for ground processing. It is defined in this case here as a measure of downlink performance: as time elapsed between measurement collection and availability of the data to the ground processing system.

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APPENDIX 4 (Example Payloads for Common Bus)

Instrument IR Sounder

Size (m) 0.3 x 0.1 x 0.2 Volume (m3) 0.006 Mass (kg) 14 Power (W) 40 Data rate (Mbps) 0.34

Instrument MW Sounder

Size (m) 0.21x0.21x0.34 Volume (m3) 0.014 Mass (kg) 20 Power (W) 50 Data rate (Mbps) 0.05

Instrument MW Imager

Size (m) 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.5 Mass (kg) 60 Power (W) 50 Data rate (Mbps) 0.08

Instrument GNSS-RO

Size (m) .28 X .225 X .13

Volume (m3) 0.0082 Mass (kg) 18 Power (W) 65 Data rate

(Mbps) 0.019

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Instrument Geospace Energetic Particles

Size (m) 0.5x0.5x0.5 Volume (m3) 0.125 Mass (kg) 20 Power (W) 22 Data rate

(Mbps) 8

Spacecraft Pointing Knowledge

(deg) 0.07

Max Slew Rate (deg/sec) 0.1

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APPENDIX 5 Definition of Technology Readiness Levels

TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported: Transition from scientific research to applied research. Essential characteristics and behaviors of systems and architectures. Descriptive tools are mathematical formulations or algorithms.

TRL 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated: Applied research. Theory and scientific principles are focused on specific application area to define the concept.

Characteristics of the application are described. Analytical tools are developed for simulation or analysis of the application.

TRL 3 Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of- concept:

Proof of concept validation. Active Research and Development (R&D) is initiated with analytical and laboratory studies. Demonstration of technical feasibility using breadboard or brass-board implementations that are exercised with representative data.

TRL 4 Component/subsystem validation in laboratory environment: Standalone prototyping implementation and test. Integration of technology elements. Experiments with full-scale problems or data sets.

TRL 5 System/subsystem/component validation in relevant environment: Thorough testing of prototyping in representative environment. Basic technology elements integrated with reasonably realistic supporting elements. Prototyping implementations conform to target environment and interfaces.

TRL 6 System/subsystem model or prototyping demonstration in a relevant end-to-end environment (ground or space): Prototyping implementations on full-scale realistic problems.

Partially integrated with existing systems. Limited documentation available. Engineering feasibility fully demonstrated in actual system application.

TRL 7 System prototyping demonstration in an operational environment (ground or space): System prototyping demonstration in operational environment. System is at or near scale of the operational system, with most functions available for demonstration and test. Well integrated with collateral and ancillary systems. Limited documentation available.

TRL 8 Actual system completed and "mission qualified" through test and demonstration in an operational environment (ground or space): End of system development. Fully integrated with operational hardware and software systems. Most user documentation, training documentation, and maintenance documentation completed. All functionality tested in simulated and operational scenarios. Verification and Validation (V&V) completed.

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TRL 9 Actual system "mission proven" through successful mission operations (ground or space): Fully integrated with operational hardware/software systems. Actual system has been thoroughly demonstrated and tested in its operational environment. All documentation completed. Successful operational experience. Sustaining engineering support in place.

4.2 EVALUATION INFORMATION