SOURCES SOUGHT CubeSat Deployment.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT

FROM: 10th Contracting Squadron, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), CO

SUBJECT: Sources Sought

1. The USAF Academy 10th Contracting Squadron is requesting information from potential providers of a CubeSat deployment Mechanism. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 336419 and the small business size standard in number of employees is 1,000.

2. Interested contractors whether potential prime contractors or interested potential subcontractors are encouraged to review the salient characteristics in paragraph 4 to gain an understanding of the requirement and provide feedback and questions to the contracting specialist.

3. This notice is also issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. All responsible contractors interested in providing this product and who have the potential to provide this product are invited to respond. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this notice is voluntary. This notice is for planning purposes only and the Government will not pay for any information provided. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. This sources sought announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, implied or otherwise, to issue a solicitation or to award a contract.

4. All interested and qualified sources should submit the following documentation to this office by e-mail to ryan.jeffers.1@us.af.mil no later than 1:00 PM MST, 26 May 2020:

a. Name of Company and Address, Point of Contact, Phone Number, E-mail Address, Website (if applicable)

b. Socioeconomic status

c. CAGE code

d. CubeSat deployment Mechanism meeting the following salient characteristics:

· At a minimum, the CubeSat deployment Mechanism must include or be capable of the following:

· If needed, please explain if certain characteristics are too restrictive and/or too ambiguous and provide a restructured characteristic that would better meet the Government’s needs.

CubeSat deployment Mechanism Salient Characteristics Mass:

· Deployment container must have mass < 5 kg

· Must be able to support ≤12 kg cubesat Volume:

· Exterior volume less than 265mm x 150 mm x 370 mm

· Interior volume must be able to support 6U (200 mm x 100 mm x 300 mm) Design must have space flight heritage Environment:

· Thermal: Must be able to survive -20 °C to 50 °C

· Vibration: Must be able to survive the qualification environment defined in Table 2.4-3 of GSFC-STD-7000A for the total system mass (deployment container mass + 12 kg cubesat)

· Shock: Must be able to survive 50 in/sec constant velocity between 100 Hz and 10,000 Hz Mech Interface to spacecraft:

· Mounting: Must have ≥ 4 mounting locations using ≥ 0.19-32 (#10) fasteners, and mount from the face that dispenses the cubesat Elec Interface to spacecraft:

· Deployment mechanism must operate at nominal 28V require < 3A (Peak)

· Must provide telemetry indicating if door is open

· Must provide telemetry indicating if deployment mechanism is empty

· Must provide electrical connector to enable cubesat charging and telemetry monitoring Must include operation training for 5 personnel

5. All interested and qualified sources should also submit the answers to the following questions to this office by e-mail to ryan.jeffers.1@us.af.mil no later than 10:00 AM MST, 21 May 2020:

a. Have you provided this item in the past?

b. Are you the manufacturer or distributor of the item? / Where is product manufactured?

c. What is your lead-time for delivery?

d. Have you ever performed Government contracts?

e. What are your payment/discount terms? Do you offer an educational and/or military discount to universities?

f. If you require different terms and conditions than those normally used by the Government, what are your commercial terms and conditions? Please feel free to provide a copy of your terms and conditions for this type of work.

g. What is your estimated cost for this requirement? You will not be held to this price, it is only for market research purposes.

h. Is the product Buy American compliant IAW DFARS 252.225-7001?

12.103? If not, is the product considered commercial?

i. Do you offer/allow trade-in discounts?

j. Provide any additional feedback that would help us provide more clarity within the requirement/promote further competition.

6. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR OFFERS OR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. DO

NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS AT THIS TIME.

7. Any questions regarding this notice can be directed in writing via email to the following point of contact.

Contract Specialist, Ryan Jeffers Email: ryan.jeffers.1@us.af.mil