SSC SBEM FA8810-24-RFI-SNS(SBEM) 20240423.docx

Subject: Request for Information (RFI) for technologies to contribute to United States Space Force (USSF) Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Capabilities

1. Background “Weather’s also important when you’re trying to forecast what the adversary’s going to do. War is hard and everything in war is hard and the weather always gets a vote. So, it’s important on both sides of the equation.”1

The purpose of the Department of Defense (DoD) weather enterprise is to produce mission-tailored forecast products, integrated with warfighter planning and execution of military operations. The 2012 Joint Requirements Oversight Council Memo (JROCM) 091-12 identified the subset of environmental parameters that must be sensed, analyzed, predicted, or obtained by space-based solutions to enable joint military operations prioritized into three categories A, B, and C based on operational importance. The 2014 JROCM 092-14 updated the threshold and objective requirements of the 12 Category A gaps.

With the legacy Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) reaching end of life in 2026, the United States Space Force has invested in Electro-Optical/Infrared Weather System (EWS) and the Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) programs and the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC-2) partnership to address JROCM 092-14 Category A Gaps 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 11. To satisfy DoD Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Requirements, the DoD partners with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), European Organisation for the exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), and others to create a Family of Systems (FoS) contributing the SBEM data needed for global forecasting.

The Space Systems Command (SSC) objective is to develop and implement cutting-edge SBEM technologies aimed at enabling SSC to establish a comprehensive, real-time, and globally responsive environmental monitoring system from space. The end state is to create an integrated network of satellites from DoD, civil, international, and commercial partners capable of delivering accurate and actionable environmental data for enhanced situational awareness, resources management, and informed decision-making in both military and civilian sectors.

To meet this objective, SSC is pursuing two separate efforts for maximum engagement with the commercial industry. First, SSC is in partnership with SpaceWERX to seek out small businesses that may possess some innovative technologies that can be matured to address some of SBEM Gap requirements, utilizing SpaceWERX’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funds. In addition to small businesses for SpaceWERX, SSC will be soliciting the industry inputs that may support architectural designs of next generations of SBEM capabilities. To synchronize these two efforts, SSC is co-hosting a SBEM Industry Day with SpaceWERX on 7 May 2024, to provide additional SBEM background and subject area context. This information to industry partners is applicable to guiding informed responses to both this SSC RFI and SpaceWERX Direct to Phase 2 (D2P2) SBEM solicitation #SF242-D029 targeting eligible SBIR/STTR companies. Small businesses are encouraged to respond to both the SSC RFI and the SpaceWERX solicitation. To be competitive for SBIR Phase 2 funding, small businesses must respond directly to the solicitation via SpaceWERX, responding only to the SSC RFI will not provide eligibility.

2. Description This RFI is for the Space Systems Command Environmental and Tactical Surveillance Acquisition Delta Space Sensing Directorate (SSC/SNS). Additional market research may or may not be conducted. Responses from small businesses are encouraged and should be consistent with responses to the SpaceWERX Direct to Phase 2 (D2P2) SBEM solicitation #SF242-D029 open 15 May 2024 – 12 June 2024.

SSC/SNS is spearheading an ambitious initiative focused on developing and deploying satellites equipped with applicable weather sensors and instrumentation to meet DoD global weather forecasting needs. The primary objective is to establish a comprehensive, real-time, and responsive environmental monitoring system, delivering appropriate-resolution data on various terrestrial and space weather parameters worldwide. This RFI is focused on the following areas:

Technology Innovation: The Government requires innovative solutions to enhance satellite capabilities, including sensor development, data processing algorithms, and communication systems. The emphasis is on ensuring higher precision, broader coverage, and increased data reliability.

System Integration: The Government requires integration of disparate systems into a cohesive network. This involves satellite constellation management, data fusion, and seamless integration into the DoD Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) enterprise.

Data Utilization: The Government requires industry to harness the collected data for actionable insights from their respective system(s). This may require the development of sophisticated analytics tools, predictive models, and decision-support systems to be useful data to the DoD METOC enterprise.

Collaborative Partnerships: The Government requests collaboration with industry leaders, academia, government agencies, and international entities. SSC endeavors to foster partnerships to leverage expertise, resources, and diverse perspectives, accelerating innovation and delivery of operationally impactful capability.

Operational Efficiency: The Government requires industry to ensure operational efficiency in satellite deployment, data transmission, and system maintenance. SSC aims to develop streamlined processes and resilient infrastructure for continuous and reliable SBEM operations.

This RFI seeks to collect information on the ability for industry partners to contribute technologies from integrated systems relevant to the prioritized terrestrial and space weather sensing parameters identified within JROCMs 091-12 and 092-14.

3. Requested Information The Government is interested in understanding existing or new capabilities that can be used to rapidly deliver innovative solutions to address SBEM FoS gaps or augment existing capabilities. These capabilities include but are not limited to appropriate-resolution multispectral sensors across visible, infrared, and microwave spectrums and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation and reflectometry techniques capturing diverse terrestrial and space weather parameters globally. Additionally, the Government is interested in various space weather sensing capabilities across ultraviolet and far ultraviolet spectrums to characterize auroral activity and in situ and remote sensing techniques to characterize the ionosphere and energetic charged particles in low earth orbit.

Please answer the requests below, as applicable, with detailed information on your company and/or capability related to prioritized SBEM JROCMs 091-12 & 092-14 environmental parameters.

a. Applicable SBEM Technologies

i. Describe your company’s technology applicable to an existing SBEM JROCM environmental parameter, identifying which specific parameter the technology can contribute sensing and/or analysis capabilities. Provide commentary describing key technical attributes (e.g. Size Weight and Power (SWAP), sensor specifics, etc.).

ii. Clearly identify operational assumptions, constraints, and/or limitations of the technology.

iii. Provide an assessment of the technology maturity level.

b. System Development, Testing, & Flight Heritage:

i. To what extent has the technology been modeled in a simulation environment to assess predicted performance?

ii. Provide a summary of environmental testing and results if applicable of each SBEM technology identified in section A. If still in concept development, provide a representative schedule to complete environmental testing.

iii. Provide insights into flight heritage if applicable.

iv. Provide insights into potential on-orbit demonstration opportunities if applicable with an associated schedule.

c. Scalability and Customization

i. Discuss your company’s approach to ensure the technology is scalable and affordable to accommodate current and future USSF requirements.

ii. To what extent can the technology be customized for USSF operational needs?

d. Integration and Compatibility

i. Discuss your company’s ability to utilize standard environmental data exchange formats such as Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) or Network Common Data Form (netCDF) for efficient data delivery and assimilation into DoD METOC processes.

e. Cost

i. Provide a rough order of magnitude breakdown of costs associated with remaining non-recurring engineering, environmental testing, software development, and on-orbit demonstration if applicable.

ii. Provide a breakdown of costs for providing data-as-a-service if applicable.

f. Certifications

a. Small businesses are recommended to state their certification (WOSB, VOSB, SDB, HubZone, SDVOSB). All claimed certification will be compared to the current SBA Dynamic Search Tool.

4. Request for Information Submission Details Submittals should be limited to seven (7) pages total. The Government cannot consider responses in excess of seven (7) pages. Page size needs to be 8.5 x 11 inches; single spaced with text no smaller than 12-point Times New Roman; font size within graphics and tables should be no smaller than 8 point, Times New Roman. Margins are to be one inch on all sides. The title page and front matter such as transmittal letter, cover page, and table of contents will not count against the page limit.

Respondents are requested to provide an unclassified response to the RFI to the maximum extent possible. Respondents need to clearly indicate whether their responses contain any proprietary information if the respondents wish for the responses to be handled as such. The Government shall NOT be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Any submission in response to this RFI is strictly voluntary. The Government will not reimburse any cost(s) associated or incurred by information submitted in response to this letter, nor shall any cost be allowed on any Government contract.

The Government is holding Virtual Industry sessions on 07 May 24 and 18-20 June 24. The Government will provide information to all registered parties via an online SBEM industry day presentation on 07 May 24. After the Government reviews the 7-page papers due three weeks later on 29 May 24, we may contact you for an optional one-on-one, also to be conducted virtually on 18-20 June 24. Additional information and instructions regarding the SBEM Virtual Industry One-on-One Engagements will be provided to those respondents selected.

5. Submittal Instructions:

For responding to this RFI, SSC requests submitting the company responses via email to the Primary and Contracting POCs identified below no later than 29 May 24. All submissions need to include the company name and point of contact information including name, position, telephone number, and email address. Any questions related to the RFI are to be directed to the SBEM email org box listed below.

Responses received after the due date may not be considered in the Government’s analyses. The government may subsequently contact respondents for clarification on the information submitted.

The submitters are to send an email to the POC with the subject line “SBEM RFI – (company name)”. Include your organizations pertinent information as listed below:

· Submitters Name and Parent Company (if applicable)

· Mailing Address/Facility: Street address, City, State, NINE-Digit zip code

· Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code

· Unique Entity Identification

· Point of Contact (POC)

· POC Telephone number and email address.

6. SBEM Information Release

The SSC/SNS Space Sensing Directorate has information that will aid industry in responding to this RFI. This information includes:

· Introduction to SBEM for Terrestrial Weather dated 25 April 2024 (Unclassified)

· Introduction to SBEM for Space Weather dated 25 April 2024 (Unclassified)

· Electro-Optical/Infrared Weather System (EWS) Overview dated 25 April 2024 (Unclassified)

· Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) Overview dated 25 April 2024 (Unclassified)

The documents will be posted on SAM.GOV by 07 May 2024. All other questions or discussions, please contact the SSC/SN POC and cc: the Contracting POC listed below.

7. Disclaimer This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes (market research) to inform future SSC SBEM requirements and architectural trades. This RFI does not constitute a solicitation (Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quotations (RFQ)) or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Responses to this RFI due 29 May 24 are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Furthermore, the Government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept any unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any is issued. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. Proprietary information or trade secrets shall be clearly identified.

Proprietary information if any, should be kept to a minimum and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. In order to review the response, PROPRIETARY information may be given to Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), System Engineering and Integration (SE&I), Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA), and/or Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) contractors working for the Government. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

SSC has entered into contracts with Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) and/or Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I), and/or Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) staff working for the Government. These could include but are not limited to: The Aerospace Corporation (FFRDC), LMI (SETA), Booz Allen Hamilton (SE&I), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (SETA), Stellar Solutions (SETA), and Tecolote Research (SETA). These companies support the Government by performing technical reviews, systems engineering and integration analyses, cost estimation, and other advisory services. Respondents are hereby notified that all responses will be provided to SSC support contractors for services to SSC. If Respondents disagree to the release of its RFI response to any of the aforementioned firms, the Respondent must clearly state this restriction in the cover letter accompanying the RFI response.

Foreign firms are advised that they will not be allowed to participate in this acquisition at the prime contractor level; however, provided they are eligible to do business with the US Government they may be eligible to participate at the subcontractor level. The research and test data produced under a resultant contract may contain Military Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S. Sec 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, U.S.C., App. 2401, et seq.). Request certification and registration from the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC), Federal Center, 74 North Washington, Battle Creek, MI 49016-3412 as soon as possible.

1 Maj Gen Gregory Gagnon, USSF Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, September 2023