Develop/modify NASA Lightning Launch Commit Criteria & associated rationale

NASA's Shared Services Center seeks to develop and modify NASA Lightning Launch Commit Criteria and associated rationale, with a sole source intent to award Amitabh Nag and a capability submission deadline of July 9, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. This is a sole source procurement under FAR 12.102(a); the government will evaluate whether to conduct on a competitive basis based on capability responses received by the deadline.

Performance is located at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The procurement requires panel members to hold an earned PhD from an accredited institution in atmospheric electricity, lightning physics, radar meteorology, cloud physics, statistics, or closely related STEM discipline, and to demonstrate a record of highly impactful, peer-reviewed published research in leading academic and industry journals. The NAICS code is 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), and the PSC is AJ11 (General Science and Technology R&D Services).

The contract period is one year from award date. Task 1 requires panel members to support Lightning Advisory Panel activities including attendance at one three-day face-to-face or virtual meeting tentatively scheduled for Spring/Summer 2027, participation in 12–22 teleconferences of approximately 1.5 hours each, participation in at least one or preferably two LAP sub-committees, and completion of post-meeting action items including LLCC review, editing, analyses, and formal recommendations. Task 2 covers travel expenses for the three-day meeting. Deliverables include a description of contributions, documentation of analyses not included in published research, and an updated curriculum vitae six months after award. Oral communications are not acceptable. NASA FAR Supplement Clause 1852.215-84 (Ombudsman) applies. Point of contact: Kacey.l.hickman@nasa.gov.